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Oct 21, 2026 1 hr 4 min

The Evolution of She Counts: Taking Our Own Advice

Episode 38

Show notes

What happens when something you love no longer fits the life you need to live? Season 4 opens with Nancy McClelland interviewing her friend and founding co-host, Questian Telka, about her decision to step away from She Counts. Questian shares how burnout, family responsibilities, and financial priorities pushed her to follow the advice they’ve so often discussed on the show. Together, they revisit favorite episodes, laugh about what listeners never see, and talk honestly about the sadness, relief, and uncertainty of changing something they built together. Nancy also shares what’s ahead for the podcast—and what scares her about carrying it forward. If you’ve ever struggled to let go of a meaningful commitment, this conversation offers room to ask what you need to make space for in your own life.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (01:20) - Season Four Begins
• (02:17) - Big News Questian Steps Away
• (03:50) - Burnout Warning Signs
• (06:43) - Life Reboot and Big Changes
• (11:06) - The Engage Heart to Heart
• (14:53) - Making Room for Family
• (18:35) - Mini Sabbatical Mindset
• (20:44) - How She Counts Started
• (22:15) - Funniest Behind the Scenes
• (23:55) - Favorite Live Episodes
• (26:39) - Upcoming Live Recordings
• (29:01) - Listener Moments and Impact
• (30:45) - Most Popular Episode Credit Due
• (32:03) - Guests Who Surprised Us
• (33:01) - Melissa’s Calming Presence
• (33:29) - Awards Season Anxiety
• (34:42) - Realizing People Listen
• (36:51) - From Ideas to Episodes
• (37:40) - The Hidden Podcast Work
• (39:36) - Balancing Passion and Profit
• (41:57) - Season Four Game Plan
• (45:32) - Confidence to Go Solo
• (46:45) - Impact and the Why
• (50:28) - Secret Fears After Change
• (54:43) - Finding Your Voice
• (56:03) - Takeaways and Farewell

Resources

• Questian Telka on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea/
• Women in Accounting Visionary Entrepreneurs (WAVE) - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9badd
• Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/
• Lynnette Oss Connell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell/
• Break Free from Burnout with Lynnette Oss Connell - https://shecounts.show/4
• Imposter Interrupted - https://shecounts.show/16
• The Big “D”: Divorce - https://shecounts.show/26
• Alicia Katz Pollock on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciakatzpollock/
• Why Brilliant Bookkeepers Undervalue Themselves - https://shecounts.show/27
• Live at Bridging the Gap 2025 - https://shecounts.show/13
• Participation Town - https://participation.automationtown.io/
• Nancy leading “She Works Hard for the Money” at AICPA Women’s Global Leadership Summit https://photos.app.goo.gl/yudaTmMc2VqFzKA8A
• Credit Where Due - https://shecounts.show/23
• The Courage to be Nominated - https://shecounts.show/29
• Misty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-schachtell-3a634a2/
• Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055
• Katie Helle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkatiehelle/
• Beyond Fear: The Courage to Begin Again - https://shecounts.show/34
• Marit Burmood on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marit-burmood/
• She Believed in Me Before I Did - https://shecounts.show/2
• Lindsay Patterson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypatterson/
• Presence, Not Performance - https://shecounts.show/30
• Justine Lackey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinelackey/
• Build the Business You Really Want - https://shecounts.show/10
• Nicole Davis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledaviscpa/
• Roman Villard on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdvcpa/
• Aileen Gilpin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aileengilpin/
• Eleanor Brown - https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/11485599-you-only-have-one-life-to-live-make-sure-its

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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Oct 7, 2026 59 min

The Currency Between Women

Episode 37

Show notes

Nancy is joined by Madeline Reeves, founder of Fearless Foundry and creative director of Advisory Amplified, for an uncomfortable but necessary conversation: the ways women sometimes undercut each other in business. Maddy shares the moment a client asked if her proposal was her "PITA fee," and the pattern that followed of being stiffed on invoices exclusively by women. Nancy argues that the real issue isn't generosity itself, but rather, who gets to decide what counts as a gift: the giver, not the person on the receiving end. From unpaid favors to predatory coaching dressed up as empowerment, this episode asks what we owe each other as women—and what we absolutely do not.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors
• (01:00) - Meet Maddie Reeves
• (02:49) - Episode Topic Women vs Women
• (06:17) - PITA Fee Pricing Story
• (10:55) - Unpaid Invoices Pattern
• (14:27) - Setting Boundaries and Vetting
• (16:54) - Flag Waving Red Flags
• (21:21) - Women Talk Money Directory
• (26:04) - Contracts Grace and Dialogue
• (29:49) - Say It Out Loud Negotiation
• (32:00) - Why Money Talks Are Hard
• (33:19) - Talking Money Out Loud
• (34:53) - Mixed Feelings About Wealth
• (36:38) - Women Only Networks Limits
• (38:59) - Learning From Male Rooms
• (40:31) - Generosity And Access
• (43:15) - Predatory Coaching Exposed
• (49:05) - Spotting Red Flags
• (51:02) - Healthy Pricing Dialogue
• (52:26) - Shame And Collective Cost
• (57:50) - Building Boundaries And Norms
• (01:03:48) - Seasonal Capacity And Respect
• (01:05:36) - Closing Call To Action

