She Counts

There may be errors in spelling, grammar, and accuracy in this machine-generated transcript.

Nancy McClelland: Hey, Questian. Are we really doing this?

Questian Telka: Yeah, Nancy, we're really doing this.

Nancy McClelland: Oh, welcome to She Counts, the Real talk podcast for women in accounting. We're your hosts, Nancy McClelland.

Questian Telka: And question Telka.

Nancy McClelland: And every episode, we're digging into the real experiences, challenges, and unspoken truths of life in this profession.

Questian Telka: Because if you've ever felt like you're the only [00:00:30] one, you're not. And you shouldn't have to figure this all out alone.

Nancy McClelland: Special thanks to our sponsors, Forwardly Ignition and Keeper, for helping us bring these conversations to life, enabling us to share out loud what everyone's thinking, but no one's saying. Today's episode is called She Counts.

Questian Telka: And we're going to deep dive into the topic of why we started this project in the first place, what we hope to accomplish with it [00:01:00] and what an important role we all play. Making life better for women. Women in accounting.

Nancy McClelland: We love launching each episode with a story and question. I know you have one to share with us.

Questian Telka: I pretty much always have a story to share, so you can you can always count on that. Um, when I first started my firm, um, I had no accounting colleagues or friends, and I really had nowhere [00:01:30] to turn as challenges kind of started to come up. So it was pretty isolating and scary. And there were several times where I had problems that I needed to solve, and I didn't have anyone to ask. And so then I started questioning, do I really have enough knowledge to be doing this? Where am I going to find the answer? And I was second guessing. Do I have what it takes to run this business and have my own practice. [00:02:00] And it wasn't until I found community or a community bookkeeping buds and met others that I could connect with that I finally began to really find my stride.

Nancy McClelland: And when you say others that you connect with, that's where we met. Bookkeeping buds community. And I'm so glad we did. My experience was actually pretty different. Um, in addition to being almost 25 years ago instead of five years ago, um, you were talking [00:02:30] about how, you know, it would send you into a panic. Like, what am I doing? Do I have enough knowledge? Where do I find the answer? Like, oh my God, do I have what it takes to run my own practice? And for me, you know, I was raised by parents who were adamant that I could do anything that I set my mind to. So I actually have loads of displaced confidence that at the beginning, you know, it came from knowing as little as I did and a spoiler alert for listeners, [00:03:00] um, we're going to be talking about the different phases of learning in a future episode. And like, what happens when you don't know what you don't know? I knew, however, that I was just stabbing in the dark at a lot of it, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about the fact that I was just making it up as I went along. And I did know some people in accounting, but they were all men, and some of them were really judgy and self-important, [00:03:30] and that really made me feel, you know, sometimes it made me feel really small. Sometimes it made me feel like I was doing it wrong, and I was embarrassed about that. Sometimes it just made me angry and defensive. And so I just put a mask on and I pretended that I had it all figured out, And wearing that mask, it was actually really isolating.

Questian Telka: Yeah, I know, I can't even imagine. [00:04:00] I feel like we hear so many stories similar to both of ours. And so that's why we decided to start this podcast. We really want it to be that safe space for other women in accounting where you can go, whether you are working at a CPA firm in a Big Four or whether you are in your own practice. We want to be the resource that we both needed and still need when we started out.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah, that's actually a really good point. It's not [00:04:30] like, oh, back then I didn't have it figured out, but I do now. So I'm going to start a podcast to tell everybody how perfect life is now and how they just they just need to, to eventually get to be like me. It's not like that at all. For us, it's like it's a parallel. This is how we're picturing this podcast. It's like a parallel to our WhatsApp groups and our slack groups of female colleagues that we've met along the way, you know, or.

Questian Telka: The conversations [00:05:00] that we have when getting together at conferences or meeting for coffee.

Nancy McClelland: And we both love the conferences.

Questian Telka: Yeah. Or our zoom meetups?

Nancy McClelland: Yes, as a matter of fact, that's something that I know you and I both do like. We'll get together either, like with your local business bestie, you'll get together for coffee and compare notes or drinks or you were just saying to me the other day that you've started, like doing regular zooms with people that maybe you met at conferences but didn't get to [00:05:30] to know that well.

Questian Telka: Yes, I actually met somebody this week who I had no idea that there was someone local, and I don't have a lot of local accounting colleagues, and met her for coffee. And it was great because I was talking about the podcast and she started sharing with me some of her stories that are similar to our to ours.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah. I mean, being able to to chat about the common pain points that we [00:06:00] as women in the industry deal with. Um, you know, I just neither of us had that back in the day. And so we decided to do something about it to extend or like, open up these circles to other women in the industry who are struggling with, with wondering, with self-doubt. Um, I mean, I guess it's kind of like therapy for us. I hope it is for you, too.

