Meet Gauri - Assurance Staff, HoganTaylor

Gauri came to the U.S. from India seeking an opportunity to advance her career in accounting. After attending Tulane University in New Orleans, she found an opportunity to work and live in Tulsa, and her employer connected her with the inTulsa Visa Network. Now, Gauri is blending her love for numbers with her passion for tech and data as she makes her new home in Tulsa.

Where are you from, and what led you to Tulsa?

I’m originally from India, a country with a rich history of commerce and a growing economy. My professional journey as a chartered accountant was shaped by my work in financial planning and analysis, audit and risk management. After a decade of hands-on experience, I wanted to push my boundaries further, and that's how I decided the U.S. would be a great place to be. I pursued a Master of Accounting program at Tulane University. It was an accelerated program where you can complete your master's in one year, and in tandem, I was also looking for job opportunities. I got a job in Tulsa and moved here.

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What type of work do you do?

I’m currently working as part of the assurance staff at HoganTaylor. I'm a qualified accountant from India, and I’m also pursuing my CPA here, with the help of my employer. HoganTaylor has been really supportive. I just cleared the CPA audit exam and have three more to go. In my field, I'm blending artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and analytics into the field of auditing, financial planning, analysis and management. It's a niche area, and it requires a lot of coding to understand. So I learned Python SQL, public queries and all. I’m auditing financial statements, assessing the internal controls, and providing an order to pay, working in different sectors like insurance, banking, oil and gas. 

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What do you love most about your role?

I like the analytical aspects of my role, finding financial trends, assessing risk areas, optimizing processes. I am more inclined toward math, statistics and coding, and that has equipped me with the tools to come up with the data driven insights for financial audits and improving efficiency of finding new ways to visualize data. I’m constantly looking for ways to enhance my work.

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How did you get connected with inTulsa’s Visa Network program?

I first encountered and got to know the Visa Network program through my employer, HoganTaylor. I did not know anything about Tulsa until then. Through the Visa Network, I’ve filed for my visa, and it’s progressing. And it's nice to see how they have coordinated with my employer. They've been able to expedite the process, and there's a lot of effort put into it.

What appealed to you about the Visa Network program?

The program offers various benefits, like visa sponsorship, and they provide guidance on work authorization. I'm in the STEM category, so I can be in the United States for my OPT (Optional Practical Training). There’s a process to that; it has to be renewed next year, and I have to pay to get it renewed, which is also being taken care of by the Visa Network.

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Relocation to Tulsa is also taken care of, which has been a great deal of assistance to me. The Visa Network provides networking and professional opportunities. They conduct events where you go and meet different kinds of people from diverse backgrounds and diverse industries. They’ve been really helpful because they've also provided access to Experience Tulsa so I could get familiarized with the city and the history of this place.

How did the Visa Network help you with your move to Tulsa?

They helped me with finding housing accommodations. They basically sent me a bunch of resources, and I could access the links and find out about curated housing and leasing places. That made it easier to visit them and then nail down one. Logistically, it's been very helpful, because finding an accommodation here, going to different places, and not knowing who the landlords are is really nerve-wracking sometimes. The Visa Network’s support was a stress reliever.

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What has it been like to move to Tulsa?

When I first came to Tulsa, I experienced snow. That was the first time in my life that I could see snow flurries! The city balances urban amenities with a sense of community, making it an ideal place to live and work. Most importantly, I found that it is very affordable as compared to larger cities, making it easier to enjoy the things that we love, like cultural events, going out to a restaurant or spending time out. There are friendly people all around and it's a growing business environment. I’ve had a chance to visit the Gathering Place, and it's really beautiful. The downtown area is very vibrant. Tulsa is a city, I think, that invites exploration. There are so many other places to visit here that I haven't visited yet.

What do you enjoy most about living in Tulsa?

The most important thing that connects you, when you come from a different country, is how welcoming people are, the warmth that they spread. Even if you're a little nervous, when you talk to people, they're very supportive. I  just feel like Tulsa is home.

What would you tell people who are thinking about participating in the inTulsa Visa Network?

Be proactive in understanding the process, understanding the visa requirements and navigating the legal aspects of your job. Be flexible. Tulsa may not have been your first choice, but the opportunities are worth exploring. Network and build connections in the city, which could really accelerate your integration. Networking events are a great part of what is hosted by the Visa Network so professionals can meet other professionals from different backgrounds and talk about the opportunities that are going on currently.

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These are the things that I really admire the most from the Visa Network team, and they've been really helpful. I think if you get into any situation where you're literally ambiguous, you can always contact people. They are very warm and responsive. 

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