Resources

• Madeline Reeves on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinekreeves/
• Fearless Foundry - https://www.fearlessfoundry.com/
Advisory Amplified - https://www.advisoryamplified.com/?ref=roadie - 20% off with discount code Nancy-roadie
• Women in Accounting Visionary Entrepreneurs (WAVE) - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9badd
• Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/
• Adrienne Maree Brown (Author excerpt) - https://earthlingopinion.wordpress.com/2019/03/01/fractals-the-relationship-between-small-and-large/
• How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur (LA Review of Books) - https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/fools-and-philosophers-on-michael-schurs-how-to-be-perfect/
• How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur (Interview w Nick Offerman) - https://youtu.be/jKP2f4D8nRc?si=ezryAYZqhVtiwpf3
• Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/bundles/topscohort?ref=857055
• Misty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-schachtell-3a634a2/
• Only 2% Of Women-Owned Businesses Break The $1 Million Mark (Eilene Zimmerman in Forbes) - https://www.forbes.com/sites/eilenezimmerman/2015/04/01/only-2-of-women-owned-businesses-break-the-1-million-mark-heres-how-to-be-one-of-them/

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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Sep 23, 2026 1 hr 7 min

The Power of Your Own Voice: Finding It, Trusting It, Using It

Episode 36

Show notes

What changes when you discover who you are, trust what you have to say, and recognize the impact your voice can make? In the final episode of our Curtain Call series, Nancy and Theatre of Public Speaking CEO Misty Megia bring listeners two conversations about finding, trusting, and using your own voice. Certified Fraud Examiner Candy Bellau spent her career uncovering deception, but her latest investigation is far more personal: uncovering the fraud within. She shares how she learned to become a chameleon, adapting herself to the people around her to feel safe, accepted, and loved—and the work she’s now doing to find and express her authentic self. Emily spent years happily behind the scenes at her beloved nonprofit, Spike’s K9 Fund, until its mission required her to step forward. She discovered that she couldn’t simply borrow the voice of the gifted leader who came before her. She had to find her own. Their stories come from different places, but share a powerful realization: finding your own voice can change both how you show up in the world and the impact you’re able to make.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (01:24) - Curtain Call Setup
• (02:08) - Finding Your Real Voice
• (04:45) - Meet Candy Bellau
• (05:56) - Fraud Examiner Origins
• (07:45) - Rules Tools and Ethics
• (09:33) - Spotting Fraud Patterns
• (12:25) - Trauma and Chameleon Skills
• (15:05) - Controls Compensation Culture
• (20:56) - The Fraud Within Explained
• (22:18) - Honesty Kindness and Feedback
• (26:59) - Kindness Across Contexts
• (27:24) - Work Boundaries vs Loved Ones
• (28:27) - Saying No to Friends
• (29:40) - Vulnerability and Inner Fraud
• (31:03) - Candy Journey Reflections
• (32:45) - Chameleon and Belonging
• (34:50) - Approval and People Pleasing
• (36:39) - Emily Finds Her Voice
• (39:43) - Mission to Protect K9 Heroes
• (43:59) - Tools for Confidence
• (47:08) - How to Support Working Dogs
• (48:31) - Take the First Step
• (50:30) - Misty on Transformation
• (55:10) - Fully Becoming Yourself
• (58:30) - Series Wrap and Call to Action

Resources

Misty Schachtell Megia on LinkedIn - Misty Schachtell | LinkedIn
Candy Bellau on LinkedIn - Candy Bellau, CFE, PI | LinkedIn
Dawn Brolin on LinkedIn - Dawn W. Brolin, CPA, CFE | LinkedIn
Nicole Landau on LinkedIn - Nicole Landau, CFE 📊👷‍♀️🔦 | LinkedIn
Robert Berry aka “That Audit Guy” on LinkedIn - Robert Berry | LinkedIn
Valerie Heckman on LinkedIn - Valerie Heckman | LinkedIn
Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2027-about
Emily Soccino Grey on LinkedIn - Emily Soccino Grey | LinkedIn
Spike’s K9 Fund.org - Spikes K9 Fund | Advocates for America's Working Dogs
Spike’s K9 Fund on LinkedIn - Spike's K9 Fund: Home | LinkedIn
Spike’s K9 Fund on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spikesk9fund/
Spike’s K9 Fund on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spikesk9fund/
Spike’s K9 Fund on Twitter - https://x.com/Spikesk9fund
Spike’s K9 Fund on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswqkkwkdkGwqyjKCkD5Jfw
Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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Sep 9, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Understanding Yourself: Honoring How You’re Wired and Who You’ve Become

