GEN NEXT: Creating My Own Version of ‘Having It All’

Growing up, I had a front row seat to the world of public accounting. My father was a tax accountant, so I understood the long days of busy season. He showed me early on what dedication and a successful career looked like. My family was fortunate to always drive somewhere warm for spring break (far away from our home in Indiana), but my father could never join us because of the various tax deadlines he was up against. Of course, I knew these sacrifices were all to pursue his ultimate goal—giving his family all he could.

When I decided I wanted to study accounting as a sophomore at Purdue University, I thought about my dad, and like him, set my own career goals. I knew I would put in the time early on—working long days, working on the weekends, and making myself available to work as much as possible. I learned as much as I could so I could continue growing as an audit staff member. Early on in my career, I also knew the importance of being a well-rounded professional, so I made sure to get involved with the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) and began serving as their Firm Ambassador within ORBA.

In 2020, my priorities slowly started to shift when I became pregnant with my first child. From that moment on, I knew that my son was going to have to be my main focus. Yet, like many women, I also wanted to try and “have it all.” (So much, in fact, that I even started ORBA’s Community Outreach Committee in the fall of 2020 while I was five months pregnant!)

After my son was born in December 2020, I shifted to a flex schedule at ORBA. The thought of missing any of my son’s “firsts” or not being able to take part in any of my professional extracurriculars (e.g., ORBA’s recruiting and outreach committees and ICPAS), seemed unimaginable to me. But thanks to a few women at ORBA (long before me) who helped pave the way for more flexibility at the firm, I’m now able to work a set number of hours per week during busy season and have time in the evenings and on the weekends to enjoy time with my family.

Despite cutting down my work hours to focus on my family, the flexibility of my employer allows me to pursue new and exciting professional endeavors. Even now as my family continues to grow, I’m continuing to get more involved with ICPAS, for instance. In fact, in addition to formerly serving on the ICPAS Young Leaders Advisory Council, I was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the ICPAS Board of Directors.

Over time, I’ve learned it’s important to find an employer that’s willing to support your goals so you can prioritize what you want out of life. For me, this means being able to create my own version of “having it all.” I want a fulfilling career where I continue to grow my audit knowledge, but I also want to be involved with different committees inside and outside of work, all while getting to spend quality time with my family. Of course, I’ve had to learn it’s OK to say no to things—you can’t simply do it all (and that’s OK too). But I’m fortunate to have both the support of my family and ORBA to continue my fulfilling work-life balance—and I hope you can find that too.

Related Content:

• GEN NEXT: Authenticity: The Key to Making an Impact: By blending your personal experiences, passions, and career, it’s possible to bring your whole self to work.

• GEN NEXT: Why: The Most Powerful Three-Letter Word: If you find yourself moving through your life and career with too many questions and too few answers, ask yourself “why.”