The Evolution of She Counts: Taking Our Own Advice

Live from Bridging the Gap, Nancy is joined by Al-Nesha Jones, Jennifer Dymond, and Dena Martin to explore what it takes to build a sustainable career, a firm that works for you, and a community that helps you get there. Al-Nesha shares how she's mastered the four-day workweek and uses AI to become a better delegator; Dena opens up about ADHD, accountability, and finding the confidence to put herself out there; and Dymond explains how improv, communication, and meaningful relationships have transformed her career. Along the way, the women tackle burnout, the importance of asking for help, and the challenge of turning conference inspiration into action. With plenty of laughter and questions from the live audience, it's a conversation about intentionally designing what's next—and finding the people who will help you make it happen.SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors (00:53) - Live at Bridging the Gap (01:50) - Erin’s BTG Story (03:33) - Meet the Panelists (05:27) - Biggest Takeaways to Implement (12:27) - What to Add Next Year (15:14) - Accountability After the Conference (22:19) - Five Years From Now (25:28) - AI for Better Leadership (29:04) - Claude For ADHD Blocks (30:16) - Hyperfocus Pros And Cons (31:41) - Career Relationships That Matter (33:50) - Bridging The Gap Friendships (38:18) - Theater Sisters And Sponsors (43:08) - Favorite Sessions Takeaways (45:47) - What Needs A Stage (49:40) - One Word Closing Reflections Guests and featured contributorsAl-Nesha Jones on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alneshajones/Jennifer Dymond on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndymond/Dena Martin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smoothsailing/Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohanPeople mentionedRandy Crabtree on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-crabtree-cpa-1945a67/Kellie Parks on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-parks/Tori McKee on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-staub-mckee-b1872427/Shirley Koss on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleykoss/John Jauch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-jauch-heart-mind-method/Liz Farr on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizfarrcpa/Nicole Davis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledaviscpaCorry Jankowski on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/corry-jankowski/Lynnette Oss-Connell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell/Liz Scott on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizscottqbo/Jina Etienne on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/etiennejina/Gail Perry on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gailperrycpa/Conferences, communities, and resourcesBridging the Gap Conference - https://www.btgconference.com/BTG Notes by Ping Assistant - https://www.pingassistant.com/conference/bridging-the-gapPing Assistant (Promo code: ASK-A-CPA for one month free) - https://app.pingassistant.com/The Disruptors Podcast - https://cpatrendlines.com/category/featured-video/the-disruptors/Theater of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055Ask a CPA - https://aska.cpa/Participation Town — https://participationtown.com/SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpa

Women in accounting know how to evaluate an investment, calculate a return, and explain opportunity cost to a client. So why are we so bad at doing the same thing for ourselves?Nancy McClelland is joined by Marit Burmood for a candid conversation about ambition, opportunity, and the cumulative cost of saying yes. From speaking engagements and leadership roles to new clients and professional recognition, they explore how individually worthwhile opportunities can add up to a career, and a life, that looks nothing like what we intended.Drawing on their own experiences, Nancy and Marit examine the pressure to keep proving ourselves, the hidden costs of visibility and success, and how to audit our commitments against what we genuinely want from our professional and personal lives. Because an opportunity can be wonderful and still not be worth what it costs us.SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Intuit Connect Invite (01:26) - Show Welcome Sponsors (02:19) - Meet Meruit (04:40) - Opportunity Cost Setup (06:16) - Board Seat Wake Up (09:05) - Emotions Fear Drivers (15:58) - Time Tracking Reality (18:25) - Recovery Time Matters (21:35) - Portfolio View Time (26:04) - Saying No To Speak (29:33) - Define Goals Audit (31:55) - Time Audit Reality Check (33:06) - Rank Priorities and Flex (35:25) - Define Your North Star (36:26) - Money and Enough (42:19) - Opportunity Cost Steps (44:35) - Hidden Time Costs (49:18) - Would You Choose Again (54:34) - Keep Change or Let Go (58:39) - Intentional Ambition Wrap (01:01:58) - Final Quote and Next Steps ResourcesIntuit Connect - Celebrate Women in Accounting Cabana Splash! - https://luma.com/gmyj5fztIntuit Connect - She Counts! Women in Accounting Takeover - https://intuitconnect.braindate.com/braindates/309467Marit