Meet Anna Hadzi | VP Operations & Finance

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Hadzi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
Yes, I do have a budget. How I think about my personal finances and how I make lifestyle and spending decisions was shaped very early on in my life.

When I was about 6 years old my Dad brought me a Piggy Bank and told me to bring it to him every day when he got home from work. He would give me any spare change he had in his pockets. When the Piggy Bank filled up, we took it to the Bank. He opened an account on my behalf and we counted out and deposited all the coins. When I turned 16, he signed over the account to me, and I continued to deposit money I earned from my weekend job at a clothing retail store. When I turned 18, I bought my first used car with the proceeds of my bank account. The car was a Toyota Corolla 1200 with 150,000+ miles on the clock, but I felt such a sense of pride that I had bought it myself.

My Dad always spoke to me about financial responsibility, and he preached 3 main concepts: 1) ALWAYS live below your means; 2) ALWAYS save money from your wages/income, every paycheck, no matter how small the amount; and 3) DON’T get into debt because debt makes you poor and keeps you poor. The only debt he ever got into was the mortgage for our house, but he made it his mission to make larger payments at every opportunity to make sure that he paid it off as early as possible. He paid the house off in about 15 years.

My parents were both immigrants to Johannesburg, South Africa and both are Greek. My Dad was born and lived in Athens, Greece. He lived through Nazi-occupied Athens during World War II and he and his family struggled to survive poverty and hunger. My Mom and her family, also Greek, lived in the Middle East and moved to Greece in 1948 as refugees. They lived in Greece for 4 years but due to the prevailing post-war depression, they moved to Johannesburg, South Africa for a better life.

Growing up, we heard so many war stories and one thing I learned very clearly from both my parents, was their absolute integrity in all matters. No matter how difficult things were, their principles of honesty and integrity were paramount and guided all their decisions.

I always thought we were middle-class. Looking back, I realize now that we were actually pretty poor but my parents never classified us that way. They just always lived below their means and we did too. So, for me having one pair of jeans was normal. They never compared us to anyone else. I remember once asking my Mom for another paid of jeans and she said, “Why? You already have a pair!” We always had enough to eat and the things we needed but we were never spoiled.

Right after high school, I started working in the Bank, Two years later I got married and a year after that we had a baby boy. I worked in the Bank for 14 years and my husband worked in IT. Working in the Bank reinforced my early financial lessons and I saw first hand how easily people got into financial trouble because most people live above their means. Many people feel entitled and don’t have patience to wait until they can afford to buy something. They don’t budget and few save.

Every week, I record all my expenses on an Excel Spreadsheet. If I see I spent too much one say eating out one week, next week, I curtail eating out and cook more at home. I save for medium terms goals, like annual vacations, property taxes, annual insurance costs, and set aside funds in case of unexpected emergencies. I also save long term in investments to prepare for my retirement and unexpected medical emergencies.

I did like my Dad and paid off my mortgage within 10 years, and this has allowed me to set aside and grow my savings and investments.

One more lesson my Dad shared with me. He said don’t get everything you want all at once, even if you can afford it. Spread things out so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you get everything too early in life, there will be very little to look forward to. He compared this process to a ladder. Climb one rung at a time so you can enjoy the journey and the view around you. Once you reach the top, there is nowhere else to go but down. So, keep climbing — slow and steady. Make sure you build a solid foundation, and appreciate every moment along the way.

I’m still climbing the ladder and enjoying the journey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My current career as VP Operations & Finance in an IT Consulting Company began with 3 individuals as a start up. My former husband and his partner based in Bangalore, India invested this new IT Consulting company with an offshore component. This company has grown slowly but steadily over the last 11 years.

I have taken everything I learned in banking, as a Line Producer in television, and my personal financial experience and used it to apply it to my job and to make sure that we always apply those solid principles to the financial operations of the business.

I manage costs efficiently and effectively. I’m most proud of the fact that we have only used the owner partners’ funds as working capital to grow the business and we have managed this growth conservatively every step of the way. In other words, we have never borrowed any funds from a bank for day to day operations, or even when funding growth. The company became profitable after its first year, and except for the 5th year, when we invested in greater growth, the company has always kept its costs low and we have been profitable every year prior to and since.

