Questian Telka, EA

What do you do when your world falls apart—but the deadlines don’t stop?In this deeply personal episode, we’re getting real about the moments that nearly broke us. Nancy shares what it was like to run a firm while surviving months without being able to sit or lie down due to seizures. Questian opens up about her son’s sudden hospitalization and the toll it took on her body, business, and spirit.We talk about the pressure women in accounting feel to keep it together, to "suck it up," even in the middle of a crisis—and why perfectionism is a lie that keeps us isolated. We explore how transparency and community support can be lifelines when life feels impossible, and talk through actionable recommendations for how we can help each other manage personal emergencies while duty calls.LinksBookkeeping Buds - https://www.bookkeepingbuds.com/Mindy Leubke - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyluebke/Brene Brown - https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-shame-and-accountability/Lynnette Oss Connell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell-cpa/Bridging The Gap conference - https://www.btgconference.com/Jennifer Dymond - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndymond/Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2025Erin Pohan’s Scariest Part of Running a Firm - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/erinpohan_scariest-part-of-running-a-firm-the-unexpected-activity-7316932835863416832-65kJ/Dawn Brolin’s “The Elevation of Empathy” - https://www.amazon.com/Elevation-Empathy-Leading-WIN/dp/B0F2FFXY61Join Our Linkedin Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast Follow 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-78383666Subscribe on YouTubeEarn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Nancy McClelland and Questian Telka introduce their new podcast dedicated to women in accounting, sharing their unconventional paths into the profession and the friendship that sparked this project. They discuss their mission to create an authentic community where women can share challenges and triumphs without filtering, preview over 50 future topics they've accumulated over two years, and explain how their "conversational chemistry" transformed casual chats into a platform for collective wisdom. Through personal stories about struggles with confidence, education, and finding community, they establish that this isn't about preaching solutions, but creating a space where everyone's voice counts.Links mentioned in this episode Nancy’s ‘Ask a CPA’ community free bookkeepers’ annual review checklist https://www.thedancingaccountant.com/bookkeepers-guide-to-annual-reviews/Bookkeeping Buds - https://www.bookkeepingbuds.com/The Unique CPA Podcast Presents “She Counts” - https://tri-merit.com/podcast/presenting-the-she-counts-podcast/Join Our Linkedin Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcastConnect with Nancy https://www.thedancingaccountant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpaFollow She Counts on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/Connect with Questianhttps://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666 Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcast Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Mentorship can transform careers, yet women in accounting often struggle to find female leaders to guide them - despite equal numbers entering the profession, only 19% of partners are women. Questian and Nancy explore how seeing someone who looks like you succeed makes your own success feel possible, sharing personal stories of mentors who believed in them before they believed in themselves. The hosts discuss both the psychology behind effective mentorship and practical ways to find mentors who align with your values, regardless of their age or position.Links mentioned in this episode Bridging The Gap conference - https://www.btgconference.com/Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/bundles/tops-fall25?ref=857055Nancy’s ‘Ask a CPA’ community free bookkeepers’ annual review checklist https://www.thedancingaccountant.com/bookkeepers-guide-to-annual-reviews/Bookkeeping Buds - https://www.bookkeepingbuds.com/The Unique CPA Podcast Presents “She Counts” - https://tri-merit.com/podcast/presenting-the-she-counts-podcast/Join Our Linkedin Page!https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast Follow 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-78383666Subscribe on YouTubeEarn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media