Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner, CPA.CITP, CGMA, DTM – 2021 40 Under 40 Honoree

Career highlights: 

• Passing the CPA Exam
• Working in public, corporate, and nonprofit accounting
• Attending AICPA’s Leadership Academy
• Earning my CITP and CGMA designations
• Achieving DTM status in Toastmasters
• Serving as a conference speaker and volunteer leader for the AICPA and Illinois CPA Society
• Writing for Illinois CPA Society’s INSIGHT Magazine
• Editing for The Journal of Accountancy
• Participating in Leadership Academy 2.0
• Participating in the Young Leaders Accounting Think Tank
• Contributing to philanthropic and nonprofit organizations
• Mentoring others and celebrating their successes
• AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award honoring Maximo Mukelabai
• CPA Practice Advisor’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting
• CPA Practice Advisor’s 40 Under 40

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

I teach, write, and advise about topics essential to the accounting profession including promoting ethics and improving strategic skills like effective communication and critical thinking. I look for opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others, which can be something as simple as listening or can be as formal as mentoring or coaching. I volunteer for nonprofit organizations that are improving communities and individual lives. The nonprofits that are nearest to my heart are the ones relating to children like Feed My Starving Children, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Cardz for Kidz, and Junior Achievement.

Favorite books/websites/podcasts/speakers that you find influential

• Books: “Change Your World: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make A Difference” by John C. Maxwell and Rob Hoskins; “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” by Adam Grant
• Websites: https://www.ted.com, https://www.coachwooden.com/
• Podcasts: John O’Leary Live Inspired Podcast, Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast, The General Ledger Podcast by Oracle, What’s Your “And”? Podcast by John Garrett
• Speakers: Simon Sinek (Leadership), Kimberly Ellison-Taylor (Leadership), Angela Lee Duckworth (Perseverance), Jia Jiang (Resilience)

What do you like best about the accounting profession?

The accounting profession provides nearly unlimited ways to help people. During the pandemic, the work of accountants has been crucial to the livelihood of individuals and their businesses worldwide, including creating budgets and forecasts, assisting in applications for government funding, and providing essential services to clients. Additionally, accounting professionals are qualified to help raise levels of financial literacy within communities, which will improve lives. Consider ways you can contribute your resources to help individuals thrive, and inspire others to help, too. A good way to start is to contribute to programs that pool resources from multiple sources to make a significant impact.

AICPA Foundation: https://www.aicpa.org/resources/landing/about-the-aicpa-foundation

CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois: https://www.icpas.org/advocacy/cpa-endowment-fund-of-illinois

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