Episode 35

Show notes

What happens when the way you’ve always moved through the world stops working for you? Nancy brings Mellisa Miller Furgeson (filling in for Questian) two more conversations from the Theatre of Public Speaking Advanced Retreat. Jean Zick shares how understanding her introversion helped her stop fighting the way she’s wired and start building around it. Terri Warren faced a dramatic reckoning after two strokes forced her to reconsider what she could ask of herself. Together, their stories explore what becomes possible when we understand ourselves well enough to honor what we need.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (00:35) - Sponsors and Support
• (01:17) - Why These Stories Matter
• (04:55) - Meet Jean Zick
• (05:48) - Millionaire Introvert Origin
• (07:19) - Introvert vs Extrovert Energy
• (08:34) - Conference Survival Tips
• (14:38) - Introvert Superpowers
• (16:42) - Small Group Networking
• (18:15) - Building Virtual Connection
• (22:15) - Final Takeaways
• (24:28) - Jean Wrap Up Reflection
• (25:18) - Reframing Conference Breaks
• (26:03) - Teri’s New Reality
• (27:04) - Cape of Confidence Story
• (27:52) - Letting People In
• (30:33) - Layoff Shatters Identity
• (32:10) - Building Your Own Walls
• (33:41) - Stroke Rips Cape Away
• (35:03) - Second Stroke Wake Up
• (36:58) - Fear and Denial
• (39:27) - Acceptance and New Scoreboard
• (40:59) - Redefining Work and Energy
• (43:54) - Two Sided Cape Metaphor
• (49:35) - GROW Model and New Cape
• (50:50) - Connecting Jean and Teri
• (53:34) - Final Takeaways and Sign Off

Resources

• Melissa Miller Furgeson on LinkedIn - 👩🏻‍💻Melissa Miller Furgeson | LinkedIn
• Jean Zick on LinkedIn - Jean Zick | LinkedIn
• Sharrin Fuller on LinkedIn - Sharrin Fuller | LinkedIn
• Kelly Gonsalves on LinkedIn - Kelly Gonsalves | LinkedIn
• Nancy’s MSN article on Tips & Tricks for Intuit Connect - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/expert-tips-for-attending-intuit-connect-2025/ar-AA1soTN6
• Nancy’s MSN article on Top 10 Accounting Conferences - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/growth-community-and-cpe-10-accounting-conferences-that-deliver-in-2025/ar-AA1Cnqrk
• Tori Staub McKee on LinkedIn - Tori Staub McKee | LinkedIn
• Terri Warren on LinkedIn - Terri Warren | LinkedIn
• Realize - https://www.rlz.io/
• World Health Organization stats on missed workdays due to mental health issues - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work
• It was never a dress - https://itwasneveradress.org/
• Women Who Count - https://womenwhocount.com/
• Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - Erin Pohan | LinkedIn
• WAVE-Seattle - https://www.instagram.com/wave.seattle/
• Nicole Davis on LinkedIn - Nicole Davis, CPA | LinkedIn
• GROW Model - GROW model - Wikipedia
• Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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Aug 26, 2026 56 min

Beyond Fear: The Courage to Begin Again

Episode 34

Show notes

Big changes rarely happen all at once. And when fear has been making our decisions for a long time, even the first small step can feel enormous. Nancy and Questian bring listeners two conversations from the Theater of Public Speaking “Curtain Call” retreat, recorded by Nancy with women whose stories start in different places and arrive at the same realization. Katie Helle spent seven years staring at the same spreadsheet before burnout finally pushed her to leave a stable CPA role and start her own firm; Mariana Alvarez spent years rebuilding her sense of self after heartbreaking domestic abuse, learning that forgiveness — of the people who hurt her and of herself — couldn't be rushed. Both chose to move forward while still scared, and discovered that you don’t need to see the whole path to begin walking it.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (00:31) - Sponsors and Support
• (01:14) - Two Stories One Theme
• (02:40) - Retreat Setup and Interviews
• (03:35) - Meet Katie Heele
• (04:11) - Fear as Information
• (07:01) - Starting a Firm Doubts
• (09:44) - Entrepreneur Roots and Risk
• (12:00) - Seven Years to Act
• (13:13) - Burnout Flips the Switch
• (15:38) - Steps Not Leaps
• (18:20) - Find Help and Community
• (20:50) - Modern Firm Models
• (22:22) - Fear Means Growth
• (23:53) - 60% Want Change
• (24:17) - Write Down Fear
• (25:16) - One Step Plan
• (25:37) - Katie Closing Advice
• (27:19) - Fear Into Willingness
• (29:31) - Mariana Joins the Show
• (31:26) - Self Forgiveness Path
• (34:34) - Anger As A Wall
• (40:36) - Purpose And North Star
• (43:45) - Peace After Survival
• (45:59) - Be True To Yourself
• (47:23) - One Step Takeaway
• (48:30) - Wrap Up And Quote

Resources

• Katie Helle on LinkedIn - M Katie Helle, CPA | LinkedIn
• Source for Job Change stats cited - Resume Now. (2025). 2025 Career Gridlock Report
• Mariana Alvarez on LinkedIn - Mariana Alvarez | LinkedIn
• Theatre of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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Aug 12, 2026 50 min

Two Sides of Leadership: Building Resilient Firms & Guiding Client Change

Episode 33

Show notes

Nancy and Questian compare notes on their two very different sessions from Scaling New Heights that turned out to have more in common than expected, leading to insightful lessons about leadership. Nancy's panel on Vulnerability as a Strength started with a deliberately invasive survey she gives accomplished leaders, designed to surface what they never say out-loud; Questian's session on Change Management with Ashley Rhoden dug into leading clients and teams through change. Talking it through afterwards, they realized both sessions kept circling back to the same two ingredients that impact our ability to lead — self-awareness, and the ability to recognize what someone else is carrying. They close with the question Nancy asked her own audience: who actually knows what you're carrying, and whose load could you help lighten?