Burmood on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marit-burmood/Marit Burmood on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_extroverted_accountant/Marit Burmood CPA - https://www.maritburmoodcpa.com/Flair Financial - https://www.flairfinancial.net/aboutMarit’s husband on IG - https://www.instagram.com/the_extreme_accountant/Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055Mariette Martinez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariettemartinez/Jennifer Dymond on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndymond/Justine Lackey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinelackey/Sharrin Fuller on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharrinfuller/Deb Kilsheimer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/debliberate/Robina Bennion on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robina-bennion/Diana Gleason on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianagleason/Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/WAVE-Austin - https://waveaustin.com/David Leary on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidleary/Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-is-state-mind/201807/jomo-the-joy-missing-outRoger Knecht’s GrowCon - https://universalaccountingschool.com/get-ready-for-growcon-meet-roger-knecht/Melissa Miller Furgeson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamillerfurgeson/Misty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-schachtell-3a634a2/Lynnette Oss Connell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell/Ask a CPA community for bookkeepers - https://aska.cpa/SPONSORS: Bill, Relay, Karbon Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpa

What happens when something you love no longer fits the life you need to live? Season 4 opens with Nancy McClelland interviewing her friend and founding co-host, Questian Telka, about her decision to step away from She Counts. Questian shares how burnout, family responsibilities, and financial priorities pushed her to follow the advice they’ve so often discussed on the show. Together, they revisit favorite episodes, laugh about what listeners never see, and talk honestly about the sadness, relief, and uncertainty of changing something they built together. Nancy also shares what’s ahead for the podcast—and what scares her about carrying it forward. If you’ve ever struggled to let go of a meaningful commitment, this conversation offers room to ask what you need to make space for in your own life.SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome to She Counts (01:20) - Season Four Begins (02:17) - Big News Questian Steps Away (03:50) - Burnout Warning Signs (06:43) - Life Reboot and Big Changes (11:06) - The Engage Heart to Heart (14:53) - Making Room for Family (18:35) - Mini Sabbatical Mindset (20:44) - How She Counts Started (22:15) - Funniest Behind the Scenes (23:55) - Favorite Live Episodes (26:39) - Upcoming Live Recordings (29:01) - Listener Moments and Impact (30:45) - Most Popular Episode Credit Due (32:03) - Guests Who Surprised Us (33:01) - Melissa’s Calming Presence (33:29) - Awards Season Anxiety (34:42) - Realizing People Listen (36:51) - From Ideas to Episodes (37:40) - The Hidden Podcast Work (39:36) - Balancing Passion and Profit (41:57) - Season Four Game Plan (45:32) - Confidence to Go Solo (46:45) - Impact and the Why (50:28) - Secret Fears After Change (54:43) - Finding Your Voice (56:03) - Takeaways and Farewell ResourcesQuestian Telka on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea/Women in Accounting Visionary Entrepreneurs (WAVE) - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9baddErin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/Lynnette Oss Connell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell/Break Free from Burnout with Lynnette Oss Connell - https://shecounts.show/4Imposter Interrupted - https://shecounts.show/16The Big “D”: Divorce - https://shecounts.show/26Alicia Katz Pollock on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciakatzpollock/Why Brilliant Bookkeepers Undervalue Themselves - https://shecounts.show/27Live at Bridging the Gap 2025 - https://shecounts.show/13Participation Town - https://participation.automationtown.io/Nancy leading “She Works Hard for the Money” at AICPA Women’s Global Leadership Summit https://photos.app.goo.gl/yudaTmMc2VqFzKA8ACredit Where Due - https://shecounts.show/23The Courage to be Nominated - https://shecounts.show/29Misty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-schachtell-3a634a2/Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055Katie Helle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkatiehelle/Beyond Fear: The Courage to Begin Again - https://shecounts.show/34Marit Burmood on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marit-burmood/She Believed in Me Before I Did - https://shecounts.show/2Lindsay Patterson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypatterson/Presence, Not Performance - https://shecounts.show/30Justine Lackey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinelackey/Build the Business You Really Want - https://shecounts.show/10Nicole Davis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledaviscpa/Roman Villard on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdvcpa/Aileen Gilpin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aileengilpin/Eleanor Brown - https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/11485599-you-only-have-one-life-to-live-make-sure-itsSPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpa

