Kari L. Hipsak, CPA, CGMA – 2021 40 Under 40 Honoree

The first highlight is integrating my passion for mental health and emotional intelligence in my career. I truly had no idea what I was getting into years ago with a blog and Facebook live for the AICPA. It opened so many opportunities including the ability to bring awareness to such meaningful topics. Before any label we give ourselves, we are at our cores, people.

The second is the time I was able to commit to the COVID economic recovery programs including PPP. I try not to perpetuate accounting stereotypes, but I do love Excel. The AICPA PPP amount and PPP forgiveness calculators I worked on garnered over 90k downloads and were referred to by former US Secretary of the Treasury, Mnuchin. I started working with the AICPA to give back to the profession and PPP proved to be a time when I was able to do that.

What are you doing to make a difference in the profession, your community, the world?

We are all impacted by the events in our lives and the events of my life have driven me to a variety of volunteer activities. From reviewing scholarship applications for the AICPA and NC Association of CPAs to supporting Special Olympics and Autism Societies as well as raising awareness for the two neurological conditions I was diagnosed with along with mental health; my goal is to leverage the events that have impacted me and make the world a better place for others one person at a time.

Favorite books/websites/podcasts/speakers/bloggers:

I love books and the types of books I’ve read and find influential have varied based on the area of my life I’m reading to address. Just a few examples of the books that stick with me the most include:

• To better myself –
  Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, Deepak Chopra
  Talk Like Ted, Carmine Gallo

• When dealing with anxiety –
  The Upside of Stress, Kelly McGonigal
  The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Bessel van der Kolk

•  For my deep-seeded introvert side-
  Quiet, Susan Cain
  The Quiet Rise of Introverts, Brenda Knowles

• Just for fun-
  Freakonomics, Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J Dubner

What do you like best about the accounting profession?

The amount of opportunities available in the profession are extensive and there are more opportunities becoming apparent for the future. This profession can fit so many personalities and talents. I’m still amazed when I talk to some of my friends and what they’re doing for the profession is so far above and beyond the typical tax and audit services I was introduced to when I was in school.

See all of the 2021 “40 Under 40” honorees.