In the dynamic landscape of finance and accounting, continuous learning is essential for professional growth. Mentorship is a valuable avenue for CPAs to embrace this ongoing development in their careers. CPA Alberta’s Mentorship Program is designed to foster connections that facilitate career advancement and contribute to the overall advancement of the profession.
CPA Alberta’s 2023/2024 Mentorship Program ended with high praise from mentors and mentees alike, with many eager to recommend the program to others. Two participants share their insights on the power of mentorship, detailing their journey in cultivating a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship and highlighting the value they derived from the program.
Shawn McMillan CPA, CA has over 20 years of experience as a CFO and business leader across diverse industries, including transportation, manufacturing, construction, technology, and professional services. He leverages this extensive experience to provide business advisory services, guiding companies through complex business landscapes to achieve their strategic goals. Serving as a mentor, Shawn sees mentorship is an excellent opportunity to benefit from the learnings and successes of others, providing him with a fresh perspective of his career and life, allowing others to benefit from his learnings, thereby fortifying the profession.
Shawn was paired with Ryan Vu CPA, a Senior Client Manager and Technology Advisor in public practice who joined the program as a mentee. For Ryan, mentorship means leveraging the experiences of others and discovering how their insights can enhance and broaden one’s own experience and perspectives.
Why did you decide to become a mentor/mentee?
Shawn (mentor): I have had the privilege of working alongside esteemed mentors whose wisdom continues to inspire and shape my professional journey. I am profoundly grateful for their guidance and the substantial impact they have had on my career. I believe that we need to continue developing others and passing on our knowledge. I hope that at least one thing we discussed in each meeting was worth the mentee’s investment of time.
Ryan (mentee): I decided to become a mentee because I wanted experienced perspectives that could help me challenge my way of thinking and actively apply that in real time with real-world challenges.
How do you work at developing a relationship with your mentor/mentee?
Shawn (mentor): I ask questions, listen to the mentee’s responses, and keep an open mind. If the mentee is in the city, meeting for coffee or lunch as a physical presence helps build the relationship faster; if virtual, I share more stories and work harder at being more engaged.
Ryan (mentee): I strive to be open and explore thought processes around issues/problems I want to address. This strategy helps us collaborate and have a great back-and-forth, making our conversations productive.
What has your mentorship experience been like?
Shawn (mentor): The mentorship experience through CPA Alberta provides you with the tools and a framework to start. Every relationship and topic is unique and interesting. Almost always, I have gained a perspective I had not thought of, and it has led to new learning, for example, doing research to prepare for our meetings.
Ryan (mentee): Shawn was very open and encouraged me to outline an agenda before our sessions so that they could be effective. This gave him time to consider my topics beforehand and develop different avenues/solutions to help me reframe how I looked at specific issues/challenges. One session I enjoyed was presenting Shawn with visual dashboards and infographics to convey my messaging to stakeholders/business owners. He showed me how to improve those tools and how to communicate the message more effectively, a strategy I found helpful to apply to future reports/projects.
How has the mentorship relationship impacted your professional or personal life?
Shawn (mentor): Differing perspectives enable me to learn the challenges mentees face in their careers and businesses. I use new skills and knowledge gained to remain relevant and knowledgeable on current challenges.
Ryan (mentee): Through Shawn’s guidance, I established a clear goal of becoming a more effective advisor/CFO and focused on that during the mentorship relationship. Comparing myself to when that relationship first began, I have many more tools and skills in my toolbox. I feel more confident and can prepare for important stakeholder meetings. Shawn helped me develop a more responsible and objective mindset to approach and manage people more effectively. Much of what happens as your career progresses revolves around your relationships with others that extend beyond technical accounting. I have also become more diplomatic in my choice of words and in communicating with others, especially non-accountants.
Successful mentorship relies on intentional goal setting and commitment from both mentors and mentees, as highlighted by Shawn and Ryan, who have expressed its role in their personal and professional growth.
Shawn underscores the importance for experienced CPAs to invest their time in the development of emerging professionals, thereby contributing to the progress of the profession. Similarly, Ryan encourages CPAs’ participation in mentorship as it offers nuanced insights within the profession and introduces new ways of thinking.
If Shawn and Ryan’s mentorship journey inspires you, register to become a mentee or a mentor in CPA Alberta’s mentorship program.
Alternatively, if you would like more information before deciding, visit CPA Alberta Mentorship.
