Purpose Driven

What I enjoy about teaching:

It’s more about the who than the what for me. My students are my favorite part of teaching—interacting with and learning from them more than I actually teach them. I enjoy using the discussion, energy and insight in my classrooms to create a dynamic, interactive and inclusive education that can speak to each and every student.

I encourage my students to:

Make accounting and business knowledge theirs by putting it in their own words, understanding the process behind it and the impact that knowledge has on our lives and society—as well as the role and power they have in it. We strive in our classrooms to make this knowledge a part of who we are, what we do and how we live.

The course I most enjoy teaching is:

Managerial Accounting because it involves more independent decision- making, planning and insight on the part of the students. In this course, students put themselves in managers’ shoes on the inside of fictitious companies. They are then empowered to use the concepts we learn to make the best decisions for the business. It’s exciting to see how our students already have the instincts that will make them successful in their own careers and businesses.

Best accounting tip that everyone should know:

Mind your costs! One of the secrets of business and life is to count your costs and control them, not just to protect your bottom line but also to function as effectively and purposely as possible. Tell me what your costs are, and I can tell you who you are.

Why I started The Corporate Sister:

As a working woman and mom in the corporate world, I noted the lack of gender equity, as well as that of resources, information and support for women to achieve equitable success. I had so many questions— from how to get a mentor to how to use your education or do your own bookkeeping—that I knew others had as well. I started researching and writing around these, and The Corporate Sister was born. I also started consulting and speaking on these topics with an emphasis on business and accounting.

What I want women to know about turning potential into power:

Do it afraid! The fear and impostor syndrome are part of many of our experiences. However, it’s the courage to dare to begin, to learn continuously and to improve that matters. Even failure is a stepping- stone to purposeful achievement and power. And real power is in reaching back and helping others—that is the measure of our humanity and the ultimate legacy we leave.

Something new that I recently learned:

We have 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies. That’s long enough to go around the world more than twice!