Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Bogarin-Ackerman.
Hi Andrea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Andrea Bogarin-Ackerman and I am an Accountant, an Artist, and an Entrepreneur. Even though these may sound like three completely different occupations, I work on all three on a day-to-day basis. Here’s my story: For as long as I can remember, painting and creating art have been my favorite hobby. I began taking art classes after school when I was eight years old. It remained a hobby throughout my school years as I had decided that I wanted to pursue a career in the business world, so I studied accounting in Tijuana at UABC.
However, I began my professional career in accounting when I was only 19 working for tax & accounting firms in both Tijuana and San Diego. Looking back, I truly feel lucky to have had more than four years in a professional work environment because it helped me to understand the employee perspective and it has proven to be great motivation to achieve my endeavors. For instance, in 2013 I had my first stint as an entrepreneur when realized my dad had an office space that he only utilized once a month. I had the idea to rent it out as a stand-alone meeting/conference room available for small businesses that needed a space to do their workshops, conferences, or even teach classes. The idea was to cater to businesses that needed a space but encountered the following: coffee shop is too small and loud but a hotel conference room is too big and expensive. Eight years later, the business has kept going and since business has grown the plan is to expand to a bigger conference room in less than a year.
In 2016, I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Global Management with Pathway in Family Business and ended up moving to London. As part of the Master’s program, I did a summer internship in New York City. While living in the big apple, my visits too many museums and art galleries made me remember how much I enjoyed art. I decided that it was the right time to return to art and enrolled in painting classes. The art teachers noticed that I was a talented artist and actually ended up offering me a job as an art teacher in NYC. I couldn’t believe it! Me? An art teacher? Unfortunately, my time in New York was almost over and had to return to London so I couldn’t take the job.
However, it was that moment that the idea for my next business concept came to me: starting an art workshop where I would teach beginners step by step how to paint a work of art all by themselves while enjoying a glass of wine. On October 2017 I launched the “Paint & Wine” concept for the first time in the city of Tijuana. Since then, the business has grown exponentially. Besides the original concept of classes open to whomever wants to create their own work of art, we have also done private and corporate events in Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, Valle de Guadalupe, and throughout San Diego county.
While all this was happening, I never forgot my accounting career. Over the last six years I have developed a portfolio of accounting clients mainly comprised of small and entrepreneurial businesses. I provide a variety of services as their accountant, from how to officially establish a business and file their taxes, to handling internal accounting and finance matters. My client portfolio has grown organically by “word of mouth” as my clients have recommended my services to their friends and family.
As I’m also an entrepreneur, my experience has helped me relate to my clients easily and I have also been able to provide advice that I wish someone had told me when I was starting a business venture. Furthermore, at the beginning of 2021 I was asked by two colleagues to partner with them and we have formally established a professional services tax & accounting firm called Fiable.
Finally, I have continued my career as an artist by creating “ABogarin” artworks with different techniques such as oil painting, acrylic, and carbon. My original paintings started to be purchased by family and friends, and by word of mouth my client base has expanded. I have now been commissioned to do paintings for house decoration, interior design stores, and even office buildings.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say it has been a smooth road, since everything has fallen into place. The main challenge was adapting Paint & Wine when the pandemic started. It was a little bit shocking to start cancelling every event I had planned in the near future since everything was so uncertain. But when I realized that we were all looking for different activities to do in quarantine, I immediately found a way to transform Paint & Wine, switching to virtual events, and selling painting kits with step-by-step instructions all over Mexico & the US.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently balance my work between being an artist, an accountant and an entrepreneur. I am so proud of how my entrepreneurial businesses have grown over the past years that they have given me a skill set like no other, which sets me apart from others. I feel very blessed to pursue my professional career and to call my hobby a job. However, I couldn’t have done all of this without the support and love of my family and my husband, I am so grateful to have them in my life, without them, none of these have been possible.
What are your plans for the future?
As for my future plans, I will continue working with my art projects, and hopefully when the pandemic allows us, we will resume in-person Paint & Wine events. I am also looking forward to our plans to expand to a bigger conference room in less than a year.
Additionally, I just started studying my second master’s degree in Family Studies for Consulting, which I will finish in two years’ time. My goal is to strengthen the tax & accounting firm with family business consulting services, which I am so passionate about. However, I am aware that sometimes our plans don’t go exactly as expected. So, I am conscious that even though, there might be a plan, I have to be curious and open if there may be some changes along the way. I am very excited to see the future of my companies and who knows maybe a new venture as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paintandwine.mx, www.fiable.com.mx
- Instagram: @paintandwine_, @abogarin.art, @fiable.mx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintandwine.abogarin
Image Credits
Sophia Carmin Brianna Ballesteros Narrativa Studio TipTop