Questian Telka: It is. I mean, that's how it started, right? We had zoom [00:06:30] calls. We were, you know, sharing pain points and also celebrating things with one another. And, you know, just girlfriends getting together and being sounding boards for each other. And so hopefully it will really be like that for everyone else that's listening as well.

Nancy McClelland: I mean, one of the things that I was just saying to a friend and colleague recently who was telling me about something that she was going through, I, I wrote back, you know, [00:07:00] I'm not happy that you're struggling with this, too, but I'm also glad that it's not just me.

Questian Telka: Yeah, I think that that's a common feeling. I often feel the same way too. It's like, oh, I don't want you to have to deal with that because that's tough. But, um, at least I'm not the only one, I suppose. Yes. And women really have some specific challenges. I think that, quite honestly, men don't have to deal with. And for the most part, don't necessarily [00:07:30] understand what those challenges are that that we're facing.

Nancy McClelland: I feel like they're invisible sometimes. I remember when we were talking with Randy Crabtree on the unique CPA podcast, he he told that story, um, as a matter of fact, for for listeners to this podcast that have not yet heard our episode on the unique CPA podcast, please go listen to it. I thought it was a really great conversation with him. Um, because we got to hear some of his perspectives. He was at a dinner where, [00:08:00] uh, he told his, like, his worst accounting horror story ever. And then they started going around the table, and I think he said it was like half or two thirds women and the different women at the table were telling their worst horror stories. And he was like, oh, oh my God, my story is not even like, I should I gotta pull that off the list. Like, he was surprised. Like you were just saying, I think a lot of men, they don't. They have no idea. A lot of men have no idea. They know some [00:08:30] of the things that we struggle with. But there are a lot of them that are that are just invisible to them.

Questian Telka: Yeah. And I think we're going to talk about a lot of these topics throughout the podcast. I mean, that's not the only focus, of course, but we're going to talk about some of those. And it's not about excluding men. It's about making space where women can stop filtering and just be themselves.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, of course we're hoping that some of these issues [00:09:00] resonate with men as well. Of course, of course. And that they get something out of it. Right. Whether. Yeah. And it could be, you know, they're dealing with their own issues, or it could be navigating what it's like to work with women, you know, whether you're in corporate or at a CPA firm or, you know, running your own business. And it's your, your colleagues, your partners.

Questian Telka: It's a window into our thoughts.

Nancy McClelland: It really is. Yeah. So speaking of thoughts, yes, we wanted [00:09:30] to share a few more thoughts about what we're envisioning for. She counts that we want to talk about with you.

Questian Telka: Yeah, we're planning to have guests, but not every episode. So the podcast is really going to be more topic driven. And part of that is because we really want to hear from all of you what you, what ideas you have, what topics you would like to discuss. And to that end, um, please also [00:10:00] keep an eye out and follow us on our social media, specifically our LinkedIn page, our individual LinkedIn pages. But also we have a She Counts podcast LinkedIn page.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah, we're going to be asking for your opinions, your feedback, your stories, your recommendations, your advice, your favorite books and your favorite podcasts and your favorite speakers. Uh, as a matter of fact, Liz Farr just emailed us yesterday and [00:10:30] was like, oh my gosh, I just read this book. It was so is the.

Questian Telka: Name of it.

Nancy McClelland: I don't remember the name of it, but it's going.

Questian Telka: To be on an episode.

Nancy McClelland: It's gonna be on an episode because she told me about it. And I looked into it and I was like, Liz, this is exactly the type of book we should be reading. And like, could you come on the podcast and and talk to us about what you've learned and why you feel that it's so important? Um, so it's when we are [00:11:00] hearing from listeners and colleagues and friends, um, men and women, when we hear your feedback, when we hear your ideas, that's going to make this podcast better, because it's not just the podcast that we needed when we were first starting in accounting, but, you know, the podcast that we want it to be meeting you where you are right now in your journey.

Questian Telka: Yeah. [00:11:30] And everyone's in a different place too. And I think this is a space for everyone in accounting accountants, bookkeepers, you know, administrative people working in accounting firms. So it can be anyone in the space. And, you know, we're hoping to share topics that resonate with everyone. And speaking of topics, we've been keeping a list.

Nancy McClelland: Of topics.

Questian Telka: And we have a lot of notes. We've been keeping a list for about two years and already have.

Nancy McClelland: I think [00:12:00] it might be two and a half at this point.

Questian Telka: Yeah, we keep saying two years, but it's been like six months that we've been trying.

Nancy McClelland: To get this going. It's been six months.

Questian Telka: Close to.

Nancy McClelland: Two years. Yes. Um, so I actually I heard you just now say that we have over 40 topics, but I actually went in there. I was in there this morning and we have over 50.

Questian Telka: Ooh.

Nancy McClelland: So I think we should share some titles as a teaser.

