The 110th chair of the AICPA joins the JofA podcast for a conversation on Rise2040, the future of the profession, and why trust and adaptability will continue to be essential for finance leaders.
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People and leadership skills
Tweak the message, prep for pushback, succeed in the boardroom
Former Starbucks finance executive Tiffany Willis shares leadership lessons on being challenged by other leaders, the value of “the meeting before the meeting,” and her focus on being authentic.
Why cultural inclusion matters in accounting
Two speakers at the upcoming AIIS conference share how to create and maintain a workplace where employees from different cultures and experiences can collaborate and thrive.
Why Gen X may be the key to multigenerational workplace success
A leadership coach and consultant speaking at an AICPA conference in October discusses how organizations can close generational gaps, improve communication, and create workplaces where employees of all ages thrive.
CFO hires increasing; average age of hires decreasing
At the midpoint of 2026, the average age of CFO hires at large companies stood at 48.2 years old, the youngest average age in at least a decade.
Finance’s chemistry lesson: The guardian-to-catalyst transformation
Finance is being rewired for an AI-driven future, and one Gartner expert says the function’s next challenge is knowing what to preserve — and what to let go.
AI gets the headlines, but it’s not the whole story for finance leaders
What are finance leaders focused on beyond AI? Tom Hood discusses the top priorities emerging from the sixth Future of Finance Summit. Listen to the episode (the JofA’s 500th) or read the transcript.
No joke: Comedian CPA adding more to Tax Return Pizza Tracker menu
Nicole Davis, CPA, built a Tax Return Pizza Tracker and then got a trademark for it. Now she has big plans for a companion app that would touch nearly every task in a tax firm.
Build trust with a stewardship mindset
A finance leader shares what it means to be accountable and why he believes stewardship is the core purpose of the CFO role.
Telling a better CPA story, one T-shirt and LinkedIn post at a time
Calvin Harris, CPA, the CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs, discusses how humor, storytelling, and connection can make the CPA profession more relevant and engaging. Listen to the podcast episode or read the Q&A.
Awkward silence is OK — and other networking secrets
The AICPA’s CPA Pipeline director shares practical networking advice, explains why listening is a critical professional skill and why it’s more challenging these days, and offers an update on accounting enrollment trends. Listen to the podcast episode or read the Q&A.
Accountancy in America: Meeting the moment for 250 years
As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, explore the history of the accountancy profession’s essential role in
the U.S. economy.
Midyear advocacy update: STEM, BOI, taxes and licensure
What issues are shaping the CPA profession? The AICPA’s advocacy leader shares information on STEM legislation, BOI reporting, the “marathon” of new tax legislation, and more. Listen to the podcast episode or read the Q&A.
Why mindset may matter more than technology adoption
Joel Morris of Wolters Kluwer and Tom Hood of the AICPA analyze the importance of mindset and leadership in keeping pace with the rapid rate of transformation in corporate finance and accounting. They discuss artificial intelligence, human skills development, the importance of risk mitigation in AI deployment, and the threat of irrelevance for those who don’t keep up.
The power of active listening in addressing the CPA skills gap
An AICPA vice president discusses the Profession Ready Initiative and its focus on addressing emerging skills gaps for CPAs. In this podcast episode with Q&A, Carl Mayes, CPA, also answers the question, “Are you a good listener?”
7 CPAs honored at ENGAGE 2026
The AICPA honored seven CPAs at ENGAGE in Las Vegas, highlighting CPA efforts in a specific accounting specialty area, excellence in volunteer efforts, and significant contributions to the profession.
Mark Gallegos, CPA, MST
‘Everybody’s still yearning to be known and valued’ “Like a big pitcher of water”: I get to talk to people all day, every day, and I take it pretty seriously. I have the ability to change someone’s day. That could be just saying, “Hey, hello, how are you doing? What’s
New AICPA chair pitches a people-first profession
A big college baseball fan, Jan Lewis steps up to the plate with her eyes on championing the needs of all members.
Rise2040: A human-led profession built on trust
Learn why thousands of finance and accounting professionals say judgment, ethics, and foresight — not just technology — will determine long-term relevance.
6 top scorers on CPA Exam earn Elijah Watt Sells Award
Of more than 87,000 CPA candidates who sat for the CPA Exam in 2025, a half dozen passed all four sections on their first attempt while recording a cumulative average score above 95.5.
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