25 Mar Women’s History Month — “What’s stronger than a mother’s love?”

Vice President of Finance Cynthia Semenoff (second from the right) with our RMHC Bay Area team as we accept the prestigious Hearts & Hands Award at the 2018 RMHC Global Conference for our $47 million capital expansion of Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

While our frontline teams are housing, feeding and supporting families across the Bay Area, Cynthia Semenoff, our vice president of finance, is the backbone of our organization’s financial health. For more than 14 years, Cynthia has been #MakingWomensHistory as the leader of our Finance team. Her expertise allowed our accounting systems, human resource functions, and transparency and accountability reporting to keep pace with our rapid growth – from expanding Ronald McDonald House at Stanford from 47 to 123 bedrooms in 2017 to merging with three Ronald McDonald House affiliates in 2018 to form the regional RMHC Bay Area Chapter to launching our first program at Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland during the pandemic.

Cynthia has seen a lot change in the male-dominated field of finance and accounting.

“In high school my first boss wouldn’t let me count out the safe because he said, ‘Girls aren’t good with money,’” she said. Today, as a mother and a caregiver to her mom, #RMHCBayArea’s VP of Finance starts every day asking herself, “Will this help more families?”

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked Cynthia to reflect back on her women’s leadership at RMHC Bay Area.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Women’s History Month?

A: Traditionally, women have been underrepresented in positions of influence. It is important to acknowledge the contribution that women have made in science, technology, the arts, healthcare government and business. It is important for girls to see a model of what they can accomplish.

The work we do at RMHC Bay Area is fundamental to families and children at their most difficult time.  Highlighting the work of women demonstrates the powerful work we are capable of.

Q: What do you want people to know about the role women play helping families – their own and other’s – through medical crisis?

A: What is stronger than a mother’s love? The resources that it takes to support a sick child through a medical crisis is staggering. Women are able to harness that maternal love and provide true, heartfelt care.

Q: In the U.S., women account for just 26% of Finance Professionals. As Vice President of Finance, what do you want people to know about the role of women in leadership and in male dominated fields?

A: I came up in a time when it was unusual to see women in positions of authority in any field. What helped me was seeing a few other women in leadership roles – not necessarily in finance. Just having a model helps.  In high school my first boss wouldn’t let me count out the safe because he said, “Girls aren’t good with money.”  I can laugh now.

Q: Caregiving responsibilities most often fall to women, especially during times of crisis – what are the caregiving roles in your life and how do those experiences impact your career and leadership goals?

A: As any mother will attest, protecting your child is job number one. What we do at RMHC is allow mothers to protect and care for their children during an incredibly challenging time. As both a mother and a caregiver to an elderly parent, being able to support families during a medical crisis was an easy career decision.