Questian Telka: Okay. So one of my favorites, because this [00:12:30] is has been my life since I started, since I started my business, and especially in the last year is how to make business happen when life happens. If you haven't had something difficult in your personal life, happen while you're trying to work or run a business, if you haven't had it happen yet, you will, or somebody you know will. So that's a topic that I think is very close to home for me, and I'm excited about that one.

Nancy McClelland: Uh, [00:13:00] I am excited about that one too. I, um, I want to talk about the one that was the first idea that we came up with for the very when we first were talking on a text chat, and, um, we were talking about this topic and you were like, oh, that should be the first one for our podcast. As matter of fact, we even thought about naming the podcast this, and it was when we started [00:13:30] the Google doc. And the episode title is start with no. And it's about how as accountants, you know, we're helpers and we're we're people pleasers. And we always want to say yes to every project that comes along, to every need that comes along. And what would life look like if we started with. No. And then.

Questian Telka: And then convinced ourselves.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah. Convinced ourselves or had ourselves convinced to say yes. And, um, [00:14:00] then we decided having a podcast named Start With No was just a little too negative. So I'm glad we changed that.

Questian Telka: Yeah, I think she counts is better.

Nancy McClelland: I think she counts is better too.

Questian Telka: Definitely better. Yeah. And then we also have I engage in too much negative self-talk. Like a stupid idiot. See what we see, what we did there.

Nancy McClelland: And of course, one of my favorites is, uh is your favorite place to cry [00:14:30] in the office? It turns out that's a thing, and men are shocked when they find out that we all had our our safe place to go when we had to cry in the office. It's real, it's real.

Questian Telka: It's a thing. Another one is do it anyway. And this is just about facing your fear. And even if you're scared doing it anyway. And I think, uh, Nancy and I are doing that right now, so. Absolutely. Of course. [00:15:00] Both nervous, just like anybody would be going into this. So we're going to one.

Nancy McClelland: Of.

Questian Telka: My.

Nancy McClelland: One of my very favorite quotes ever, um, was when I started 1960s style go go dancing. Um, and that's where Do It Anyway comes from. We'll tell you more about that in a later episode. And then jealousy, envy and pulling back the curtain.

Questian Telka: And this is a good one.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah. Yeah. This is a topic that [00:15:30] we Eat. Don't talk about out loud with anyone. It is a hard one to admit when you want something that someone else has that you don't. So we're going to talk about what that looks like in the world of accounting.

Questian Telka: And so back to let's talk about guests again. We'll be inviting people onto the show only as it relates to a topic. So if you've got something you feel other women in accounting need to hear, please [00:16:00] reach out to us at info counts with an S at the end dot. So that's dot show rather than.com and share your thoughts and perspectives. And we'll see if they line up with any upcoming themes that we're going to be exploring.

Nancy McClelland: Yes. So you know there won't be guests every episode. But when we are looking at our list of currently over 50 topics and we see one where we go, oh, you know who needs to come on the show for that? Because they're an expert in [00:16:30] that area. Um, that's that's when we'll be bringing people onto the show, and we have some really exciting ones lined up. Um, a lot of people that we love and respect who very generously, very early on offered, um, to be guests on the show. And we can't wait. Question I want to ask also about, are we both about to say the same thing at the same time? What were you going to say?

Questian Telka: I think so. Yeah, I was going to ask you [00:17:00] if we could share with everyone. We've been talking about what it is, but let's quickly or or not so quickly, I guess. Share with everyone what the podcast will not be.

Nancy McClelland: All right. Okay. So not we are not going to be preaching. This is not about that because we are not pretending that we've got it all figured out. And even if we did, honestly, I don't think I would ever be a preacher. Feature. Um.

Questian Telka: Definitely don't [00:17:30] have it figured out.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah, we don't have it figured out. We're we're trying to figure it out ourselves, and we need your help. And we hope that you're trying to figure it out. And you need ours. And we all need. I mean, it's not just you count or I count. It's. She counts. Like the voices of women in accounting, working together to try to figure it out and to try to be better than we already are. So to that end, we're not going to be preaching. We're not going to be like, here [00:18:00] is what you have to do. If you don't do this, you're not doing it right. It's not about that.

Questian Telka: That's right. And we won't be making motivational speeches. I mean, we're going to keep it positive and try to share things that we have, but we're going to give practical takeaways. This is certainly not man hating. We all have men in our lives. I have two sons and lots of male friends. Some of my closest friends are men. So, um, we are, you know, we're empowering women, but we're not, you [00:18:30] know, hating on men in the process. We also don't want it to be depressing, but we're going to keep it real. And we want to help everyone, like you said, find solutions and we want to share. And that's why we really want it to be a community, because we want to share what's worked for us, and we want to hear from everybody what's worked from them as well, because that can help everyone else, including.

