The Unique CPA

Alan Whitman, former CEO of Baker Tilly, returns on Episode 242 of The Unique CPA to share the hard-won insights behind his new book, Break the Mold: How to Achieve Transformational Change, Scale and Grow Simultaneously. In a candid conversation with Randy Crabtree, Alan unpacks the real challenges of leading a firm through rapid growth and cultural reinvention, where trust and transparency mean everything and can ultimately make or break a vision. He reveals why strategy must be more than a buzzword, and how shifting from vertical silos to a unified, horizontal organization unlocks potential. "Cross-selling" is such a limiting concept, and Alan stresses that delivering true client value is what firms need to be focusing on. His stories, from tough retirement plan decisions to building engines for organic growth, offer a rare, practical roadmap for leaders ready to reimagine what's possible in the accounting profession. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Dominic Piscopo didn't set out to disrupt the accounting world, he just wanted to know if he was being paid fairly. That simple question led him from pen-and-paper salary surveys at Deloitte to building Big 4 Transparency, a crowdsourced database now relied on by countless people in accounting. On Episode 241 of The Unique CPA, Dominic talks to Randy about how a weekend project snowballed into a vital resource for accountants, empowering individuals to advocate for themselves and helping firms confront the "loyalty tax" that drives talent away. He outlines the surprising power of open data, with openness a key to why he refuses to put a paywall between accountants and the information they need. Dominic has pushed through the challenges he's faced in the project with trust and accuracy in the data and has ultimately forged a truly useful tool for the profession. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

President and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society Geof Brown returns to The Unique CPA for Episode 240, bringing with him the results of a bold research initiative that set out to map the "readiness divide" between new accountants and their managers. Geof describes the moment when scattered frustrations from firm leaders, young professionals, and academics converged, prompting his team to launch a survey to cut through assumptions and capture real, useful, hard data. The results reveal a landscape where early-career accountants overestimate their skills, especially in communication and professionalism, while managers struggle to deliver feedback that is actually feedback and not just criticism. Generational friction, missed signals, and the surprising gap between digital fluency and workplace tech are at the forefront of Geof's findings, and he explores how mentorship, intentional onboarding, and a shift toward real-world skill-building can transform the profession, offering a blueprint for growth that's as much about empathy as expertise, particularly as "soft skills" become ever more important tools. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

About a decade ago, Dr. Jackie Meyer hit a wall of exhaustion running her CPA firm, but she refused to hide behind the industry's mask of perfection. Diagnosed with chronic fatigue and juggling motherhood and her work responsibilities, she began to question the relentless pace and the culture of stoicism that define the profession. On her return to The Unique CPA for Episode 239, she explains that instead of retreating, she transformed her struggle into a mission: she built TaxPlanIQ, a platform that lets accountants reclaim their time and sanity, and developed the ROI Method, a value pricing formula now championed by the AICPA. Since then, she's completed her doctorate in leadership and written a forthcoming book, The Balanced Millionaire. Jackie's journey, from iron infusions and late-night epiphanies to a much healthier, sustainable pace now, offers a candid look at what it takes to change not just a career, but an entire profession. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

When Paul Peterson looks across his firm, he sees a new generation rewriting the rules. On Episode 238 of The Unique CPA, he joins Randy Crabtree to trace the ripple effects of Gen Z's arrival in accounting as young professionals who expect flexibility, are driven by their purpose, and challenge the status quo while setting new standards for everyone. Paul recounts how a twenty-something team member became the office's AI expert, teaching partners to rethink their approach to technology. He describes Gen Z's insistence on open dialogue and their willingness to question outdated practices, and the way they bring their whole selves to work. From the pressures of private equity to the importance of mental health, Gen Z's presence is forcing even the most established leaders to adapt and build a culture where everyone can belong—something that is paying dividends economically even now. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Tara Whitney, CEO of White Birch Advisory, steps into the studio with a confession: she was drawn to accounting for its clear rules and right answers. But as the conversation unfolds, Tara reveals how the very habits that once defined her success, like perfectionism, self-reliance, and yes, rule-following, became obstacles as she rose to leadership. On Episode 237 of The Unique CPA, she and Randy trace the burnout and stress plaguing members of the profession, and recounts the moment she realized that breaking her own rules and embracing vulnerability would open the door to creativity and growth. Having found her "zone of genius," Tara explores how letting go of old scripts can transform your life and career, as well as your entire organization. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

When Bob Doyle stepped into the role of CEO at the Michigan Association of CPAs, the world shut down three weeks later. Instead of retreating, Bob drew on his background in engineering and association leadership to reimagine what it means to be a CPA. On Episode 236 of The Unique CPA, he tells Randy he subsequently borrowed a pair of white sunglasses, embraced the "Coolest Profession Around" mantra, and set out to shatter the stereotype of accounting as dull. From Bob's sneakerhead sons helping him appeal to high school students, to ice rinks in Michigan backyards, to the real impact of private equity and AI on the profession, Bob and Randy explore how trust, joy, and innovation are keys to the future of accounting. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Lori Zukin's path began in a small-town family drugstore, where work and love blurred together behind the counter. Years later, after earning a PhD in industrial and organizational psychology, she found herself coaching leaders at Booz Allen Hamilton and, eventually, guiding the transformation of Baker Tilly's executive team. On Episode 235 of The Unique CPA, Lori shares how a single phone call, received in the shadow of personal loss, sparked a partnership that would reshape a major accounting firm's culture. She reveals the real impact of trust, particularly given the hidden costs of the stories we tend to tell ourselves when we don't have all the information. Randy and Lori trade insights on vulnerability, missed opportunities, and the courage to lead with empathy, and along the way, Lori's passion for mental health and her belief in the intersection of passion and skill shine through, offering a rare glimpse into the heart of modern leadership. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

When the pandemic shuttered her thriving travel and Airbnb businesses overnight, Allanté Collier faced a crossroads, and she tells Randy all about that journey and more on Episode 234 of The Unique CPA. Instead of retreating, Allanté rebuilt from scratch, this time designing a business that could weather any storm. Sharing the hard-won lessons behind her "famine-proof" approach to operations and leadership, Allanté reveals how her engineering background shaped her methodical audits of business bottlenecks, why so many founders become their own biggest obstacle, and how she helps clients move from "chasing paper to chasing purpose." Along the way, Allanté unpacks the real meaning of work-life harmony, the art of hiring for passion and alignment, the systems that turn chaos into resilience, and much more. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Episode 233 of The Unique CPA centers on Dr. Kristy Short's raw account of living with anxiety, depression, and burnout throughout her 25-year accounting career. Kristy tells Randy about the origins of her struggles, from her first "spiral" in her 20s—marked by relentless work, academic pressure, and suicidal ideation—to her more recent breakdown in her 50s, which ultimately led to her writing her memoir and "self help-ish" book, Civil Warrior. Kristy recounts a particular turning point, signing a suicide contract with her therapist and the dream that inspired her to write her book. Key to her success was personalizing a program for her own mental health, which she encourages anyone struggling to do for themselves as well. Kristy, like Randy, doesn't shy away from the stigma and isolation professionals face, and she offers a candid, hopeful look at building resilience and community in accounting. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com