We’re About Success

Empower Future Leaders by Supporting Retention and Development of Emerging Professionals

Retaining and advancing emerging professionals continues to be a challenge in the accounting and finance profession. To help your firm continue to grow and be sustainable, explore this opportunity to provide your team with development that incorporates the perspectives of professionals with diverse lived experiences and a commitment to building an inclusive accounting and finance profession.

Research shows that employees want to feel they belong, are included and are valued. They want a workplace where they are engaged and empowered to grow and lead. While creating a culture of inclusion can take many forms, research shows it often starts by having the opportunity to see and learn from people and role models who have similar experiences, share a sense of community, and are successfully achieving similar goals.

A solution

There are many reasons why the inclusivity of different perspectives is lacking at leadership levels, but the AICPA & CIMA wants to help change that. By partnering with Howard University’s Center for Accounting Education (CAE), their We’re About Success program is available to emerging professionals through this virtual event.

This program provides insights from a mix of speakers who foster a community that is inclusive of the people, perspectives, cultures and experiences that are critical to the continued success of the accounting and finance profession. It provides the tools and resources needed to navigate unique experiences that emerging professionals may face throughout their career. The skills developed are meant to help propel employee growth in the profession and prepare them for future leadership positions. Attendees will also gain a peer support system.

The event

We’re happy to announce that registration is open for the virtual-only We’re About Success program.

Who should attend:

Emerging professionals (two to five years in the profession) in accounting or finance who have not previously attended the event.

When and where:

We’re About Success is a virtual-only program. It will take place on August 19th from 1–5:30pm ET and August 20th and 21st from 12 – 5pm ET.

Sessions include:

• Mental health

• Self-awareness

• Intentional & Inclusive Leadership

• Maximizing your CPA license

• Leveraging opportunities through volunteering

• Seeking and receiving performance feedback

• Effective mentoring, coaching and sponsorship relationships

• Dynamic keynote sessions from AICPA leaders and members

Participants may receive up to 12 Personnel/Human Resources and Behavioral Ethics CPE credits for participating in these sessions.

Cost:

$395 for AICPA members

$495 for non-members

Event registration:

Individual registration – click here

• If you need any support, please chat with us or call the Global Engagement Center at 1.888.777.7077.

Group registration

• For groups of 5 or more, take advantage of the concierge service and invoicing after the conference. Contact our Group Conference Support Team or call us at 1.800.634.6780 (option 2).

Why make the investment?

The program is designed to help with retention! Most organizations invest in providing technical skill training to staff. This training focuses on necessary skills for personal growth that our We're About Success participants say are missing from trainings they typically attend. Providing them this benefit demonstrates that you value their growth and development at your organization.

A 2023 Inside Public Accounting, speaks to the importance of supporting emerging professionals with different backgrounds and cultures. The article refers to the study by the Illinois CPA Society and the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, which outlines the three key takeaways that emerging professionals may identify as challenges:

1. They see the profession's lack of diversity of thought as a barrier.

2. They feel handicapped by their backgrounds.

3. They believe they’re receiving inadequate feedback and development.

Feedback from past participants:

• “This program validates that you're not alone in your challenges. It enables you to understand how best you can contribute towards your own growth by overcoming these challenges.” – Chandi P., Brown Edwards & Co. LLP

• “Going in, I didn't know that I was going to walk away with this much confidence. This program is just what I needed to point me in the right direction when it comes to building my brand and showing my worth to my firm and colleagues. I enjoyed every minute of the training." – Harriet Ceesay, Marcum LLP

• “This program helps inspire and gives good insight on how to go about their career. It gives good suggestions that help build confidence as well. It is good seeing professionals from different backgrounds being successful and having the chance to share their stories. Everyone's dreams are valid as long as you get the right guidance and put in the work.” – Middy Ragwar, Crowe LLP

• “This conference allowed me to see people from different backgrounds and different areas of public accounting and see the value in our differences and similarities alike. I enjoy the soft-skill trainings like this as they are oftentimes more valuable than technical skills. It reminds us that we are humans first and then accountants.” – Rachael Dooley, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP

If you have any questions about the program, please contact the AICPA Emerging Professionals at EmergingProfessionals@aicpa-cima.com.