Nancy is joined by Madeline Reeves, founder of Fearless Foundry and creative director of Advisory Amplified, for an uncomfortable but necessary conversation: the ways women sometimes undercut each other in business. Maddy shares the moment a client asked if her proposal was her "PITA fee," and the pattern that followed of being stiffed on invoices exclusively by women. Nancy argues that the real issue isn't generosity itself, but rather, who gets to decide what counts as a gift: the giver, not the person on the receiving end. From unpaid favors to predatory coaching dressed up as empowerment, this episode asks what we owe each other as women—and what we absolutely do not.SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors (01:00) - Meet Maddie Reeves (02:49) - Episode Topic Women vs Women (06:17) - PITA Fee Pricing Story (10:55) - Unpaid Invoices Pattern (14:27) - Setting Boundaries and Vetting (16:54) - Flag Waving Red Flags (21:21) - Women Talk Money Directory (26:04) - Contracts Grace and Dialogue (29:49) - Say It Out Loud Negotiation (32:00) - Why Money Talks Are Hard (33:19) - Talking Money Out Loud (34:53) - Mixed Feelings About Wealth (36:38) - Women Only Networks Limits (38:59) - Learning From Male Rooms (40:31) - Generosity And Access (43:15) - Predatory Coaching Exposed (49:05) - Spotting Red Flags (51:02) - Healthy Pricing Dialogue (52:26) - Shame And Collective Cost (57:50) - Building Boundaries And Norms (01:03:48) - Seasonal Capacity And Respect (01:05:36) - Closing Call To Action ResourcesMadeline Reeves on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinekreeves/ Fearless Foundry - https://www.fearlessfoundry.com/Advisory Amplified - https://www.advisoryamplified.com/?ref=roadie - 20% off with discount code Nancy-roadieWomen in Accounting Visionary Entrepreneurs (WAVE) - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9baddErin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/Adrienne Maree Brown (Author excerpt) - https://earthlingopinion.wordpress.com/2019/03/01/fractals-the-relationship-between-small-and-large/How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur (LA Review of Books) - https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fools-and-philosophers-on-michael-schurs-how-to-be-perfect/How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur (Interview w Nick Offerman) - https://youtu.be/jKP2f4D8nRc?si=ezryAYZqhVtiwpf3Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/bundles/topscohort?ref=857055Misty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-schachtell-3a634a2/Only 2% Of Women-Owned Businesses Break The $1 Million Mark (Eilene Zimmerman in Forbes) - https://www.forbes.com/sites/eilenezimmerman/2015/04/01/only-2-of-women-owned-businesses-break-the-1-million-mark-heres-how-to-be-one-of-them/SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpa

What changes when you discover who you are, trust what you have to say, and recognize the impact your voice can make? In the final episode of our Curtain Call series, Nancy and Theatre of Public Speaking CEO Misty Megia bring listeners two conversations about finding, trusting, and using your own voice. Certified Fraud Examiner Candy Bellau spent her career uncovering deception, but her latest investigation is far more personal: uncovering the fraud within. She shares how she learned to become a chameleon, adapting herself to the people around her to feel safe, accepted, and loved—and the work she’s now doing to find and express her authentic self. Emily spent years happily behind the scenes at her beloved nonprofit, Spike’s K9 Fund, until its mission required her to step forward. She discovered that she couldn’t simply borrow the voice of the gifted leader who came before her. She had to find her own. Their stories come from different places, but share a powerful realization: finding your own voice can change both how you show up in the world and the impact you’re able to make. SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome to She Counts (01:24) - Curtain Call Setup (02:08) - Finding Your Real Voice (04:45) - Meet Candy Bellau (05:56) - Fraud Examiner Origins (07:45) - Rules Tools and Ethics (09:33) - Spotting Fraud Patterns (12:25) - Trauma and Chameleon Skills (15:05) - Controls Compensation Culture (20:56) - The Fraud Within Explained (22:18) - Honesty Kindness and Feedback (26:59) - Kindness Across Contexts (27:24) - Work Boundaries vs Loved Ones (28:27) - Saying No to Friends (29:40) - Vulnerability and Inner Fraud (31:03) - Candy Journey Reflections (32:45) - Chameleon and Belonging (34:50) - Approval and People Pleasing (36:39) - Emily Finds Her Voice (39:43) - Mission to Protect