It is always incredible to discover individuals who aspire to achieve massive success by building personal brands, networking with like-minded professionals, this type of person is carving out a unique pathway based on finessing passions, resulting in a mix of unparalleled determination and dedication of people that choose to embark on their own journeys and can be found all around us if we pay attention. What has stunned us even more is how female professionals and entrepreneurs today are making their mark, reaching new heights in authoritative positions, and going against the odds of making a name for themselves all on their own. Cali Anne Mills serves as one of these outstanding examples in today’s era of young professionals across the country. She has dreamt and believed in her visions, herself, and has confidently propelled her own success which has led to a massive shift in her own achievements recently as a small business owner and entrepreneur. She is simultaneously continuing to build her professional career in public accounting as an auditor within the Not-For-Profit Industry in the greater NYC area.
The Long Island, New York resident hails from humble beginnings as she grew up in Western North Carolina, from a small town nestled away in the Great Smoky Mountains. Prior to this she was born and raised in another small town located along the historical Treasure Coast area of South Florida. She has built her career from the ground up after unexpectedly losing her mother in 2012, and her surviving father has become a tremendous support system in her life. Cali earned her B.S.B.A in Accounting and Finance from Western Carolina University and graduated with honors prior to moving to New York City in 2015. Noteworthy achievements since then include gaining 7+ years of public accounting and audit experience, starting her own online boutique through Poshmark and a dog boarding business through Rover in 2016 and 2022, respectively.
Cali Anne Mills believes that for people to reach their desired success in their chosen fields, they need to capitalize on their dreams and develop a solid mental fortitude, including a self-belief that they are capable of achieving anything and everything in life, even when the odds are many. She believes finding success is about taking calculated risks, and she has done precisely that, thus she has been able to create a successful career as an auditor, business owner, and even an ambassador for athletic wear for 5+ years.
Poshmark is her small boutique business where one can buy, sell, and discover new and second-hand styles, which she has grown since 2016. Her pet sitting and dog boarding business through the Rover app began in November 2022 and last month she was recognized as a Star Sitter, maintains a 5-star review status to-date comprised of new and repeat clients. Besides this, she is also an ambassador for athletic wear for Astoria Activewear.
In 2021, she completed the NYC Marathon and from this she earned a spot to participate in the Berlin, Germany Marathon in October last year. She even closed on her first home during the same month, taking a step forward to fulfill her future real estate aspirations. She gained critical experience working as a senior assurance associate in public accounting with CohnReznick for the last 4 years. However, since this October, she has started working for herself as a consultant, continuing her audit career specializing in the Not-for-Profit Industry and assisting clients with implementing the recent changes in financial reporting for revenue, including Covid-funding and accounting for leases and the associated right of use assets and liabilities.
This shift in her career has given her the time to focus on her own growing entrepreneurial businesses and more freedom and time to focus on passing the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant in the upcoming year. She is thrilled to be a part of the Not for Profit Industry and is currently working towards founding her own Organization and hiring grant writers that will focus on a two-pronged approach of providing financial literacy programs to youth and young adults, targeting underserved communities with limited access to resources and also assist small business owners within these economically challenged communities on growing their own businesses.
In January of this year, she was also featured in The NYC Journal online magazine as one of the Top 30 Female Leaders to Look Out for in 2023. Additionally, she is a brand-new member of a local amateur, recreational hockey league. As of last month she is as a novice (Division E level) with Hometown Heroes located in Long Island, NY. Cali Anne finds inspiration from helping others who come from limitations just as she did, and continues growing her personal brand as an entrepreneur and professional career in public accounting.
Cali Anne Mills is passionate about motivating others to follow their dreams and to not give up on finding personal success or becoming financially secure on their own. She has followed a discipline that was learned from her adolescence, her high school alma mater, and she prides herself in showing up to always give “[Her] Best and Then Some.” She wants to leave no stone unturned in continuing to help others and enthusiastically looks to the future to provide opportunities to give back to her hometown and other economically challenged communities with her Not-for-Profit Organization.
