Enterprise Risk Services Senior Consultant, Deloitte; Philadelphia, PA

Children: Samantha, 12; Leslie, 10; Alex, 7 ♦ Husband: Jose Fernandez

Why We Love Her Becoming a mother at age 17 could sidetrack even the most determined person from reaching professional goals. But Cheila knew what she wanted: to go to college and have a career—no matter what it took. That’s not to say family wasn’t a priority. Cheila had two more children, but she persevered to graduate from Drexel University and land a position with Deloitte. “Although I’ve had many obstacles from having no babysitter on the day of an exam to struggling with self-doubt about my adequacy as a mother—my journey has led me to a fulfilling career and happy life with my family,” says Cheila.

Q: What’s your best advice for a new mom returning to work? A: My best advice for a new mom returning to work is to enjoy the ride. As a working mother, I cope with endless guilt, sleepless nights and a frantic pursuit of tranquility (and my slim figure). But my life experiences, my children (who make me complete), and my support group of family, friends and colleagues have helped me to acquire some invaluable skills, allowing me to enjoy that ride. 

Q: Do your children know what mommy does for a living? A: My children understand that I visit my clients, learn about their processes and help improve their systems. Although they don’t understand the specifics of what I review, they describe my job as “looking for stuff that’s wrong with my clients’ business and telling them how to fix the problems.” My son is especially proud that the building in which his mommy works has a big sign that includes the same “Deloitte” as on her business cards, which makes her job and the people she works for even more important.

Q: What’s your best tip for keeping your home life running smoothly? A: My best tip for keeping my home life running smoothly is to use a simple time management system to track family and work events. My favorite tool for the task is a personal paper calendar that fits in my purse wherein I can make quick updates and add as many notes as needed.