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (01:14) - Conference Lessons Intro
• (02:03) - Vulnerability Panel Origin
• (07:43) - Change Management Session
• (10:07) - Leadership Overlap Themes
• (12:52) - Vulnerability Panel Framework
• (16:03) - Lonely at the Top
• (17:24) - Sharing Failures Honestly
• (22:39) - Admitting Weakness Safely
• (24:23) - Word Cloud Breakthrough
• (27:20) - No Perfect Firm Myth
• (29:22) - Empathy in the AI Era
• (30:48) - Vulnerability and Awareness
• (32:05) - Spotting Change Signals
• (37:25) - Asking Better Questions
• (40:33) - Trusted Advisor Mindset
• (42:11) - Using AI for Prep
• (44:00) - Handling Change Resistance
• (50:21) - When Scope Must Shift
• (53:04) - Pricing Without Guilt
• (56:28) - Key Takeaways Recap
• (57:19) - Questions on Vulnerability
• (59:35) - Closing Quote and Wrap

Resources

SPONSORS: [BIll, Relay, Karbon]

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Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

Jul 29, 2026 1 hr 2 min

LIVE Recording at WAVE-Seattle Conference!

Episode 32

Show notes

Live from Wave Seattle, Nancy and Questian are joined by conference founder Erin Pohan to put the audience's own definitions of success on trial. Nancy explains why she'd rather work in her business than scale it, even after a vendor once told her she was leaving money on the table; Questian describes firing almost every client to become a firm of one built entirely around nonprofit CFO work. It's a room full of women in accounting answering the same question out loud: what definition of success have you personally outgrown?

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors
• (01:29) - Live at Wave Seattle
• (02:58) - Erin Creates Wave
• (07:51) - Redefining Success
• (14:16) - Permission to Be You
• (17:03) - Moments That Felt Seen
• (20:23) - Mindset Shifts to Take Home
• (25:16) - Your Personal Board
• (30:28) - Borrowed Balls Energy
• (31:35) - Build Your Personal Board
• (32:44) - Ditch Like Minded Advice
• (35:33) - Rapid Fire Q And A
• (35:46) - Leadership Coach Warnings
• (37:26) - Finding The Right Therapist
• (40:06) - Firm Too Big Now What
• (41:41) - Selling Clients Live Poll
• (42:33) - Impact Through Giving
• (43:21) - Best Conferences And Networking
• (47:38) - Hallway Wisdom And Outreach
• (49:20) - Scholarships And Foundation Plug
• (50:55) - Closing Quote And Farewell

Resources

WAVE-Seattle (Women in Accounting & Finance Visionaries and Entrepreneurs) - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9badd
Upkeeping (Erin Pohan's firm) - https://www.upkeeping.co/
Ask a CPA community discount code: ACS30 - https://aska.cpa/
Counter community - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/logangraf_in-case-you-didnt-know-i-run-a-community-activity-7475204470356766720-6g4A/
Bridging the Gap Conference discount code: BTGloyaltyattendees2026 - https://www.btgconference.com/
Accounting Cornerstone Foundation - https://accountingcornerstone.org/
Theater of Public Speaking - https://publicspeaking.mistymegia.com/?ref=857055
Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2027-about
Advisory Amplified discount code: Nancy-roadie - https://www.advisoryamplified.com/
Jason on Firms - https://www.jasononfirms.com/
Unofficial QuickBooks Accountant Podcast - https://uqb.show/

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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Jul 15, 2026 53 min

Trashie Cassie aka “Why You Need an Alter Ego: Acting With Authority Before You Feel Ready”

Episode 31

Show notes

We all have moments that ask more of us than we think we're capable of giving: the difficult client conversation, the boundary that needs to be set, the meeting where it's time to speak up. It happened to Cassie Divine, too. In two decades leading at Intuit, she discovered that authority isn't something you earn once you feel ready. It's something you access when the moment demands it. Most career advice tells women to become more confident, more assertive, or more strategic. But what if you don't need to become someone new at all? Cassie joins Nancy and Questian to explore the idea of an alter ego—not as a fake persona, but as a way to access the version of yourself that's already proven she can do hard things. From the sixth-grade story that gave birth to "Trashy Cassie" to the executive conversations that later demanded her, they unpack why authority is a behavior, not a personality, and how to stop waiting until you feel ready.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors
• (01:16) - Meet Cassie Divine
• (02:30) - Origin of Trashy Cassie
• (06:38) - Executive Double Standard
• (09:26) - Alter Ego as Access
• (16:52) - Permission and Intentionality
• (20:45) - Catalog Your Strengths
• (24:14) - Celebrate Wins Rituals
• (28:04) - Behavior Over Feelings
• (29:57) - Act As If Confidence
• (31:37) - Permission To Be Bold
• (34:52) - Yoga Pants Shortcut
• (36:20) - Focus On The Why
• (40:36) - Evidence You Can Do Hard
• (43:19) - Gratitude Interrupts Panic
• (46:05) - Situational Armor Guardrails
• (47:50) - Talk Less Say More
• (53:16) - Career Hack Origin Story
• (57:23) - Final Takeaways And Wrap

