Juan Landa did not have a fondness for math while growing up in Mid-City, but once he began taking business courses at Cal State LA, the numbers suddenly started to make sense.
Landa, 21, will receive his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an option in Accounting at the 5 p.m. Commencement ceremony for the College of Business and Economics on Tuesday, May 19. He plans to become a certified public accountant and focus on auditing, but his ultimate goal is to start his own business.
The first business class he took at Cal State LA, accounting, instantly hooked him.
“I saw all the opportunities that accounting had to offer, and I focused myself on that since,” he said. Cal State LA’s accounting program was named the top program in California by Best Value Schools.
A Dean’s List student who is graduating magna cum laude, Landa dove headfirst into the world of business, fully immersing himself with career advancement opportunities. He took on leadership roles with the Accounting Society club, serving as vice president and previously as director of student outreach, where he helped connect students with events, resources, and industry professionals.
He also worked with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides volunteer students with practical experience in preparing tax returns, free of charge, for fellow students and members of the neighboring communities that Cal State LA serves.
“It’s a great feeling being able to actually talk to the person getting their taxes prepared,” Landa said of his experience with VITA. “They don’t need to go elsewhere where they are not treated like family.”
His bilingual skills also came into play.
“I use my knowledge and Spanish-speaking skills to not only offer a sense of community but also give back to the community,” Landa said.
The first-generation student said Cal State LA, which has been ranked No. 1 in the nation and the state for upward mobility, was the perfect place for him to learn.
“There is a certain amount of pressure that comes with being first-gen, pressure that Cal State LA has helped with,” Landa said. “Cal State LA’s No. 1 ranking in upward mobility gives me a sense of ambition.”
Landa wants to succeed not only for himself, but also for his mother Hilda, who held multiple jobs over the years to make ends meet for her family, and the uncles who encouraged him to pursue higher education.
“I’m just trying to liberate my mother from all the years that she took to raise me and try to help her achieve things she isn’t able to do on her own,” Landa said.
In summer 2025, he worked for the international firm Tokio Marine, where a rotational internship pushed Landa to step out of his comfort zone as he experienced every aspect of the company.
“I was never really a social person, so the corporate and socialization aspects were the real learning curves,” Landa said.
The assurance and audit internship he has secured for this summer with Baker Tilly, a leading advisory, tax, and assurance firm, will allow Landa to concentrate on his career goal of auditing.
Once he has established himself, Landa plans to return to his roots and launch a landscaping business.
“As I grew up, I worked alongside my uncles in the business, and they taught me a lot,” he said. “Unfortunately, due to language barriers, educational level, and citizenship status, their vision to expand has always remained a dream. My uncles had a strong influence on my upbringing, serving as influential role models who encouraged me to keep studying and work hard, reminding me that it would pay off.”
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 26,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
Cal State LA is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, Billie Jean King Sports Complex and the TV, Film and Media Center. For more information, visit www.CalStateLA.edu.