Nancy McClelland: You know, and that that's a big passion space for me. I know that you and I [00:19:00] have talked about this a lot, but I want to call it out right here. Um, it this is not just venting. There will be there will be, uh, success stories. There will be practical takeaways. But it has to be to some extent about venting. And the reason it does. Right. The reason is you know I'm very anti toxic positivity question was just talking about how it's not going to be motivational speeches [00:19:30] that have no practical takeaways. Right. Um I think motivational speaking is important in many ways. But for me focusing on the um the positive without acknowledging how hard the negative is really is invalidating the good and the bad the same. Yeah, they coexist, right? They don't cancel each other out. This is one of my mantras. And so if [00:20:00] you're acknowledging the good in your life and you're acknowledging the bad in your life, then you start to recognize, oh gosh, we're just humans trying to figure this out and get through the world. And, you know, make it mostly lean on the good side, but it doesn't always do that. And so sometimes you just have to say, wow, this thing happens. And to have your bestie over here Say.

Questian Telka: I hear you, I see you. And it's happened to me too.

Nancy McClelland: Exactly. [00:20:30] So to that extent, you know, we're we don't want it to be depressing, but we are going to keep it real.

Questian Telka: That's right. And now that we've kind of we've talked about what the podcast is, what it's not and why we're doing it. So I think we should probably let everyone know like who we are. Like, why should you listen to us in the first place?

Nancy McClelland: I love that. So basically you're like, okay, now you know why we're starting this podcast? But who the hell are we? Yeah, exactly. Are you listening [00:21:00] to?

Questian Telka: And maybe they'll decide they don't want to listen to us after.

Nancy McClelland: Oh. Come on. I may just decide.

Questian Telka: We're not going to listen to you after this.

Nancy McClelland: No way. No way. I was just talking about that. That, um, oodles of confidence, uh, early. You know, I we've got a lot to say, girl. And anyway, I think you're amazing, and I want to listen to you. I'm sure everybody does. Anyway. Let's talk. You're right. Let's talk about our backgrounds. Who? Who the hell are we?

Questian Telka: Yeah. [00:21:30] Tell. Tell everybody about your background.

Nancy McClelland: All right, so I my undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. The most wonderful school in the universe is in its in music education. And I think a lot of people are surprised to find that out about me. Um, I do have a master's in accounting and financial management, but that came later. I actually started out in bookkeeping at [00:22:00] the Ann Arbor School for the performance performing Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. Um, and it was a really, really funny, um, job description. Uh, it was half time teaching music theory and half time being the Office and business manager, and strangely enough, I was the only person to apply for that job. And and I got it. And and [00:22:30] they were using quicken, not QuickBooks. They were using quicken.

Questian Telka: Oh, wow.

Nancy McClelland: Yep. Uh, to run the the finances. And, um, I was like, I, I think I can figure this program out. My boyfriend at the time, who's now my husband, he was using quicken for his personal finances. So he taught me a little bit about it. And, um, I found this big stack of uncashed undeposited checks in the drawer when I first started, and they just decided they would collect checks for the whole semester and then deposited [00:23:00] at the end of the semester. Yeah, there were so many things going on there that, you know, because it was started by a group of musicians. It wasn't started by a group of people who knew how to run a business. And so that was my that's.

Questian Telka: The last thing they wanted to do, I'm sure was worried about depositing checks?

Nancy McClelland: Yes, absolutely. Um, so that's where I very first was introduced to it, and I loved it. And I saw, you know, there were a lot of people around me that I was in school with who I thought [00:23:30] were really excellent music teachers and musicians and composers. Um, but there were not very many people who could speak that language and understand the creative side of it and the education side of it, and also the organizational and business side of it. And I realized that that was kind of like where my gift was. And so from there I went and I worked at, um, a world famous violin making studio, [00:24:00] actually, that is still around Joseph Curtin Studios in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And that was, to this day the best job I ever had, because I got to be around music all the time. I got to, um, hold receptions for really famous classical musicians and work with some of the greatest minds in the industry. It's where I met one of my best friends, and that was a wonderful, wonderful experience because as I dived into learning more about bookkeeping and accounting, I got to be very good friends with [00:24:30] their tax preparer, Teresa Briggs. And that woman saw in me what I had no idea about, which was I needed to become a tax professional. And she gave me my first CCH Master Tax Guide as a going away gift when I left that job.

Questian Telka: So you had.

Nancy McClelland: Chicago.

Questian Telka: You had an amazing mentor early on, right? And that's something we're going to talk about in [00:25:00] one of the next episodes. Also.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah, we've both had such important experiences, right? I mean, what would have happened if Teresa hadn't seen that I, that I had this this drive, this ability, this interest, I don't I mean, I'm absolutely sure that I never would have ended up going into tax. And it's something I'm so passionate about. As you know, I run ask a CPA, which is a community for bookkeepers who have questions that they would love to ask their clients [00:25:30] tax pros, but for whatever reason, and there are lots of them can't. And so I get to be that person for bookkeepers in the same way that I needed somebody like that in my life.

