Leading With Purpose: Dania Angeles at FirstLight
Dania Angeles (BBA, ’14) built her career one opportunity at a time — and not always in the places she expected.
Before leading Marketing and Community Impact at FirstLight Federal Credit Union, Angeles worked in retail, accounting, logistics, and sales. Each step taught her something new about people, purpose, and resilience.
However, it was in the banking industry that she found her calling: Helping others build brighter financial futures.
“The value of giving back is something I believe all El Pasoans and our Borderplex community share deeply,” she said. “It’s what drives me every day.”
Lessons from the Journey
The path wasn’t always straightforward. Angeles admits she didn’t land in her dream field right away.
“The biggest surprise was not immediately finding a job in the field I wanted,” she said. “Looking back, I wish I had been more open to applying for related positions. Sometimes you discover your purpose in places you least expect.”
That openness became a defining trait of her leadership — flexibility, curiosity, and a willingness to grow through every challenge.
UTEP Foundations
Angeles credits her time at UTEP with shaping both her mindset and her approach to leadership. Conversations with faculty and advisors, she said, offered lessons that only became clear once she was out in the workforce.
“As I progressed in my own journey, I began to truly understand the insights they shared,” she said. “Over time, I was able to revisit what I learned in class and apply it to real-world situations.”
She also points to campus career workshops — on résumé building and mock interviews — as moments that gave her the confidence to navigate early professional life.
Paying It Forward
Now, as a leader at FirstLight, Angeles has come full circle. Through the company’s partnership with UTEP’s Banking Academy, she works directly with students preparing to enter the financial sector.
“It’s truly an honor to make an impact at my alma mater,” she said. “Being on the other side of the table is humbling. I’m proud to help advance a program that’s preparing young professionals to enter the workforce with confidence and purpose.”
Finding Purpose
For Angeles, leadership means understanding why you do what you do.
“Take time to truly understand the industry you want to enter and what it stands for,” she said. “The credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people’ helped me discover my passion and reconnect with my why.”
That clarity of purpose keeps her grounded — and inspired.
Why She Shows Up
“My daughters,” she said simply. “I’m a proud mother of three strong, spirited girls who inspire me every single day. They, along with my family, my faith, and the lives we touch through our work, are what keep me going.”
