Tracey Walker, CCD-AP, COB – 2022 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

TRAITS OF AWARD WINNERS

1. She has been the driving force to create a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusion. If she is a vendor, she has helped to develop the technologies and solutions that will empower organizations to be more productive and profitable.
2. She is one of the top leaders in the accounting profession and her leadership has had a demonstrable effect upon the accomplishments of the organization with which she is associated.
3. She is a mentor, sponsor, and a role model, someone who stands out in her ability to encourage and help those around her thrive and flourish.
4. The work she does is influential and is having a positive impact on the accounting profession as a whole.

PERSPECTIVES

What do you feel is the most important issue facing the accounting profession today?

Inclusion. Inclusive behavior and appreciation of differences in the workforce of the present and future will be our shining success and relevance or our regression as an accounting profession. This is the action that produces equity and separates good from great in our profession. There are changing demographics in the populations of talent and clients we serve. New ways of working, listening, career pathing and collaboration are essential for sustained – even accelerated success into the future. People fear this as difficult and fraught with risk. Rather, I assert the modern thinking and inclusive leaders lean into inclusion as an asset and accelerant to success. We have a responsibility to create space for the inclusive environment in accounting. Our employees soar and stay among the many returns.

What one thing would you recommend accountants do to prepare for the future?

Invest in inclusive learning and experiences for accounting leaders and rising leaders. You cannot do what you do not know and, at times our professionals have positive intent, but lack skills and permission to grow and be more impactful. It is a different day and we must be both intentional and accountable about showing ourselves welcoming to the new multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-gender, multi-ethnic world which is upon us. Future accountants and consultant cannot be what they cannot see so first we become self aware and inclusion equipped; then we help other.

What one skill or experience would you recommend that young women getting started in the accounting profession master?

Leadership training designed for women can serve three purposes: 1) Help women define their career vision, 2) Help women find their voice and 3) Help women discover possibilities and turn “Impossible” to “I’m possible.” At RSM, we created the STAR Success Series led by our women’s STAR (Stewardship Teamwork Advancement Retention) network group. Women leave empowered to design and own their future – even if a bit non-traditional. They create a new normal empowered by seeing other successful women and learning to share their career goals and believe yes, all things are possible in an accounting career.

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