Elevate your accounting career by mastering AI agility and the essential soft skills needed to lead with authenticity in a transforming industry.
In the rapidly evolving financial landscape, the intersection of technology and human insight has never been more critical. Leading Accounting Careers in the Age of AI offers a profound look into the future of the profession, featuring an exclusive interview with Sandra Oliver, the Global Assurance Talent Leader. Responsible for the talent agenda of 130,000 professionals, Sandra joins Adam Mendler to discuss how aspiring leaders and seasoned accountants alike can navigate the digital transformation while cultivating the essential human skills that technology cannot replace.
This course moves beyond the stereotype of the "bean counter" to reveal a dynamic, client-facing profession where critical thinking and relationship building are paramount. Sandra shares her personal journey from an unsure college student to a top executive, illustrating how grit, agility, and a willingness to say "yes" to new challenges are the cornerstones of advancement. A major focus of the discussion is the impact of Artificial Intelligence. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, learners will understand how it acts as a tool to automate objective tasks, freeing up professionals to focus on high-risk judgments, complex problem-solving, and strategic advising.
Through this engaging conversation, participants will gain actionable advice on how to remain competitive and relevant. The course emphasizes that while technical proficiency remains vital, the "human in the loop" is the true differentiator in a tech-enabled world. Sandra details the importance of "soft skills," such as communication, vulnerability, and authenticity, and explains why being a lifelong learner is non-negotiable for modern leadership.
Key learning outcomes and topics include:
Whether you are an entry-level accountant, a mid-career manager, or a senior leader, this course provides the blueprint for a resilient and successful career. By focusing on the synergy between technical knowledge and interpersonal connection, Leading Accounting Careers in the Age of AI prepares you to not only survive the technological disruption but to thrive as a trusted business advisor in a transforming world.
Motivational & Leadership Speaker
Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.
Partner at EY
As the EY Global Assurance Talent Leader, Sandra oversees the Assurance Talent agenda for 130,000 professionals, enabling them to shape their future with confidence. With extensive experience in public accounting and internal audit, she previously led the EY US-West Assurance practice, advocating for leading quality audits. Additionally, Sandra served as the EY Americas Assurance Talent Leader, where she directed strategy across all people functions within the US Assurance practice, including talent attraction, development, growth, and retention. As one of the first women promoted to Partner while working on a flexible schedule, Sandra is committed to building diverse teams and developing inclusive leaders. She has spent her career traveling throughout Texas, the West Coast, the East Coast, and the Midwest. Sandra began her career working in internal audit before transitioning to public accounting. When she started at EY, she was about five years out of school and initially planned to stay only until she figured out what she wanted to do next, expecting it to be a great way to learn.
This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.
If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.