Resources

• Cassie Divine | LinkedIn
• About — Cassie Divine
• Career | Cassie Divine | Substack

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

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This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Jul 1, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Presence, Not Performance: The Confidence Others Feel Around You

Episode 30

Show notes

The need for “executive presence” is the vague phrase that shows up in performance reviews as the reason women don't get the promotion – even though almost no one can define it. Lindsay Patterson, co-founder and CEO of CPA QualityPro, joins Nancy and Questian to strip it down to something simpler and more meaningful: instilling confidence in others that you're the right person for the job. They dig into the double-standard that turns an assertive woman into "aggressive"; what to do when office culture rewards the loudest jerk in the room; and why walking away from a toxic culture is never failure.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (01:14) - Meet Lindsay Patterson
• (04:14) - First-Day Reporter Shock
• (07:07) - Lessons on Respect and Power
• (08:18) - Defining Executive Presence
• (11:45) - Double Standards and Toxic Cultures
• (17:13) - Presence Without Assimilation
• (19:35) - Being Yourself in Leadership
• (23:28) - Overprepared to Be Taken Seriously
• (25:07) - Research Gravitas Competence Warmth
• (27:46) - Practical Steps to Build Presence
• (29:30) - Rehearse Like a Pro
• (29:58) - Audio vs Body Language
• (32:00) - Handling Tech Chaos
• (32:31) - Dress Rehearsal Wardrobe
• (33:51) - Zoom Outfit Fails
• (35:05) - Camera On Executive Presence
• (37:29) - Zoom Setup and Focus
• (38:14) - Confidence and Composure
• (40:08) - First Impressions Take Space
• (42:32) - Navigating the Double Bind
• (44:24) - Power Systems and Allies
• (47:28) - Bias Culture and Inclusion
• (50:04) - Everyone Is Faking It
• (53:34) - Confidence Equals Preparation
• (55:40) - Community and Final Signoff

Show notes:
• Guest on LinkedIn –https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypatterson/
• CPA QualityPro –https://www.cpaqualitypro.com/
• The Accounting Podcast – “Solving for CPA Mobility with Lindsay Patterson” –https://accounting.show/472
• Amy Cuddy TED Talk – “Your body language may shape who you are” –ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy
• Sylvia Ann Hewlett – Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success
• Earmark CPE –https://earmark.app

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

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Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

Jun 17, 2026 58 min

The Courage to Be Nominated: Wanting It, Dreading It

Episode 29

Show notes

Nancy and special guest Melissa Miller Furgeson, stepping in for Questian, get honest about the awards nomination cycle in accounting: the longing for recognition tangled up with the dread of asking to be nominated, the fear of losing in public, and the jealousy and imposter feelings most of us have but few admit. They reframe awards as visibility events rather than verdicts, and talk through why showing up, even when you feel undeserving, gives the people around you permission to do the same.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors
• (01:28) - Episode Theme Awards Anxiety
• (02:00) - Nomination Text Thread Story
• (05:07) - Application Glitches and Follow Up
• (09:33) - Middle School Energy and Visibility
• (11:43) - Asking to Be Nominated
• (13:16) - Fear of Losing and Imposter Feelings
• (17:16) - Jealousy and List Shame Spiral
• (20:38) - Age Based Awards and Pride
• (22:45) - Awards as Visibility Machines
• (25:47) - Nominations Matter Most
• (26:22) - Sharing the Nomination
• (28:04) - Awards as Visibility Engines
• (29:13) - Visibility Gives Permission
• (30:06) - Ask Anyway Mindset
• (32:41) - Community Beats Imposter Feelings
• (34:53) - Why Support Feels Vulnerable
• (36:08) - Nomination Frenzy Success
• (39:25) - Discomfort Means Growth
• (41:45) - Practical Ways to Show Up
• (44:52) - Scripts for Self Promotion
• (47:12) - Tag Sponsors and Amplify
• (48:10) - Final Takeaways and Call In
• (50:53) - Closing Quote and Farewell

Resources

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

Subscribe on YouTube

Follow She Counts on IG

Connect with Nancy

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

Connect with Questian

https://www.r...

Jun 3, 2026 53 min

Conference Season, She Counts Style

Episode 28

Show notes

Nancy and Questian make the case for why conferences can have such impact for women in accounting, and how to get the most out of them when you show up. They share their industry favorites; what they look for when prioritizing certain events over others; how to define and reach your attendance goals; and the mistakes that sometimes keep people from getting full value out of the experience. Whether you're a self-described introvert who sets out to introduce yourself to just one other person, or a woman who could spend the whole week connecting in the hallways and soaking up education… there's a conference for you.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (02:15) - Nancy Conference Stories
• (04:24) - Camp Timberwood Lesson
• (05:50) - Expo Hall Handler
• (07:49) - Wave Live Recording
• (09:35) - Markle Sparkle Nickname
• (11:03) - Listener Full Circle
• (12:55) - Are Conferences Worth It
• (14:38) - Scholarships And Access
• (16:53) - Introverts And Belonging
• (19:10) - Start Small Meetups
• (21:35) - Partnerships From Networking
• (23:55) - Sessions Versus Hallways
• (26:46) - Keynotes Love Hate
• (28:50) - Pick Your Conference
• (29:40) - Celebrity Keynotes Story
• (31:22) - Define Your Goals
• (32:20) - Expo Hall Tool Wins
• (34:54) - Find Your People
• (37:03) - Favorite Events Rundown
• (39:34) - Why Bridging Gap Works
• (41:23) - How She Picks Lists
• (47:01) - Conference Value Beyond CPE
• (49:58) - Network Without Clinging
• (51:48) - Goals And Women Impact
• (54:30) - Meetups And Closing Thought