Questian Telka: Yeah.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah. So yeah, that was super important for me. Very, very transformational moment in my life. Then I moved to Chicago, uh, in 1999, I became in the accounting supervisor at a not for profit. So I've never worked at a CPA firm, but I have worked internally [00:26:00] as an accountant at accounting firms. And then when I left that role, my husband and I were getting married. My mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I went to stay with her for a while and decided, um, that I just wanted to temp. While I was planning the wedding and caring for my mom, I didn't want I didn't want to do the full job search and find my ideal thing. But it turned out that temping led [00:26:30] to me getting hired as a CFO consultant because the first client I worked with, I went in there for this temp job and I was like, oh, we all need help. And that was my first client accidentally started my own firm and eventually.

Questian Telka: Accidentally started the dancing.

Nancy McClelland: Accountant.

Questian Telka: Exactly.

Nancy McClelland: Isn't that crazy?

Questian Telka: That's where it was born. It's amazing. Yep. It's a good.

Nancy McClelland: So I eventually went [00:27:00] back to school, got my master's in accounting and financial management. Then I got my CPA, I expanded, I started hiring team members, including actually question as a contractor. As she was starting her firm. She had extra capacity and came in to help me out. So we got to know each other really well from that perspective as well. But, uh, grew too big without sufficient SOPs or systems, [00:27:30] and I feel like I've been climbing out of that hole ever since, as well as, like, dialing back to just the hyper local small businesses in our neighborhood that make such a difference in in their community. Because I believe that by keeping small businesses healthy, we build character in our own neighborhoods. We help keep these like homogenous big box chains out. And so that is our mission. So, [00:28:00] you know, we're we're I feel like 25 years later, I'm finally starting to figure it out.

Questian Telka: You're getting there.

Nancy McClelland: I'm getting there. You know what? We're all works in progress. Question, right? I mean, you have your own nontraditional path that you took. You know? Let's tell us all about that. I want to.

Questian Telka: Yeah.

Nancy McClelland: I want to hear all about your story.

Questian Telka: Yeah. I, as you said, had a very nontraditional [00:28:30] path. And I always like to joke and say that I do everything. I like to do everything the hard way. And I think that my mom would absolutely agree with that sentiment. Um, I'm sure that she's probably going to be listening to it, and we'll get a good laugh out of it. But, um, you know, this is something that I struggle to share, and it's because, I guess, you know, I struggle to share this because there was [00:29:00] a lot of shame that I felt for a long time because it took me, which is what I was getting ready to share is it took me three attempts to finish school college before I finally graduated, and it's not because I was a bad student because I actually had really good grades. But it was. Life kept getting in the way, and at the time I also had undiagnosed ADHD, which I am now aware of, and learned that that is apparently a fairly common [00:29:30] struggle for people with ADHD. So I was going to school to get my accounting degree. I did eventually graduate.

Nancy McClelland: About the ADHD for a second. I want to interrupt about that because I know we have an upcoming podcast episode that's going to be all about how common ADHD is in the accounting profession. Do you feel like knowing about that back then would have made a big difference for you?

Questian Telka: Absolutely. Yes, absolutely. I [00:30:00] mean, understanding the way that I make decisions and why. Sometimes I can focus on some projects and not others. And how, um, the dopamine in my brain is impacted has made it so much has made I at least understand why I do the things that I do. Because I always felt like, well, you know, why do I do this? Why is it taking me so long to finish school? School? It's not hard. It was just finding the motivation [00:30:30] sometimes to be motivated by things that I wasn't necessarily interested in, which is a big part of, you know, going to college. There are all these classes that you have to take that you may just absolutely hate, but you have to do it anyway.

Nancy McClelland: Whereas I had the opposite problem. I accidentally fulfilled distribution because I've never met a topic that I didn't like. And so I go the opposite. It's true, I end up getting so interested in other things. And and so I say [00:31:00] yes to this, and I say yes to that. And I want to learn how to do this, do this, and I want to learn how to do the other thing. And sometimes I don't focus on it. I mean, it's one of the reasons I've struggled with, you know, in my own firm is it's like, oh, but I want to do that thing over there.

Questian Telka: I do the same thing. I do the same thing, which is, you know, with the ADHD can actually be. One of the things I didn't realize is, you know, I'm like, I have a lot of hobbies. I really like to start hobbies. And then I eventually.

Nancy McClelland: Get a hobby you didn't like.

Questian Telka: I never met a very unusual [00:31:30] to meet, a hobby I don't like, but it's very it's it's, um, also very unusual for me to meet a hobby that I stick with for a very long period of time. So I tend to, like, get bored quickly, uh, with a hobby, and then move on to the next thing. And, um, so that was my problem with school.

Nancy McClelland: Yeah, I was going to take it back. Back to your school experience. I wish I wish it didn't feel I wish it didn't feel embarrassing and shameful for you Because [00:32:00] I feel like this probably happens to a lot more people than.