K9 Heroes (43:59) - Tools for Confidence (47:08) - How to Support Working Dogs (48:31) - Take the First Step (50:30) - Misty on Transformation (55:10) - Fully Becoming Yourself (58:30) - Series Wrap and Call to Action ResourcesMisty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - Misty Schachtell | LinkedIn Candy Bellau on LinkedIn - Candy Bellau, CFE, PI | LinkedIn Dawn Brolin on LinkedIn - Dawn W. Brolin, CPA, CFE | LinkedIn Nicole Landau on LinkedIn - Nicole Landau, CFE 📊👷‍♀️🔦 | LinkedIn Robert Berry aka “That Audit Guy” on LinkedIn - Robert Berry | LinkedIn Valerie Heckman on LinkedIn - Valerie Heckman | LinkedIn Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2027-aboutEmily Soccino Grey on LinkedIn - Emily Soccino Grey | LinkedIn Spike’s K9 Fund.org - Spikes K9 Fund | Advocates for America's Working DogsSpike’s K9 Fund on LinkedIn - Spike's K9 Fund: Home | LinkedIn Spike’s K9 Fund on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spikesk9fund/Spike’s K9 Fund on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spikesk9fund/Spike’s K9 Fund on Twitter - https://x.com/Spikesk9fundSpike’s K9 Fund on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswqkkwkdkGwqyjKCkD5JfwTheatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaConnect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/

What happens when the way you’ve always moved through the world stops working for you? Nancy brings Mellisa Miller Furgeson (filling in for Questian) two more conversations from the Theatre of Public Speaking Advanced Retreat. Jean Zick shares how understanding her introversion helped her stop fighting the way she’s wired and start building around it. Terri Warren faced a dramatic reckoning after two strokes forced her to reconsider what she could ask of herself. Together, their stories explore what becomes possible when we understand ourselves well enough to honor what we need.SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome to She Counts (00:35) - Sponsors and Support (01:17) - Why These Stories Matter (04:55) - Meet Jean Zick (05:48) - Millionaire Introvert Origin (07:19) - Introvert vs Extrovert Energy (08:34) - Conference Survival Tips (14:38) - Introvert Superpowers (16:42) - Small Group Networking (18:15) - Building Virtual Connection (22:15) - Final Takeaways (24:28) - Jean Wrap Up Reflection (25:18) - Reframing Conference Breaks (26:03) - Teri’s New Reality (27:04) - Cape of Confidence Story (27:52) - Letting People In (30:33) - Layoff Shatters Identity (32:10) - Building Your Own Walls (33:41) - Stroke Rips Cape Away (35:03) - Second Stroke Wake Up (36:58) - Fear and Denial (39:27) - Acceptance and New Scoreboard (40:59) - Redefining Work and Energy (43:54) - Two Sided Cape Metaphor (49:35) - GROW Model and New Cape (50:50) - Connecting Jean and Teri (53:34) - Final Takeaways and Sign Off ResourcesMelissa Miller Furgeson on LinkedIn - 👩🏻‍💻Melissa Miller Furgeson | LinkedIn Jean Zick on LinkedIn - Jean Zick | LinkedIn Sharrin Fuller on LinkedIn - Sharrin Fuller | LinkedInKelly Gonsalves on LinkedIn - Kelly Gonsalves | LinkedIn Nancy’s MSN article on Tips & Tricks for Intuit Connect - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/expert-tips-for-attending-intuit-connect-2025/ar-AA1soTN6Nancy’s MSN article on Top 10 Accounting Conferences - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/growth-community-and-cpe-10-accounting-conferences-that-deliver-in-2025/ar-AA1CnqrkTori Staub McKee on LinkedIn - Tori Staub McKee | LinkedIn Terri Warren on LinkedIn - Terri Warren | LinkedIn Realize - https://www.rlz.io/World Health Organization stats on missed workdays due to mental health issues - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-workIt was never a dress - https://itwasneveradress.org/Women Who Count - https://womenwhocount.com/Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - Erin Pohan | LinkedIn WAVE-Seattle - https://www.instagram.com/wave.seattle/Nicole Davis on LinkedIn - Nicole Davis, CPA | LinkedIn GROW Model - GROW model - WikipediaTheatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaConnect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/

Big changes rarely happen all at once. And when fear has been making our decisions for a long time, even the first small step can feel enormous. Nancy and Questian bring listeners two conversations from the Theater of Public Speaking “Curtain Call” retreat, recorded by Nancy with women whose stories start in different places and arrive at the same realization. Katie Helle spent seven years staring at the same spreadsheet before burnout finally pushed her to leave a stable CPA role and start her own firm; Mariana Alvarez spent years rebuilding her sense of self after heartbreaking domestic abuse, learning that forgiveness — of the people who hurt her and of herself — couldn't be rushed. Both chose to move forward while still scared, and discovered that you don’t need to see the whole path to begin walking it. SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome to She Counts (00:31) - Sponsors and Support (01:14) - Two Stories One Theme (02:40) - Retreat Setup and Interviews (03:35) - Meet Katie Heele (04:11) - Fear as Information (07:01) - Starting a Firm Doubts (09:44) - Entrepreneur Roots and Risk (12:00) - Seven Years to Act (13:13) - Burnout Flips the Switch (15:38) - Steps Not Leaps (18:20) - Find Help and Community (20:50) - Modern Firm Models (22:22) - Fear Means Growth (23:53) - 60% Want Change (24:17) - Write Down Fear (25:16) - One Step Plan (25:37) - Katie Closing Advice (27:19) - Fear Into Willingness (29:31) - Mariana Joins the Show (31:26) - Self Forgiveness Path (34:34) - Anger As A Wall (40:36) - Purpose And North Star (43:45) - Peace After Survival (45:59) - Be True To Yourself (47:23) - One Step Takeaway (48:30) - Wrap Up And Quote ResourcesKatie Helle on LinkedIn - M Katie Helle, CPA | LinkedIn Source for Job Change stats cited - Resume Now. (2025). 2025 Career Gridlock ReportMariana Alvarez on LinkedIn - Mariana Alvarez | LinkedIn Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaConnect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/

Nancy and Questian compare notes on their two very different sessions from Scaling New Heights that turned out to have more in common than expected, leading to insightful lessons about leadership. Nancy's panel on Vulnerability as a Strength started with a deliberately invasive survey she gives accomplished leaders, designed to surface what they never say out-loud; Questian's session on Change Management with Ashley Rhoden dug into leading clients and teams through change. Talking it through afterwards, they realized both sessions kept circling back to the same two ingredients that impact our ability to lead — self-awareness, and the ability to recognize what someone else is carrying. They close with the question Nancy asked her own audience: who actually knows what you're carrying, and whose load could you help lighten?SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome to She Counts (01:14) - Conference Lessons Intro (02:03) - Vulnerability Panel Origin (07:43) - Change Management Session (10:07) - Leadership Overlap Themes (12:52) - Vulnerability Panel Framework (16:03) - Lonely at the Top (17:24) - Sharing Failures Honestly (22:39) - Admitting Weakness Safely (24:23) - Word Cloud Breakthrough (27:20) - No Perfect Firm Myth (29:22) - Empathy in the AI Era (30:48) - Vulnerability and Awareness (32:05) - Spotting Change Signals (37:25) - Asking Better Questions (40:33) - Trusted Advisor Mindset (42:11) - Using AI for Prep (44:00) - Handling Change Resistance (50:21) - When Scope Must Shift (53:04) - Pricing Without Guilt (56:28) - Key Takeaways Recap (57:19) - Questions on Vulnerability (59:35) - Closing Quote and Wrap ResourcesThe OG Vulnerability as a Strength Panel at Bridging the Gap 2024 - https://youtu.be/gY6b5RYSbrw?si=Mz0jyz4uWxRo1J_ZAnna Dynia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-dynia-cpa-483838/Al-Nesha Jones - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alneshajones/Nayo Carter-Gray - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nayocartergray/Hector Garcia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hectormgarciacpa/Dawn Brolin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbrolin/Randy Crabtree - https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-crabtree-cpa-1945a67/Tony Proctor - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyproctor/Brittany Brown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-brown-b8324812/Ashley Rhoden - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyrhodenmba/Twyla Verhelst - https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylav/Shirley Koss - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirleykoss/Liz Farr - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-farr-5165244a/Terrell Turner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrellturner/Nicole Davis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledaviscpa/The Disruptors Podcast - https://cpatrendlines.com/category/the-disruptors/NATP Taxposium - https://taxposium.natptax.com/homeScaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2027-aboutBridging the Gap - https://www.btgconference.com/REFRAME - https://reframeaccounting.com/SPONSORS: [BIll, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaConnect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/

Live from Wave Seattle, Nancy and Questian are joined by conference founder Erin Pohan to put the audience's own definitions of success on trial. Nancy explains why she'd rather work in her business than scale it, even after a vendor once told her she was leaving money on the table; Questian describes firing almost every client to become a firm of one built entirely around nonprofit CFO work. It's a room full of women in accounting answering the same question out loud: what definition of success have you personally outgrown?SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors (01:29) - Live at Wave Seattle (02:58) - Erin Creates Wave (07:51) - Redefining Success (14:16) - Permission to Be You (17:03) - Moments That Felt Seen (20:23) - Mindset Shifts to Take Home (25:16) - Your Personal Board (30:28) - Borrowed Balls Energy (31:35) - Build Your Personal Board (32:44) - Ditch Like Minded Advice (35:33) - Rapid Fire Q And A (35:46) - Leadership Coach Warnings (37:26) - Finding The Right Therapist (40:06) - Firm Too Big Now What (41:41) - Selling Clients Live Poll (42:33) - Impact Through Giving (43:21) - Best Conferences And Networking (47:38) - Hallway Wisdom And Outreach (49:20) - Scholarships And Foundation Plug (50:55) - Closing Quote And Farewell ResourcesErin Pohan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohanNicole Davis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledaviscpaLynnette Oss-Connell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell/Corry Jankowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/corry-jankowski/Alicia Katz Pollock - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciakatzpollockJeanne Hardy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannehardy/Jennifer Dymond - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndymond/Roman Villard - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdvcpa/Melissa Miller Ferguson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamillerfurgeson/Kim Kelleher - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimkelleher/Brittany Brown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-brown-b8324812/Hope Brown - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-brown-msa-afsp-463a44239/Aneisha Velasquez - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneisha-v/Madeleine Reeves - https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinekreeves/Katie Helle - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkatiehelle/Andrea McDonald - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-macdonald-cpa-4704042b/Tori McKee - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-staub-mckee-b1872427/Sharrin Fuller - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharrinfuller/Nayo Carter-Gray - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nayocartergray/WAVE-Seattle (Women in Accounting & Finance Visionaries and Entrepreneurs) - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9baddUpkeeping (Erin Pohan's firm) - https://www.upkeeping.co/Ask a CPA community discount code: ACS30 - https://aska.cpa/Counter community - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/logangraf_in-case-you-didnt-know-i-run-a-community-activity-7475204470356766720-6g4A/Bridging the Gap Conference discount code: BTGloyaltyattendees2026 - https://www.btgconference.com/Accounting Cornerstone Foundation - https://accountingcornerstone.org/Theater of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2027-aboutAdvisory Amplified discount code: Nancy-roadie - https://www.advisoryamplified.com/Jason on Firms - https://www.jasononfirms.com/Unofficial QuickBooks Accountant Podcast - https://uqb.show/SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaConnect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/

We all have moments that ask more of us than we think we're capable of giving: the difficult client conversation, the boundary that needs to be set, the meeting where it's time to speak up. It happened to Cassie Divine, too. In two decades leading at Intuit, she discovered that authority isn't something you earn once you feel ready. It's something you access when the moment demands it. Most career advice tells women to become more confident, more assertive, or more strategic. But what if you don't need to become someone new at all? Cassie joins Nancy and Questian to explore the idea of an alter ego—not as a fake persona, but as a way to access the version of yourself that's already proven she can do hard things. From the sixth-grade story that gave birth to "Trashy Cassie" to the executive conversations that later demanded her, they unpack why authority is a behavior, not a personality, and how to stop waiting until you feel ready.SponsorsBill - http://bill.com/shecountsRelay - https://relayfi.com/shecountsKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/(00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors (01:16) - Meet Cassie Divine (02:30) - Origin of Trashy Cassie (06:38) - Executive Double Standard (09:26) - Alter Ego as Access (16:52) - Permission and Intentionality (20:45) - Catalog Your Strengths (24:14) - Celebrate Wins Rituals (28:04) - Behavior Over Feelings (29:57) - Act As If Confidence (31:37) - Permission To Be Bold (34:52) - Yoga Pants Shortcut (36:20) - Focus On The Why (40:36) - Evidence You Can Do Hard (43:19) - Gratitude Interrupts Panic (46:05) - Situational Armor Guardrails (47:50) - Talk Less Say More (53:16) - Career Hack Origin Story (57:23) - Final Takeaways And Wrap ResourcesCassie Divine | LinkedInAbout — Cassie DivineCareer <Hack> | Cassie Divine | Substack SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon] Join Our LinkedIn Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastSubscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcastFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Nancyhttps://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaConnect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of Earmark Media