How to build a resilient career by embracing change, lifelong learning, and strategic adaptability.
This course examines the professional trajectory of leaders within the accounting field, focusing on the intersection of technical expertise and an entrepreneurial mindset. It covers the importance of self-awareness, the role of continuous learning in navigating industry shifts, and the necessity of maintaining professional flexibility. The content addresses how to advocate for career goals, the value of learning from diverse leadership styles, and the impact of technological transformation on traditional accounting roles. Participants will gain insight into the balance between risk-taking and stability, as well as the importance of prioritizing personal well-being to sustain long-term career performance.
Topics Covered:
Motivational & Leadership Speaker
Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.
EY Americas Entrepreneur Of The Year Director and Assurance Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
Anna brings a global perspective shaped by more than two decades of advising businesses across the United States and Europe, including a two-year capital markets rotation in London. Her cross-market experience informs a leadership approach grounded in trust, disciplined innovation, and long-term value creation. An Assurance partner at Ernst & Young LLP with more than 24 years of public accounting experience at Big Four firms, Anna is a business-minded leader who has led complex audit engagements for multinational public and private companies across sectors, including private equity portfolio companies. Her work spans initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers, carve-out audits, equity and debt offerings, complex reporting, and private placements. Anna also serves as the EY Americas Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Program Director, overseeing one of the organization’s most prestigious entrepreneurship platforms across the United States, Canada, and Latin America. In this role, she leads a connected ecosystem that recognizes, convenes, and supports high-growth entrepreneurs — helping founders navigate complexity and scale with confidence. Anna earned her BBA in Accounting from Texas State University in San Marcos, where she was a student-athlete on the track and field team. She is a CPA in Texas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