Questian Telka: Yeah, which is why I share, which is why I wanted to share it, because I think I think it is common, you know, to not have a degree or to if you don't, to feel bad about it or, you know, like I have my e, I don't have my CPA license, for example. And in large part that's just because I don't want to go back to to school. I don't want I'm not going to do the 150 hours. So, [00:32:30] um, but it has no way it's in no way a reflection of intelligence or skill or knowledge, to be honest. I mean, it is, and it isn't. Right. So I guess what I'm saying is, because I'm not trying to offend anybody that has a license, like obviously that's a very difficult and meaningful accomplishment, but that's.

Nancy McClelland: Not very much.

Questian Telka: But that's not the only how not having it doesn't mean that you aren't also Intelligent, knowledgeable [00:33:00] and, um, you know, able to run a business, for example. So it's.

Nancy McClelland: One.

Questian Telka: Of the reasons.

Nancy McClelland: That I love Natpe so much, actually, is that that's where I got my early tax education from after. So first I went to community college for the tax stuff, and then I studied, um, with National Association of Tax Professionals because they're open to anyone, whether you're credentialed or not. And that was really important for me. So. Okay. Yeah. When when did you eventually [00:33:30] finish school.

Questian Telka: I know like everyone's like, when did she graduate?

Nancy McClelland: When you get to it.

Questian Telka: Um, I didn't graduate until December of 2023, so I had effectively finished half of school. And it took me the three times to get through it. And, um, throughout that time, you know, I had accounting courses that I repeatedly had to take. But to be honest, I really taught myself the majority of if not, you know, 90% of what [00:34:00] I learned. I was self-taught and some of that was obviously from accounting textbooks that were purchased not related to school. But, um, to your point, constantly wanting to know everything and consuming knowledge, that was that was me when I was teaching myself accounting. And I have even though I didn't get my degree for it. I've worked as a bookkeeper and in accounting for a really long time. And so I was finally going, okay, [00:34:30] I just need to do this. Like, I just need to finish this. I need to accomplish it. It's something that do I do I have to have it? Probably not. But do I want to have it?

Nancy McClelland: I remember my reaction when you told me you were going. You told.

Questian Telka: Me not.

Nancy McClelland: To bother. Yeah. I was just like, you know, I literally texted you back and said, you're insane.

Questian Telka: You did? Yeah you did. You told me it was crazy. And then I did it anyway.

Nancy McClelland: And then she did it anyway. Yes, she [00:35:00] did it anyway. And the thing is, is that I. I knew how much she. I already knew how good she was at what she was doing because she was working for me as a contractor. Right. And so, like, I could see how good she was. And so I was like, why are you going back to school? You don't need this. And she said, it's because she wanted it. It was for her.

Questian Telka: Yeah. I just wanted to I wanted to do it for myself. And, um, and so I did, and I graduated with straight [00:35:30] A's, which was also. Yeah, I was like, ridiculous, because when I first started going back, I was like, okay, I got A's right out the gate. And I was like, well, I have to get all A's now. And so then it became like this pressure to get all A's. And I was like, why did I do.

Nancy McClelland: This pressure on yourself? Because nobody else was holding that bar up for.

Questian Telka: You No, just. Just me. And the only time I ever talk about it is like, well, right now on the podcast, I was like, when do you [00:36:00] ever. But it was, it was something I, it was like I needed to prove it to myself. Right? You know, it's like there's a there was a lack of confidence feeling like, oh, maybe I don't. Maybe I'm missing something. Am I missing some knowledge that I need to have? You know, I needed to prove to myself that I was I don't know that I, that I could do it. And so I was like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I was determined, knowing that I had struggled so much to finish something. I was like, I am gonna [00:36:30] finish this, and I'm going to do it the best that I possibly can, so I did.

Nancy McClelland: Wow. That's amazing.

Questian Telka: But also, you know, during. So that's the span that's kind of like a wide range of years. Right. But before I started my firm, I did actually work at a big four in an internal non client facing role. And so I and I did that for the better part of ten years. And so I really have an understanding of the [00:37:00] of big firm culture. I know what it's like.

Nancy McClelland: Very specifically not naming where she worked, because there are a lot of future episodes that talk about some of the not so great experiences there. Also some great experiences.

Questian Telka: Yes, yes. And one of the great experiences I did have is I actually had an amazing mentor. So when we talk about mentorship, we will talk about I will share some stories about her. But yeah, there's some there was some [00:37:30] not so amazing experiences. But also it definitely taught me how to be extremely professional, sometimes at the risk of my own emotions, but I think that it gave me that gave me a it definitely gave me a good background in a lot of ways too. And so I did that for a while. And then I worked in a nonprofit as the director of finance and accounting. And [00:38:00] that's where my love of nonprofit specific accounting and nonprofits in general just started. I loved working there again. I had another amazing, um, mentor. But, you know, she wasn't she didn't work in accounting. And so she wasn't able to give me those tools that I needed. For example, although she she did everything she could to try to, to to give me what I needed if I asked for it. Um, she just wasn't an accountant. [00:38:30] So from a different background and right while I was working there, I kept having people approach me and ask me to help them with more nonprofit accounting.

