In keeping with our tradition of interviewing new hires, we asked our new administrator, Davida Garcia, a few questions so that you all can get to know her.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello! My name is Davida. I am a native San Diegan from Spring Valley. I attended and graduated from Chula Vista High School specifically for their performing arts program. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and have spent most of my career in the Architecture/Engineering/Construction industry. I have worked in marketing departments for both, small and large firms supporting a unique mix of architects, engineers and builders to develop technical proposals to win work.
Outside of work, I love live music/dancing, spontaneous road trips, an self-improvement books. My favorite book was, “Feel the Fear…and Do It Anyway,” by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D., urging people to take risks and live outside of your comfort zone.
What is your biggest achievement to date?
Since I am an entreprenuerial, free-spirit, and after reading my favorite book, I took a leap of faith and moved to New York City with just 6 boxes of clothes! With no job lined up and no real place to live, I managed to hit the ground running and landed a great marketing role with a trendy interior design firm located in Midtown, Manhattan. I managed and coordinated teams and workload for a variety of large-scale proposals ultimately winning some amazing projects for clients like AMC Networks, Combs Enterprises for Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I spent four wonderful years in the Big Apple but couldn’t stay away from my growing family and the lovely San Diego weather.
How did you become interested in Circulate San Diego?
Since I just moved back from New York, I have become open to the fact that taking public transportation not only makes my life less stressful but it also contributes to the big picture of reducing our carbon footrprint. If you can’t change the world immediately, you can definitely start with your community and in my opinion, being able to work at Circulate SD does just that. I am excited to support this team and its wonderful mission to create excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?
I would pick Oprah Winfrey simply because she has the courage to live her life, her way, unapologetically. I am inspired by her story of being born into poverty and her ability to overcome adversity including being fired due to her often emotional and extemporaneous delivery. This transition ultimately led her to the daytime talk show arena and she has been credited with creating a more intimate confessional form of media communication. She is now considered one of the most influential women in the world.
She is the epitome of what freedom looks like by staying true to yourself, knowing your worth and never giving up. To me, if you own these traits, you will be successful with anything you do.
