Twyla Verhelst joins Nancy and Questian to explore why women accountants are slower to adopt AI and why that matters more than you might think. From biological risk aversion to the "cheating" stigma, Twyla unpacks the unique barriers women face with technology while revealing how every prompt we enter (or don't enter) is actively training these tools. If we don't take our seats at the AI table now, we're allowing these transformative technologies to be designed without our input, our communication style, and our needs in mind.ResourcesTwyla Verhelst on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylav/TB Academy (Twyla & Byron’s AI classes) - https://learn.tbacademy.ai/coursesKarbon - https://karbonhq.com/mid-sized-firms/Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/WAVE - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9baddBookkeeping Buds - https://www.bookkeepingbuds.com/Theresa Sutter on Bookkeepers on Fire - Bookkeeper On Fire | Theresa Sutter - YouTubeAshley Francis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-francis-seattle/Jennifer Dymond - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndymond/Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2026Mary Delaney, Karbon CEO - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marywdelaney/Chad Davis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaddavis1/Jason Staats - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/Tam Nguyen - TechwithTam.comMike McDerment, Freshbooks Founder on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mcderment-68895a1/Cheryl Sandberg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sandberg-5126652/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-78383666Thank you to our sponsors!https://www.forwardly.com/shecountshttps://womeninaccounting.ignitionapp.com/https://keeper.app/shecounts/Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Nancy and Questian sit down with three powerhouse conference organizers who are reshaping the accounting event landscape: Sharrin Fuller (AFWA Women Who Count), Erin Pohan (WAVE Conference), and Madeline Reeves (Advisory Amplified tour). These women discuss pricing psychology shaped by wage gaps, navigating traditional gender roles as primary breadwinners, and why smaller, women-led conferences create space for vulnerability and real connection that larger industry events often miss. The conversation explores everything from the loneliness of firm ownership to getting a seat at the table without being labeled "emotional," and highlights three of the most important educational opportunities of the year.ResourcesMadeline Reeves on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinefearless/Sharrin Fuller on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharrinfuller/Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/Advisory Amplified - https://www.advisoryamplified.com/Women Who Count - https://www.afwa.org/women-who-count/WAVE - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9baddTwyla Verhelst on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylav/Twyla & Byron’s AI class - https://learn.tbacademy.ai/coursesCindy Schroeder on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brightbooks/Bookkeeping Buds - https://www.bookkeepingbuds.com/Carla Caldwell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlacaldwell/Mariette Martinez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariettemartinez/Bridging the Gap Conference - https://www.btgconference.com/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-78383666Thank you to our sponsors!https://www.forwardly.com/shecountshttps://womeninaccounting.ignitionapp.com/https://keeper.app/shecounts/Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Justine Lackey thought she wanted to build a million-dollar bookkeeping firm – until she recognized the roadmap to get there was literally causing her physical pain. She realized that chasing revenue without building systems creates a "runaway bus" business, and rebuilt her company to harness sustainable growth and serve clients better. She shares the difference between vertical growth (more clients, more money) and lateral growth (better processes, stronger foundation) and reveals the mindset shift that helped her see her firm as a sellable asset… and why she now teaches other women to define success on their own terms.Resources:Justine Lackey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinelackey/The Modern Firm Challenge with Justine LackeyRedesign How You Work, Think, and Earn With This 5-Day, High-Touch Guided Experience September 15th - September 20th, 1-2pm ET on Zoom  Register here - justinelackey.com/registerDay One The 5-Star Client Experience - Systemize the 4 steps to pristine, polished bookkeeping no matter what your client’s business is, or what their books look like Day Two Client Onboarding Secrets - My secrets for getting every client started on the right foot so they pay, stay, and do things YOUR way Day Three The Month-End Close Workflow - Learn to nail your month-end deadlines so you can stress less, and earn more. Day Four Pricing Confidence – Discover how to raise your rates without fear, attract clients who respect your value, and talk about pricing with ease. Day Five  YOUR Business Breakthrough LIVE – Bring your top business challenge for rapid-fire 1:1 coaching. PLUS, discover my Two-Minute Tool to crush overwhelm and create a clear, step-by-step action plan—no matter what you’re facing.