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Ingrid Berner has a story that reflects the power of dedication. Born and raised in Brazil, a country where achieving success and becoming a leader demands exceptional commitment, her journey is an inspiring example of how to overcome significant obstacles and rise to the top.
Achieving a leadership role in Brazil presents significant challenges. Aspiring leaders must navigate economic volatility, intricate regulatory landscapes, and disparities in educational quality—obstacles that are common among countries striving for robust economic development.
This path requires resilience and strategic insight to manage market fluctuations and a deep understanding of complex bureaucratic processes. Success depends on continuous learning, adaptability, and building strong networks within a diverse and dynamic environment.
Growing up in Brazil, Berner understood early on that she needed to work harder and smarter to achieve her goals. Her parents instilled in her invaluable advice that shaped her path. “My parents always told me, ‘Ingrid, success is not just about talent but about perseverance and the willingness to learn from every experience.’ This advice has stayed with me throughout my career, driving me to continuously push myself and embrace challenges,” she recalls.
The roots of her professional journey began in law school, driven by an insatiable passion for learning and a desire to forge an exciting career. Recognizing the importance of understanding finance, Berner also pursued a master’s degree in finance with a specialization in tax law.
“My plan all along was to expand my career to include US taxation,” she shared in AT&T’s Tax Tribune newsletter. In 2020, Berner furthered her education with an LLM in taxation from Georgetown University.
Her expertise and dedication led her to Ernst & Young (EY), where she quickly established herself as a formidable professional. Nearing ten years at EY, DIRECTV, one of her largest clients, enlisted her to help with the acquisition structure when AT&T made an offer to acquire the company. “The Latin American assets were very sizable to the [DIRECTV] transaction,” Berner explains. “So it gave me a seat at the table during the main negotiations that took place.”
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Following the successful approval of the deal, AT&T recognized Berner’s exceptional contributions and offered her the role of head of tax for DIRECTV LATAM. It was a challenging decision for Berner.
“I was a month away from becoming a partner at EY, and it was my career dream,” she recalls. She was concerned about the potential lack of career progression and the possibility of boredom without the diverse teams and clients she had at the consultancy firm. “But being relatively young, I felt it was a good opportunity to see the other side of the table.”
Initially planning to return to public accounting after a few years, Berner’s journey at AT&T took an unexpected turn. “Honestly, three months after joining AT&T, I knew I was never going back [to something else],” she admits with a laugh. “I was very surprised and happy. My role was very exciting, the team was amazing, I got to do many different things, and my career progressed very fast. I was able to move up four levels in less than seven years.” Nine years later, she remains with the company.
This impressive achievement is a testament to her exceptional skills and unwavering dedication. She moved from head of tax for DIRECTV LATAM to become head of tax for AT&T LATAM in 2017. In 2019, she was appointed as the head of international tax, where she oversaw tax functions across ninety-nine countries outside the US. In 2021, she led the newly formed tax operations in US and technology group, expanding her network beyond tax to include investor relations, CFP, accounting, treasury, and legal.
Ingrid Berner
“My dream was always to become a vice president of international tax. But to reach the level of senior vice president and head of tax, I never would have imagined.”
In October 2022, Berner ascended to the role of senior vice president of tax, overseeing tax compliance and strategy for AT&T entities—a position that represents the highest rung on the ladder a tax professional can climb. “My dream was always to become a vice president of international tax,” Berner confesses. “But to reach the level of senior vice president and head of tax, I never would have imagined.”
Those who work with Berner speak proudly of her rise. “Ingrid has brought to AT&T’s tax function a distinct customer-centric focus driven by a service ethic and a vision for transformation,” says Janet Moran, principal for Deloitte Tax LLP. “She has distinguished herself as a leader and a team builder who seeks diverse perspectives to innovate for operational efficiency and to create actionable insights for stakeholders across the enterprise.”
Therefore, Berner’s tenure at AT&T has been marked by thrilling opportunities and complex projects. “There was always something exciting going on, and I was anything but bored,” she told the Tax Tribune in 2023. “I fell in love with the culture, the people, and the strong leaders.”
Upon assuming her current role, Berner reimagined the tax organization, breaking down silos and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. “I realize change can be scary at times—believe me, I know what I am talking about being in a new country, new roles, challenges relocating my family here,” she told the Tax Tribune. “However, throughout my career, change has been equal to opportunity. Opportunity to feel uncomfortable, get out of my comfort zone, and grow.”
Berner’s dedication to learning and growth has been a constant throughout her career. She also attributes her success to strong mentorship and sponsorship. “Mentorship has been invaluable in my career,” she shares. “They provided guidance and helped me navigate the complexities of the corporate world. They believed in me when I doubted myself and pushed me to reach higher.
“Sponsorship, on the other hand, played a crucial role in advancing my career. Sponsors are those who advocate for you when you’re not in the room. They champion your cause, highlight your achievements, and help you gain visibility,” she continues. “My dedication and commitment to help my sponsors achieving their goals created a mutually beneficial relationship. Having sponsors who believe in your potential and are willing to vouch for you can make a significant difference in your career trajectory.”
Committed to paying it forward, Berner mentors aspiring tax professionals from diverse backgrounds. “I focus on key talent,” she notes. “When I see someone who has great potential to be my successor, I work to mentor them and give credit to those on my team who work hard. I try to bring my direct reports to meetings with me when I can so they can get visibility with the clients and exposure that they wouldn’t possibly get.”
As she continues to break barriers and inspire the next generation of tax professionals, Berner exemplifies that with dedication, mentorship, and a passion for learning, one can rise to the highest levels of their profession and leave a lasting legacy.
What can AI do for today’s corporate tax departments? Tune in to Deloitte’s Tax + Tech podcast episode—AI in the Tax Function—to learn about AI’s current state and its potential applications for tax teams. We examine five fundamental technologies for tax and how tax leaders can develop practical plans for implementation. The conversation covers automation tools for routine tasks, optical character recognition, data classification tools, predictive modeling algorithms, and machine learning tools to continuously refine and improve processes. Strategically deploying and combining these tool sets could help tax departments create unprecedented business value through increased efficiency and insights.
