MOVE Like This!

On this episode, we talk about why so many women are "people pleasers" and have such a hard time saying no when needed. We dive into how to identify our boundaries and literally practice saying "no" until we are comfortable doing so. We then expand on that conversation to discuss what firm leaders can do to create a culture where client needs are met and team members support each other yet everyone can ask for what they need and sa...

Today, we leave the accounting profession for an episode and talk to Safiya Reid, the AVP of Employee Engagement with Pure Insurance. We talk about how she got into the DEI space, why focusing on naysayers is not the best use of our time, and reiterate how this work is all about adding opportunities – not subtracting them. We also talk about how we both look forward to a day when we work ourselves out of a job in DEI because it is ...

Strap in because this one is longer than most but well worth the time investment. Sandra Wiley, president of Boomer Consulting, joins to discuss Boomer's DEI Consortium, the talent shortage, and how firms can rise above the talent shortage. But we also discuss how DEI is a "human issue" even though many try to politicize it, particularly during these few weeks prior to a presidential election. We share personal stories and how each...

After a break in August, we kick off September with a great conversation with Mayumi Young, the founder and CEO of CPA MOMS. We discuss what led her to starting this business and how it has grown and changed since 2008. We also delve into the accounting profession as a whole, discussing how firms need to make adjustments to attract, retain and promote women, people of color and particularly, Gen Z employees, as well as how individu...

On this episode, Bonnie is joined by Liz Barentzen, VP of Operations and Talent Initiatives for the Center for Audit Quality, to talk about the Accounting+ program which has been educating young people, particularly those in underrepresented groups, about the benefits and possibilities of a career in accounting. We talk about why the profession is facing this unprecedented shortage of talent, how the campaign was started, where it ...

On this episode, Bonnie is joined by Tricia Bencich of Moss Adams for the second time. We go deep on the idea of "mental load" and how it impacts us, particularly women, in the workplace. While you may not be familiar with the phrase "mental load," I'm willing to bet you experience it all the time, since it is a term for the invisible labor involved in managing a household and family. We talk about why women carry so much mental lo...

On today's episode, we talk to Rob Lucas, the director of corporate initiatives at the Alzheimer's Association. Why, you ask? In part, because Bonnie was recently asked to join their Accounting Industry Leadership Council, and she wanted to share the great work of this group. Interestingly, it is often accountants that notice the first signs of Alzheimer's in their clients, which is part of the reason this council was formed four y...

On today's episode, Carol Ann Nash from Armanino shares what her firm is doing to create a work culture that takes into account post-COVID desires for flexibility while also meeting team needs when they come into the office. We discuss what employees are saying they want most, not only in terms of where they work, but in the type of work they do. She shares the five tenets of Armanino's work strategy and offers advice for firm lead...

Strap in for a deep conversation with Jen Wilson, Co-Founder & Partner with Convergence Coaching, and a fellow member of the CPA Consultants' Alliance (https://cpaconsultantsalliance.com/). We talk about some of the biggest challenges facing the accounting profession, the work of the National Pipeline Advisory Group (https://www.accountingpipeline.org/), the importance of inclusion and diversity for firms' longevity, and how fi...

On this episode, I catch up with Trevor Williams, DEI Director with GRF CPAs & Advisors. He and his firm were recently featured in an Accounting Today article for their DEI efforts and the transparency report they released that talks about the strides made, but also points out the areas where more work is needed and how they are going to get there. We dig into current DEI skepticism, the many facets of diversity, and get his ad...

In this episode, we take a break from accounting and talk about something that impacts all of us: healthcare. As the CEO of Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, Michael has a front row seat to what is going on in women's healthcare and is one of the strongest advocates in the area. We talk about what brought him to this role, why women have only been included in clinical and pharmaceutical trials for such a short time,...

On this episode of MOVE Like This, Bonnie is joined by Jessica Hekmatjah, Chief Marketing & Corporate Development Officer at BPM. We discuss the firm's substantial increase in women partners between 2022 and 2023 and how leadership support is important to any DEI initiative. We also learn the valuable role BPM's colleague resource groups play in its strategy and culture and learn what advice Jessica has for firms looking to att...

On this episode, we have our first return guest! Our very first guest, Mary Maguire, formerly of SAPRO and currently CEO of MJM Talent Solutions, returns to talk about the state of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the accounting profession. We dive into what programs need to succeed, why firms should not pull back on their efforts, and the myriad benefits businesses experience when DEIB is woven into its DNA. We also c...

On this episode, we are joined by two women from the Accounting and Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA), Cindy Stanley, Executive Director and Shane Schaefer, Events & Education Director. We learn about AFWA's 86-year-history and how the organization and the Accounting MOVE Project started working together 15 years ago. Cindy shares her observations about the role of women in the accounting profession, including some advances and...

Priscilla Hammonds, DEI Director at BerryDunn joins MOVE Like This to share her unique perspective as someone who has worked in the DEI space for 20+ years. We learn how BerryDunn has embraced diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and access and committed time, resources and energy to creating a firm of choice for all potential employees. Priscilla also shares her thoughts on why firms that may be considering pulling back on thei...

Reema Patel, accounting practitioner, financial advisor and co-director of D-PATH, CBM's diversity and inclusion initiative, talks about how the firm has created policies that attract and retain women, how she addresses DEI skepticism, and why she helped create a financial planning service targeting Millennials. We also learn why she would choose teleportation as her superpower. To learn more about CBM, visit https://www.cbmcpa.com...

Angie Grissom, CEO of The Rainmaker Companies and one of the most influential people in accounting, joins Bonnie to talk about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in today's profession. Topic discussed range from what firms can do to find and retain talent, how a "people-first" approach is vital to today's workforce, and what successful firms are doing to meet and exceed the needs of clients, the firm and their team m...

Amanda Pontow, partner, and Megan Geissinger, Human Resources manager, at Bland & Associates join Bonnie to discuss how they are supporting local high schools to fight the talent shortage, discuss their Leadership training program, called BLING, and share how they are invested in cross training team members to ensure clients are always served at the highest level possible. Learn more about Bland & Associates by visiting htt...

Jen Cryder, CEO of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, joins Bonnie to talk about the talent crunch, the core reasons why fewer young people are entering the professions, and how some firms are addressing it. We also discuss some ways firms need to adjust to retain the people they have, particularly women, and where they need to invest their money to become firms of the future. Learn more about the PICPA here: https://www.picpa.org...