‘Ask a CPA’ free “Bookkeeper’s Guide to Annual Reviews” - https://www.thedancingaccountant.com/bookkeepers-guide-to-annual-reviews/Melissa Miller-Furgeson: “Defining & Attracting YOUR Ideal Client” - https://youtu.be/3TQl5jpGYjk?si=4c9pf3YOQCPjUGnz&t=989“Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You” by John Warrillow - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10075698-built-to-sellJoin 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-78383666Thank you to our sponsors!https://www.forwardly.com/shecountshttps://keeper.app/shecounts/Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

The accounting profession starts with gender parity… but ends with a massive leadership gap – and the discrepancy has nothing to do with either talent or capability. This episode examines the structural issues that cause firms to lose women mid-career, from unconscious bias in performance reviews to assumptions about working mothers. Nancy and Questian break down the research on interruption patterns, pay disparities, and the "motherhood penalty," then offer concrete ways leaders can create more equitable pathways to partnership.ResourcesDespite equal entry rates, women hold only about 19% of partner positions in CPA firms nationwide.https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/landing/diversity-equity-and-inclusionhttps://www.icpas.org/information/copy-desk/insight/article/spring-2023/inspiring-progress-a-look-at-the-state-of-women-in-accountingIn broader business contexts, women occupy 14.3% of executive officer roles.https://us.aicpa.org/career/womenintheprofession/genderissues?utm_source=chatgpt.com3 Ways to Empower the Women at Your Firm - Jodi Chavez of CPA Practice AdvisorWhy women leave firms — and what we can do about it - Joey Havens of Journal of AccountancyRobin Williams - The Day Dad Made Toast” from “Free To Be… a Family”https://youtu.be/cIVnuzRf2fE?si=gEDRslsh2DqgkTK9Women+Workplaces - a community for workplaces that see the value of workers long on skills but short on time and specific availability, and women that have great skills and want to work but need jobs that can accommodate personal situations.https://sites.google.com/rawbookspdx.com/womenplusworkplaces/homeJason Ackerman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlackerman/SPONSORS: Forwardly, Justine Lackey's The Incubator, Keeper,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

Dawn Brolin, CPA, CFE and author of "The Elevation of Empathy," shares her raw story of surviving a toxic partnership where she endured cruel comments about her weight and appearance, and how that shaped her perspective on leading with empathy. Through personal examples including her own leadership failures at work and lessons from her time as a softball coach, Dawn reveals how empathy can be cultivated, practiced, and wielded as a strategic advantage. The conversation tackles the unique challenges women face when leading with empathy, the emotional labor often expected of female managers, and why caring for others doesn't make you weak – but does make you dangerous to systems built on indifference.LinksDawn Brolin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnbrolin/Dawn Brolin “The Elevation of Empathy” book - https://dawnbrolin.com/books/Accounting Cornerstone Foundation - https://accountingcornerstone.org/Crisis Text Line - https://www.crisistextline.org/Randy Crabtree’s Unique CPA podcast - https://tri-merit.com/podcast/presenting-the-she-counts-podcast/Bridging the Gap conference - https://www.btgconference.com/Brad Smith - https://braddsmith.com/John Garrett - What’s Your ‘And?’ - https://whatsyourand.com/Mike Payne on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpaynejdcpa/Kellie Parks on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-parks/Catalyst 2022 Study - https://www.catalyst.org/insights/2022/emotional-tax-teamsDeloitte, “Women @ Work 2023: A Global Outlook” - https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/collections/2023/deloitte-women-at-work-2023-a-global-outlook.pdfKatelyn Carey TEDx Talk: “The Problem with Empathy” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=987xaGgb2XQThe Audre Lorde Project - https://alp.org/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