Questian Telka: And so I saw that there was this need that was unfulfilled, and it took me a long time before I decided to start my own firm, and in part I did that because it was right around COVID time. But I while [00:39:00] I was working in that nonprofit, I gave birth to my second son, who is now seven, and it's really impossible for me not to talk about his birth and, you know, highlight his coming into our lives because it completely changed the trajectory of my life. It completely changed the way that I view people, the way that I view the world. Um, so a lot of people [00:39:30] already know this, but for those of you that don't, I have a son that has a very rare chromosomal abnormality and is a syndrome. And when he was born, he spent six weeks in the NICU, and before the age of two, he had eight very, very intense surgeries and couldn't.

Nancy McClelland: Even imagine what that was like for you. I cannot even imagine.

Questian Telka: You know, I haven't even [00:40:00] fully processed it yet. It's like seven years later. But, you know, that's a work. And it's a work in progress. Like you say, we're always kind of we're always a work in progress. So.

Nancy McClelland: Yes.

Questian Telka: Um, when that was going on, I was like, I really need to be able to work from home. And to be fair, they were incredible. They were incredibly flexible, very supportive. So amazing about it at my job. Yep. And [00:40:30] it was a little while after. So I don't know, I think he was a couple years. Yeah, it was a couple years old because I've had my firm for five years now, and I decided that's when I was like, okay, I am going, I want to be able to be present and be here and go to these doctor's appointments and take him to be to be able to do the things that I needed to do and just have that flexibility. So it was a combination of the two things that really led me to starting [00:41:00] my own firm. And so the. His birth, along with recognizing that there was a need. So, um, and his birth also really changed my views because I feel like I was a pretty cynical person. My mom would kill me for saying.

Nancy McClelland: This for me. But yes, it's so hard for me to imagine that I have known you for long enough at this point that, um, I know [00:41:30] this story, and I know I have heard you say this numerous times, and yet it is very hard for me to imagine that because you are someone who seems to just like everyone you meet. Like, genuinely like everyone you meet.

Questian Telka: I wasn't always like that. But, you know, he he. When he was born, I expected I would have expected. And we did see this, right? We had people [00:42:00] who would talk about who would say negative things, or they would stare or there would be, you know, any number of negative things. But what I really saw was the good in people. And what I really noticed is it completely changed my view. I mean, not completely because I, I can't say I had a fully cynical view or it would have been impossible for me to move from that place to where I am now. But it definitely was much more cynical than it is now, and [00:42:30] I just tend to generally see the good in people. And this really also made me want to just lean in more to nonprofit work and specifically to disability advocacy nonprofits. I'm also the treasurer of a, um, a treasurer of a nonprofit that advocates for, um, people of all abilities. And that's [00:43:00] local in Chapel Hill. It's called B3 coffee, and it's an amazing organization. And so I, I feel like that again, my whole trajectory completely changed based on that. So I saw the good in people. And that also continued on to the women's issues. Right. So I've always kind of considered myself a feminist or, um, an advocate for women's rights [00:43:30] and that ability to be more open with people and to have those conversations with women after I kind of changed my view of how I. How I see people in the world. And you start I started hearing all these stories, which really made me want to do this podcast with you.

Nancy McClelland: Well, and it's it sounds like you're saying that this shift in perspective [00:44:00] that helped you to see the good in people also helped you open up and talk to people and see the similarities as opposed to just the contrasts.

Questian Telka: Yes, absolutely.

Nancy McClelland: I we've only got about five minutes left, and I don't want to end this without you, at least briefly sharing the story of how we met, because that's a perfect transition into how it was we met. You looking for the similarities, you [00:44:30] trying to foster real connections with other women in accounting.

Questian Telka: This is one of my favorite stories because it's really funny. And it's also so. Nancy. And in a very good way. I mean, just very direct. Here we go. You know, I hear very direct. You always know where you are, where you stand. So we we met through Bookkeeping buds, which is a an organization of women run [00:45:00] by Cyndi Schrader. It's amazing. And it's a very active group of women at conferences. And they have a very busy slack channel. And I joined it looking for connection, right. And community. And I kept seeing posts from you in there. And I was like, wow, she's really smart and she's funny. And so I sent you a private message. And I know you don't remember this story, but I sent you a private message and was like.

Nancy McClelland: I do [00:45:30] not we be friends?

Questian Telka: And she said, no, I don't have time for that.

Nancy McClelland: I still to this day, I feel like I wish I could search the slack history on that one because I swear it's the truth. It's so hard for me to believe. Did I really tell you? No, because I don't have enough time. That's so.

