ALDI - Moving NABAs Young Professional the the Next Level - 2017 Fall - Spectrum Magazine

ALDI: MOVING NABA’S YOUNGPROFESSIONALS TO THE NEXT LEVEL by Maya FrancisWhen Frank Ross started the National Ric Sinordo, a risk advisory seniorAssociation of Black Accountants, Inc. inhis NewYork City living room over 40 years consultant in the Atlanta office of DHG, participated in the 2016 ALDI. “Two ofago, he and his colleagues envisioned the my favorite topics were discussions on“formation of an organization to helpyounger African Americans coming into ‘Understanding Your Personal Style’ and ‘Successfully Navigating the Corporatethe profession” with a main objective to Landscape,’” He said. “I was inspired to“gain acceptance from the then Big Eightaccounting firms.” hear that you don’t necessarily have to ‘conform’to what’s considered the norm or mainstream to build a successful career…Since its inception, NABA has continued “You always have to that you should use your individualto foster leadership in its membership, uniqueness to your advantage, maintainparticularly in its young people. The authenticity and use what’s special aboutorganization’s annual Aspiring Leaders you to catapult yourself into leadership.”Development Institute (ALDI) program Ross attributes good management towas developed to fill a void in NABA’s slateof offerings.“We noticed that there was a significant strive to do your best team success. “Make sure that you select the right people to be on your team, and that the team works together. Once yougroup that was left out, and that was and then you need to have a team with the right players, youthose that were on the verge of becomingmanagers,” explains Ross. “So what we make a commitment to need to motivate [the team] and haveproposed was to develop a training everyone running in the same directionprogram that would help them transition go the long haul. It takes with the same goal in mind. You need to make sure that your team is on the samein their role from a staff position to a a while and you have wavelength about the material and whatmanagement position.” they’re doing and what they’re being asked. That’s the only way to build yourALDI, a two-day program conducted at to do that. You need team. You need to be available and readyNABA’s annual convention, is designed for your mentors and your to help anyone to needs it. You need toaspiring and newly promoted managers. sponsors. That’s critical.” make sure your team feels comfortableThe program is presented by Frank Ross enough with you when they need help toand the Howard University School of be able to ask questions.”Business Center for Accounting Education;Lee Hecht Harrison, one of the leading Even for those in management, Rossexecutive training firms in the country;and Rob Young, a partner with PwC Deals, Capital Markets emphasizes the role of mentorship in helping one to advance in their career. “Managers need mentors. At everyAccounting Service. level of leadership, you need a mentor. You need to have sponsors, you need a counsel, you need a mentor, he says.”It focuses on examining and discussing the challengesmany managers face in their companies as they prepare to “If you talk to any successful manager or senior executive,accelerate their careers. Participants are required to havefour to seven years of experience. ALDI exposes participants they’ll tell you about the importance of sponsors and mentors in their career. We cover that [in ALDI] also.to proven strategies that help them market their skills Managers need to mentor the people on their staff. Theyand abilities by building a personal brand that reflectsleadership presence. need to be sponsors for the individuals on their team also. They’ll be in situations where opportunities come up andThe experienced-based curriculum for the program is made they should be able to identify [an individual on their team],up of case studies; participants are required to complete a put their name forward, and push for that person.”management profile before they come to foster discussion.Together, managers-to-be learn how to handle difficult Setting goals and staying persistent are other actions Ross touts as essential to success.“The first thing [aspiring leaderssituations and people using real-life examples. continued on next page22 SPECTRUM | FALL 2017

need] is a commitment that you want to achieve. You want tobe successful. You’re ready to make the sacrifices necessaryto be successful. Think about [what it’s going to take] to besuccessful in public accounting or as a person in corporateAmerica? The stepping stone is becoming a CPA. Once youcome out of school, your first goal is to get certified. Getyour credentials. And then if you’re in tax or forensics ormanagement, get those necessary credentials as well. Butthe first thing is get that CPA because it is industry wide. Thesooner you get it, the better off you’re going to be, and it’sgoing to open doors you’re not going to realize.”Second, he says, is to concentrate on your performance.“You always have to strive to do your best and then youneed to make a commitment to go the long haul. It takesa while and you have to do that. You need your mentorsand your sponsors. That’s critical. You also need to becomeknown as an industry expert or in some area whether it’stax, merchandised companies, technologies or software,you need to be known as an expert in an industry, or atechnology.”Ross’s last piece of advice is reflective of the NABA motto,Lifting As We Climb.“You need to give back.You need to keepin mind that there’s more to life than just making a dollar.You need to be helping the community advance, being apositive force in areas of the community that are of mostinterest to you. That way you’re getting some satisfactionfrom your work when the pressure is on.”▲ FALL 2017 | SPECTRUM 23