Inclusive Futures in Accounting Creates Mentorship and Connections

Mayor Bruce Harrell and Joanne Harrell took time to meet all the students

The Graduate Accounting Programs at the Foster School of Business put in its second annual Fostering Inclusive Futures in Accounting, an event designed specifically for underrepresented students to create mentorship and connections and increase access to graduate education. After receiving dozens of applications from around the country, we ended up with 13 amazing attendees who embody the high ideals and ambitions of the Foster School. Thanks to the firms who donated, we were able to pay 100% of the airfare, lodgings, food, and all costs associated with the weekend.

View from the Emerald City Suite as the Seattle Mariner’s played the Chicago Cubs

We kicked things off on Friday, April 12 with a winning Mariners game where we were joined by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and his wife Joanne Harrell.

Saturday the participants sat down with five of some of the most inspiring people in Seattle area to hear their thoughts on inclusion and diversity in Seattle.

Benjamin Hall, Tax Director at Bumble Bee Foods

Tai Moultrie, Founder and CFO at Upwork, NABA Seattle President

Nerelys Ortiz, VP of Finance at Lumen

Michelle Purnell-Hepburn, Associate Dean for Inclusion and Diversity at UW Foster School

Dr. Elba Moise, Inclusion and Community Program Manager at UW Foster School

Panel discussion on Inclusion and diversity in Seattle

Participants also had the opportunity to meet for some one-on-one mentoring with more great and generous leaders within the Seattle Accounting world, including Jason Fieber, Ernst and Young; Mandla Kaunda, Deloitte; Samantha Savage, KPMG; Maya Dillard, Amazon; Lindsey Friessnig, Foster; Tayler Mori, PwC; Viktor Torchilo, Moss Adams; Robert Rood, GT; Michelle Peters, Sweeney Conrad.

Participants came from North and South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, and Washington DC.

We ended the day with our Dean Frank Hodge and enjoying some bowling at the Husky Union Building and dinner catered by Agua Verde.

Huge thanks to our sponsors Amazon, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, KPMG, and PwC and to all individuals who donated by time and money to make this event happen. We encourage you to share this event throughout your network and please feel free to connect us with any student that you think would like to participate next year. Learn more about the weekend and our graduate accounting programs.