I think what inspires me most about the profession is the technological changes that are really affecting the profession. Where we see AI and the benefits that we can have where some of those routine tasks that accountants don’t like to do, anyway, aren’t going to have to be done. And what inspires me is that if we have accountants who can work well with AI, it’s predicted that they can do the job of two to three accountants now. So having somebody that can work with that, and still do all that critical thinking, and get to do the exciting things about our profession. I think should be attractive to students looking at this profession going forward because the profession is not going away. It’s only going to get better.

So many students view the career path of accounting as maybe it’s only for you if you’re going to become a CPA and then you’re going to just do taxes. But when you really open their eyes to what the profession can offer that you do not have to be a CPA. Or, if you become a CPA and work at one of the firms, it’s not only tax and audit. But you’ve got business advisory services and client advisory services now, or you can go into industry. There are certifications you can get that industry is looking for as well. So there’s a broad base.

I usually will always tell students on day one that I’d like for them to think about things they would like to be doing 10 years after graduation. Do you want to travel? Do you want to live in certain areas of the country? Do you want to drive a certain type of car? Accounting is a profession that can get you there.

I try to tell students that every business needs accountants, and that what you should try to do is find an industry that you have a great passion for if it’s something with retail or automotive or sports, or if it’s being socially conscious of environmental issues. Find some industry and work towards that. Also, the first job in accounting may not be in that industry, but as you progress through your career, try to move to one of those that you really have a passion for what the company does as well, and you’re going to be happier overall.