Resources

• Nancy’s MSN article: “Where Accountants Are Going Next: Conferences Worth Your Time in 2026” - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/where-accountants-are-going-next-conferences-worth-your-time-in-2026/ar-AA21uJnZ
• Nancy’s MSN article - “Expert Tips For Attending Scaling New Heights” - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/expert-tips-for-attending-scaling-new-heights-2025/ar-AA1FYrFy
• Tony Proctor on LinkedIn - Tony Proctor, EA | LinkedIn
• Erin Pohan - Erin Pohan | LinkedIn
• WAVE Conference - WAVE - Seattle
• Jen Posner - Jennifer Posner | LinkedIn
• Katie Helle - M Katie Helle, CPA | LinkedIn
• Greg Bossen - Gregg Bossen | LinkedIn
• Megan Tarnow - Megan Genest Tarnow | LinkedIn
• Kelly Gonsalves - Kelly Gonsalves | LinkedIn
• Jina Etienne - Jina Etienne, CPA, CGMA | LinkedIn
• Valerie Heckman - Valerie Heckman | LinkedIn
• Nicole Davis - Nicole Davis, CPA | LinkedIn
• Brittany Brown - Brittany Brown | LinkedIn
• Cindy Schroeder - Cindy Schroeder | LinkedIn
• Gail Perry - Gail Perry, CPA | LinkedIn
• CPA Practice Advisor - https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/
• Hope Brown - Hope Brown, MSA, AFSP | LinkedIn
• Tri-Merit - Tri-Merit | Maximize Tax Savings With Expert Specialty Credits
• Randy Crabtree - Randy Crabtree, CPA | LinkedIn
• Unique CPA Podcast - The “Hive Mind” Effect at Bridging the Gap: Randy Crabtree
• Bridging the Gap - Bridging the Gap 2026 | Top Accounting Conference
• Melissa Miller Furgeson - Melissa Miller Furgeson | LinkedIn
• Realize - REALIZE
• Jason Staats - Jason Staats, CPA | LinkedIn
• Jason on Firms - Events
• Madeline Reeves - Madeline Reeves | LinkedIn
• Advisory Amplified - Advisory Amplified | Live Financial Advisor Events 2026

SPONSORS: [BILL, Relay, Karbon]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

Subscribe on YouTube

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Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

May 20, 2026 57 min

Why Brilliant Bookkeepers Undervalue Themselves

Episode 27

Show notes

In a special crossover episode with the Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast, Nancy and Questian are joined by Alicia Katz Pollock to dig into why so many technically skilled bookkeepers struggle to charge what they're worth — and what it takes to bridge the gap between expertise and authority. Alicia gets candid about her own discomfort with pricing, using a real business pivot as a window into the self-doubt that holds back even the most accomplished practitioners.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Crossover Welcome
• (01:11) - Meet the Hosts
• (03:37) - Why Bookkeepers Undervalue
• (04:17) - Alicia’s Wake Up Call
• (08:38) - Brenda Success Story
• (12:31) - Losing Trained Talent
• (16:29) - Scaling the Incubator
• (21:37) - Pricing and Training Model
• (26:01) - Hiring Employees Reality
• (28:13) - Building Full Program Stack
• (29:00) - Building Support Systems
• (30:06) - Pricing the Incubator
• (31:30) - Perks and Discounts
• (32:13) - Scholarships and Payment Plans
• (33:21) - Charging What Youre Worth
• (37:37) - Pilot Program Uncertainty
• (39:25) - Scaling for an Exit
• (41:25) - Owning Authority
• (43:51) - Experts Mantra Shift
• (52:05) - Do It Anyway
• (54:32) - Wrap Up and Takeaways

Resources

• Guest on LinkedIn - Alicia Katz Pollock | LinkedIn
• Unofficial QuickBooks Accountants Podcast
• A Bookkeeper’s Guide To Annual Reviews | The Dancing Accountant
• Royalwise OWLS (On-demand Web-based Learning Solutions)
• The OWLS Incubator Program
• REFRAME 2026 - Event Ticket Purchase Portal
• Theatre of Public Speaking - Fall 2026 Cohort
• Accounting Discussion Forum: Bookkeepers, CPAs, EAs | Roundtable Labs
• Mariette Martinez | LinkedIn
• The Four Conversations: A New Model for Selling Expertise by Blair Enns | Goodreads
• BDO Alliance USA: CPA, BRN and More | BDO
• SheCounts - Double

SPONSORS: [Bill, Relay, Karbon]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

Subscribe on YouTube

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Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

• The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance by Matthew McKay | Goodreads
• Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life by Susan David | Goodreads
• Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | Goodreads

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

May 6, 2026 57 min

The Big “D”: Divorce - Radical Acceptance and Rebuilding in Real Time

Episode 26

Show notes

When Questian read through 31 pages of divorce paperwork and added it to her Ta-Da List (see Ep. 25), it cracked open a conversation she and Nancy had been circling for a while. This episode gets honest about navigating divorce while running a business and raising kids — what it means to grieve something you chose, and why relief and devastation aren't mutually exclusive. They dig into radical acceptance, the DBT concept that two opposing truths can coexist, and what it looks like to keep showing up professionally while your personal life is in freefall.