Questian Telka: Yes.

Nancy McClelland: Yes. I'm sorry, but.

Questian Telka: But I'm persistent. [00:46:00]

Nancy McClelland: You are. Oh, my goodness, you are. Because we're friends.

Questian Telka: And, um. And also we that that was that persistence is what kind of got us to the podcast to. Do you want to tell that story.

Nancy McClelland: Sure. So so eventually she wore me down. Apparently. Again, I don't remember saying no, but it also sounds like me. I am very direct. I don't [00:46:30] like beating around the bush I don't like. I always joke that I'm not passive aggressive. I'm aggressive. Aggressive, right. Like I will I will tell you what I think. And so we became friends and I was like, wow, she is super smart and she's starting her own firm. She has extra capacity. I'm going to see if she would be willing to to contract with me for a while. And she did. And we had a really good experience with that. And, um, became closer as a result of working with each other and over and over again, we were just amazed [00:47:00] by how much our thoughts were helpful to each other and resonated with each other, not just about firm running. Um, there's there's an excellent podcast out there that is also new, uh, with Kandi Bello and Sam Halpern, um, about firm running that they're doing for anchor, which I, I highly recommend to anybody who's listening to this. But we weren't just talking about firm running. We were talking specifically about, um, so many issues that were very specifically about [00:47:30] being a woman In in accounting. Um. Yeah. Yeah. And actually question you had a, you had a, a phrase that you came up with to sort of represent those types of conversations.

Questian Telka: Yeah. I say we have conversational chemistry because we could just sit and talk to each other for hours. And what ends up happening is, well, at least for me, like all of my creativity, all my creative ideas and thoughts just come out and I feel like we just have [00:48:00] these incredible conversations and they're about topics that I wanted to talk about and hear about, which is why we were having that conversation anyway. And so that's what we're trying to bring to everyone.

Nancy McClelland: And so she and I were having this one conversation and she was like, oh my gosh, we should start a podcast. And this time I do remember saying, no, I don't have enough time. I [00:48:30] said absolutely not. And then we kept having these conversations, these topics kept coming up. And so we were like, well, you know what? Let's imagine that someday far in the future, we do start a podcast. Let's at least capture these. And so she took a screenshot of that text conversation and saved it in a Google doc. And that was that was the genesis for the podcast. And she's persistent. And and I just [00:49:00] kept.

Questian Telka: Yeah. I wore you down again because I was like, she's gonna be my friend and we are going to do a podcast. And if I start just taking notes and keeping lists of podcast ideas, then eventually she'll give in.

Nancy McClelland: And it's true and it's absolutely true. And and actually, I have to give a special shout out. All of our sponsors are absolutely amazing. We love forwardly Ignition and keeper there. They've been so supportive [00:49:30] and incredible. These are, you know, products that we use and people that we know in the industry. And genuinely like, I need to give a special shout out to ignition because I was a top 50 Women in Accounting awardee some years ago with them. And this year they are um, they've started a grant process for past awardees. And, um, we received a.

Questian Telka: They do the award. They do the award every other year. Now is that. Yeah.

Nancy McClelland: They're they changed it instead of instead [00:50:00] of doing the award every year, they now do it every other year. And on the on the off years, they really focus on trying to lift up our voices and support our projects. And so they were the first ones I, I said, well, we've got this, this Google doc. And um, you know, these are the types of, of things that we want to talk about and immediately supportive. Absolutely. Chelsea over at ignition was so they were the first people And then we were like, huh? Well, and we started talking with earmark, [00:50:30] and then we started talking with with Forwardly and Keeper and everything. Everything came together and and now we are here and so are you. And we're so grateful and just want to thank you for being here with us. On She Counts the Real talk podcast for women in accounting.

Questian Telka: Yeah. And, um, before we sign off, we want to leave you with a quote that a dear friend of ours, Shirley Koss, shared with us, which [00:51:00] we really feel embodies the heart of what we're doing here on the podcast. And that is go where you're celebrated, not where you're tolerated. And we really hope that you feel welcomed into this space and enjoy having a seat at the table with us.

Nancy McClelland: And if something in today's episode hit home for you, Well, that's exactly why we're doing this. So you feel seen and heard [00:51:30] and never alone.

Questian Telka: Please make sure to follow us on our LinkedIn page. The It's She Counts Podcast LinkedIn page and help us brainstorm and come up with ideas for future sessions. We'll be posting the episodes and then be also having an open dialog and conversation there with everyone about the topics that we are talking about every other week.

Nancy McClelland: And please subscribe and [00:52:00] share this with another woman in accounting who needs to hear it too.

Questian Telka: Our next episode is called She Believed in Me Before I did, and we'll see you in two weeks.

Nancy McClelland: Bye, everyone. Thanks.

Questian Telka: Bye.