Post by Trevor W. Williams, CPA (he/him/his)

Trevor’s Travels – EP 35 -- For the third consecutive year I had the pleasure of attending the AICPA Foundation’s Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop (ASLW). I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity, availability, and flexibility to meet in OKC to engage with our future leaders in the accounting profession. A special thank you to AICPA Foundation, my firm GRF CPAs & Advisors, and the other sponsors for providing the funds necessary to allow these amazing students to come from their respective colleges and universities (at no cost to them) and learn important strategies for networking, developing a personal brand, and creating a path to their dream career. I especially love being able to offer guidance and share insights about my academic, career, and life journey. Concurrent with the ASLW is The Accounting Pipeline Diversity Symposium (APDS). This amazing and necessary conference, steered by the AICPA’s National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion brings together professionals from across the accounting and finance profession to discuss strategies and best practices for cultivating inclusive environments and maintaining a strong pipeline of talented individuals from all backgrounds who are encouraged and supported from entry into the profession through to leadership/ownership. If you wish to collaborate with like-minded professionals who strive to inspire the next generation, learn best practices and actionable strategies for attracting and retaining talent from all backgrounds, building inclusive work cultures, and/or forming connections with accounting and finance students with diverse lived experiences who will add value to your firm or organization if given sincere opportunities to succeed, see you next year! Crystal Cooke, Lexi Weber, CPA, Anoop N. Mehta, CPA, CGMA, Katie Patel, Catherine Foca, Jeff Chin, Damian Rivera, Ken Bouyer, Rachael Gibson, Kimberly N. Ellison-Taylor, Chris Simmons, MBA, Walter Tre Idlette, CPA, Sherifa Clarke, MBA, Jacqueline Jefferson, CPA, CGMA, M.Ed, Alejandro Gonzalez, CPA, Jubelo Oyeniran, Juliana Faus, Alfonzo Alexander