Sponsors
Bill - http://bill.com/shecounts
Relay - https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/

• (00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors
• (00:36) - Season Three Kickoff
• (01:41) - Episode Theme Divorce
• (02:43) - Gold Star Story
• (06:43) - Radical Acceptance Explained
• (09:58) - Breadwinner Fears
• (14:41) - Ambition and Support
• (17:24) - Co Parenting Reality
• (18:35) - Radical Acceptance Exercise
• (24:17) - Vulnerability in Public
• (29:49) - Career Crossroads Ahead
• (32:57) - Missing a Sounding Board
• (33:28) - Control vs No Control
• (36:11) - Painful Necessary Moves
• (37:31) - Accepting the Unacceptable
• (39:48) - Rebuilding Mid Crisis
• (45:14) - Security Resilience Network
• (50:18) - Worst Case Distress Tolerance
• (54:39) - Practical Takeaways Optionality
• (57:38) - Self Care and Support
• (59:59) - Wrap Up Quote and Callouts

Resources

• The Ta-Da! List on She Counts - She Counts | Ta-Da! Celebrate the Little Things (They’re Actually Big)
• Valerie Heckman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieheckman/
• Advisory Amplified - Advisory Amplified | Live Financial Advisor Events 2026
• Scaling New Heights 2026 - Scaling New Heights 2026
• Jennifer Dymond - Safeguarding Your Firm: Contingency Planning
• DBT & Radical Acceptance Resources:

SPONSORS: [BILL, RELAY, KARBON]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

Subscribe on YouTube

Follow She Counts on IG

Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

• https://www.duolingo.com/profile/KristenKea6
• https://www.duolingo.com/profile/000752.beemH9GF
• https://www.duolingo.com/profile/NayoCarterGray

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Apr 22, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Ta-Da! Celebrate the Little Things (They’re Actually Big)

Episode 25

Show notes

Questian and Nancy close out Season Two with Valerie Heckman, Accountant Community Manager at OnPay, and a deceptively simple idea: the “Ta-Da!” list. Instead of measuring your day by what’s left undone, what if you kept track of what you actually did? Valerie shares how this practice helped her interrupt burnout, why women in accounting are especially prone to dismissing their own wins, and how sharing those moments with others can change the culture of your firm. Although a Ta-Da list isn’t a cure-all, it is an effective tool that can shift how you end your day, how you see your work, and how you show up for each other. Because the little things? They're actually the big things.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Relay- https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Client Hub - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (01:11) - Season Finale Setup
• (01:42) - Valerie Joins the Show
• (02:33) - Diploma Text Story
• (06:11) - What Is a TODA List
• (08:33) - Try Your Own TODA
• (12:07) - Sharing Small Wins
• (14:50) - Beyond To Do Lists
• (15:53) - Burnout and Measuring Days
• (19:20) - Why We Skip Self Credit
• (25:26) - Making Wins a Habit
• (27:01) - Spreading TODA to Others
• (29:10) - Start Meetings With Wins
• (30:10) - How The Practice Changed Me
• (31:04) - Spotting Missing Priorities
• (33:23) - Less To Dos More Ta Das
• (36:19) - Eliminate Automate Delegate
• (39:33) - Track And Share Progress
• (44:43) - Gold Stars For Grownups
• (48:21) - Takeaways For Overwhelm
• (53:25) - Homework And Community Challenge
• (55:20) - Closing Quote And Sign Off

Resources

• Connect with Valerie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieheckman/
• OnPay - https://onpay.com/about-us/author/valerie-heckman/
• Gretchen Rubin “Happier” podcast - https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/
• Lynnette Oss Connell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnette-oss-connell-cpa/
• Valerie Heckman at Scaling New Heights 2024 - https://report.woodard.com/articles/scaling-new-heights-2024-day-2-recap-snhwr
• Katie Helle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkatiehelle/
• Nancy Jacobson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjacobsoncpa/
• DuoLingo accounting friends -

• Gold star chart for adults - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4310943720/adult-star-chart-printable-habit-tracker
• “The Art of Blessing the Day” © 1999 by Marge Piercy - https://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/piercy/poem.html

Some scientific studies on how the Ta-Da list can be helpful for mental health:

• “Gratitude Enhances Health, Brings Happiness — and May Even Lengthen Lives,” Harvard Health - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-health-brings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071
• Savoring in Positive Psychology: 21 Tools to Appreciate Life - https://positivepsychology.com/savoring/
• Contemporary self-reflective practices: A large-scale survey - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691822002839
• PERMA model of psychological well-being - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PERMA_model

SPONSORS: [Forwardly, Relay, Client Hub]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

Subscribe on YouTube

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Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Apr 8, 2026 58 min