Another very important principle is in treating our employees kindly and generously!

Success is never easy and there are always challenges along the way but when you apply solid principles, you avoid unnecessary pitfalls.

When you live below your means, you don’t end up with expensive debt, which helps you to grow your foundation, and with delayed gratification, you enjoy the fruits of your labor without stress. When you don’t have financial stress, you don’t experience physical or mental stress.

We all make choices. I make the choice to spend less and save more. It’s that easy. I do it every day. The biggest joy I have is seeing an expensive piece of jewelry in shop window, admiring it, knowing I can buy it but walking away without it. I have learned that material possessions only bring limited joy for a very short period of time.

I don’t care what the Jones’s do. I wish them well and rejoice in their success. That was another thing my Dad taught me: NEVER be jealous or envy someone else’s status, position, or, possessions. You don’t know what each person’s life is about. Be grateful for the good things in your own life. Loving kindness matters. Generosity matters. Equanimity matters. Joy matters. When you lead with these 4 Immeasurables, you will always have peace.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: A drive to Boulder and a walk around Pearl Street. Tea at the Ku Cha House of Tea in Boulder. Lunch at “Salt” restaurant on Pearl Street. Dinner at Tibet Kitchen in Boulder for Beef Momos/ Day 2: A drive around downtown Denver, visit the Art Museum, and do lunch at “My Brother’s Bar,” for the best Grilled Cheese & Tomato sandwich with fries. Dinner at Panzano’s — one of the best fine dining restaurants.
Day 3: A drive around Highlands Ranch, visit the Park Meadows Mall, lunch at Renzios in the food court and eat Spanakopita (Spinach pie) with their fries. More shopping in the mall and then dinner at the White Chocolate Grill, stating with their famous grilled artichokes with aeolie dip!
Day 4: A drive to Cherry Creek and walk around the streets of Cherry Creek. Lunch at Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar for the best sushi options. Walk around the Cherry Creek Mall for more shopping, then dinner at the Blue Island Oyster Bar for the freshest oysters, lobster knuckle sandwich, and olive oil cake with fresh berries!
Day 5: A drive to the Rocky Mountain National Park – stop for glazed donuts from King Soopers. Stop at Estes Park and walk downtown Estes. Get some toffee or ice cream and one of the numerous little stores on the main road in Estes Downtown. Stop for lunch at Subway and drive back to Denver. Enjoy a home-cooked meal for dinner: Beef stew with potatoes and a salad.
Day 6: Drive to Golden and walk around Golden downtown. Visit the Coors Brewery. Stop for lunch at the Old Mill House and sit on the terrace. Get some barbeque for lunch. Continue the tour of Golden by visiting Buffalo Bill’s Grave and museum. Stop for dinner at Sherpa House Restaurant.
Day 7: Stay home and enjoy some well-earned rest!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My early success, I dedicate to my parents who loved me unconditionally and provided me and my two brothers in an environment that allowed us to thrive and this helped me grow into a strong woman.

My English and Drama Teacher, Mrs. Trudy Palmer, was my Mentor academically and artistically. She supported and nurtured my artistic talents.

My husband supported my growth — both my creative and educational goals. Together, we were able to provide a secure and supportive environment for our son, who has grown into a wonderful human being.

I have had three separate careers since they age of 18: A 14-year banking career, a theatre and video production career that lasted around 17 years, and a career in finance for an IT company for 11 years to the present.

During my creative period, I went back to school and got a Bachelors in Fine Arts, majoring in Theatre, Film, & Television Production, with an emphasis in Writing and Directing. This period also included 4 years as a Line Producer in a television production company called High Noon Entertainment, where I worked on an HGTV show called “My First Place.”

After that, I decided to get back into finance when my formed husband offered me a position in his start-up IT company, as the finance person. The company has grown, and we employ a total of around 50 people in the USA and around 450 in our wholly-owned subsidiary in India. I am currently the VP Operations & Finance. So, I am grateful to my former husband for this opportunity.

Finally, I am grateful for my partner’s ongoing support. He has complete faith in my abilities and continues to be a supportive partner in life.

Image Credits
N/A all the images are mine.