with 2024-25 CalCPA Foundation Chair Ruben Davila

Q : What were some of the biggest challenges you faced on your path to becoming a CPA , and how did you overcome them ? I come from a blue-collar working family . There was no one to mentor or guide me through the process .

Q : What motivates you to do what you do ? Family , friends and giving back . My path could have been easier if I had known more about where I was , where I wanted to go and how best to prepare to get there . Knowledge is power and I have worked diligently with my current students , community colleges and high schools so they could empower themselves to reach their personal and professional goals .

Q : Who has been the strongest influences in your life ? My parents , Gus and Lydia Davila . The most amazing , wonderful giving people that you would ever want to meet . Amazing role models . Kind , generous , loving , but also demanding and would hold me and my sister , Debbie , accountable . They sacrificed so much to allow me to get an education . They believed in me and who I could be . They did not know much about going to college or being a professional . But I always knew and know they believed in me . They fostered the idea that I could do anything if I put my mind and soul into it . They both passed away a few years ago . I miss them dearly .

Step back and think of the big picture . Manage your career from the get-go . Keep an open mind as opportunities will present themselves .

If you weren ’ t a CPA , what career would you see yourself in ? An actor , channeling my inner Pacino . See ‘ Please Hold ’ on HBO / Max , the Oscar nominated short film written and directed by my daughter , K . D . Davila .

What one word describes you best ? Thoughtful

Favorite subject in school : Creative writing . I love to write . My current outlet for creative writing is preparing exam questions although my students do not seem to appreciate my skills . I am so proud that my three daughters are all accomplished award-winning writers .

You control the accounting profession . What ’ s your first move ? Revisit mobility and simplify and streamline the CPA licensing requirements . NASBA and the AICPA are twisting themselves in knots trying to preserve mobility . Experience is being characterized as education . It is not . Trust the educators to educate . I believe the CBA ’ s new proposal has the right idea .

Most recently binged-watched show ? Academy Award nominated “ Please Hold ”— I can ’ t get enough of it ! My daughter wrote and directed it . And I am in it ! Just started “ The Sympathizer ” and just finished “ Fallout .”

Favorite app and why ? WSJ , The Economist and NY Times because I like to know what ’ s happening .

How do you re-energize ? I decompress by hanging out at the beach , often with a good book , and by hanging out with close friends and family .

Most used emoji ?

😢 I ’ ve lost of lot of close friends and family over the last few years .

🤔 I am perplexed by what is happening in the world at times .

First job ? Working my way through college as box boy ( now clerk ’ s helper ) at Lucky ’ s supermarket in Cerritos . I could be the first-assistant manager now if had done a better job !

What can we find you doing in your spare time ? Hanging out with dear friends and / or family

Biggest learning experience ? Being a teacher . You strive to master the material , go deep , go broad , appreciate context , approach from a variety of angles , anticipate questions and try and connect the dots . Understanding how people / students perceive and absorb information and give them the opportunity to express themselves , be creative and to make mistakes and feel OK about that .

Best leadership advice you have received ? Watching and learning from great leaders and bad leaders — what makes them effective or the opposite and applying what works in my life .

Favorite cuisine ? Mexican . No one cooks like my dear departed mother and aunt . Pizza , especially deep-dish Chicago style — is that a cuisine ?

Old school steak houses . Clearman ’ s Steak and Stein was a real treat reserved for special occasions . It still is and has some wonderful memories and serves great steak !

What is your secret talent ? Photography , especially sports . I had a wonderful 15 years on the sidelines photographing for USC ’ s band and football teams . Glad to show them to you !

What superpower would you like to possess and why ? Slow down time . It goes by so quickly . Understand that these are the best of times — to savor them when they happen .

Guilty pleasure ? Chocolate … candy , cake , hot , donuts , covered nuts , covered raisins . etc .

What are three things you can ’ t live without ? My girls : Devon , Ruby , Kristen and Amber ( I know that is four people , but I think I can get one by the auditors !) They all ground me , give me a sense of purpose and help me , even when I don ’ t perceive that I need help .

Hometown : L . A . is home . I was born , raised , grew up in , spent my entire professional career and am now growing old in L . A .

College : Loyola Marymount University for my accounting degree ; USC Marshall School of Business for MBA ; Loyola Law School for JD

14 CALIFORNIA CPA AUGUST 2024 www . calcpa . org