Tell Me You’re A Woman In Accounting

Episode 24

Show notes

It's Questian's birthday, and your hosts are celebrating with the most creative gift they could think of: a crowdsourced collection of "You know you're a woman in accounting when..." moments from their community. From conference survival strategies to scheduling babies around busy season, the hosts laugh, vent, and commiserate over the absurdities of life in this profession. Plus, a bonus visit from Nancy's best friend Shawn Simmons, who joins Nancy and Questian to share her sabbatical project using graphic design and fiber arts to build community around women's menopause journeys.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Relay- https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Client Hub - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts

• (00:00) - Welcome and Sponsors
• (02:29) - Why We Needed Laughs
• (03:20) - Community Shoutouts and Messages
• (05:00) - Turning 44 Past Your Prime
• (08:25) - Conference Packing and Swag
• (12:10) - Costumes and Hotel Room Chaos
• (21:04) - Planning Life Around Busy Season
• (24:19) - Pregnant in a Blizzard Work Story
• (25:28) - January Tears and Quitting Thoughts
• (26:45) - January Time Warp
• (27:05) - Hormones And Hot Flashes
• (28:25) - Menopause Community Mission
• (30:35) - Meet Shawn Simmons
• (31:30) - Sabbatical Research Deep Dive
• (35:55) - Survey And How To Help
• (38:57) - Woman In Accounting When
• (42:33) - Funny And Painful Truths
• (48:44) - Flash Mob Accountant Story
• (53:32) - Birthday Wishes And Wrap Up

Resources

SPONSORS: [Forwardly, Relay, Client Hub]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

Subscribe on YouTube

Follow She Counts on IG

Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Mar 25, 2026 57 min

Credit Where Due: The Hidden Cost of “Borrowed” Ideas

Episode 23

Show notes

After one of Nancy's slide decks recently turned up in someone else's presentation without her name or her invitation, she and Questian decided to dig into the many forms plagiarism takes in professional life. From blatant reuse of materials to the murkier territory of borrowed ideas, they explore why credit tends to drift toward higher-status voices; what the research says about how this affects women differently; and why speaking up — for yourself and for each other — is the most important thing you can do about it.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Relay- https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Client Hub - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (02:48) - Slides Reused Story
• (06:00) - Calling It Out Live
• (09:34) - Email Response Process Failure
• (12:06) - Why Credit Matters
• (16:17) - Matilda Effect Explained
• (21:35) - Status and Authority Bias
• (28:13) - Coop Conference Credit Theft
• (38:59) - Social Sanctioning Fear
• (45:24) - Plagiarism Gray Areasp
• (52:22) - Convergent Evolution Explained
• (01:02:34) - Source Confusion Science
• (01:08:30) - Allyship and Amplification
• (01:09:27) - Reflective Questions Wrap
• (01:10:19) - Final Call and Quote

ResourcesStudies and articles cited:

• Nature, 2022 - Women are credited less in science than men - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9352587
• Research Policy, 2024 - Gender homophily - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048733323001798articles by women receive fewer forward citations from men
• Nature, 2025 - Smaller attendance in female talks highlights an imbalanced visibility in academia - https://www.nature.com/articles/s44185-025-00100-x
• Psychology of Women Quaterly, 2024 - On the Perception of Men and Women Researchers in Gender Stereotype-Inconsistent Domains - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03616843241236397
• Psychological Bulletin, 2023 - Exploring Gender Bias in Six Key Domains of Academic Science: An Adversarial Collaboration - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15291006231163179

SPONSORS: [Forwardly, Relay, Client Hub]

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Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-ernst-young-how-to-dress-act-around-men_n_5da721eee4b002e33e78606a
• https://www.app.com/story/money/business/main-street/2021/06/02/ernst-young-training-program-nj-investigation-fine-power-presence-purpose/7489879002/
• https://people.com/human-interest/women-ernst-young-told-dress-act-around-men/
• https://news.bloombergtax.com/financial-accounting/ey-settles-n-j-charges-over-offensive-leadership-training
• https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/27/ey-oceania-staff-bullying-racism-sexual-harassment-elizabeth-broderick
• https://www.fastcompany.com/91229638/lookism-is-alive-and-well-and-getting-worse-heres-why-your-appearance-is-judged-more-than-performance
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Mar 11, 2026 1 hr 12 min

Pancakes, Power Suits & Personal Autonomy: What Women Wear at Work Isn’t the Problem

Episode 22

Show notes

When an Ernst & Young seminar told female executives that women's brains absorb information like pancakes soak up syrup, as opposed to retaining information like men, whose brains are more like waffles, it made headlines — and it still stings. Nancy and Questian dig into why sexist trainings on topics like women's clothing and appearance remain a workplace issue in accounting, from vague dress code language to the cognitive toll of constant self-monitoring. The conversation gets personal, gets real, and ends with a three-question self-test that has nothing to do with what anyone else thinks.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Relay- https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Client Hub - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (01:16) - Why Women’s Clothes Are Still Policed at Work
• (02:14) - The Resurfaced EY Workshop: ‘Power Presence and Purpose’
• (04:04) - Pancakes vs. Waffles: The Absurd ‘Brain’ Analogy
• (05:34) - Masculine/Feminine Scorecards & Stereotypes in Leadership
• (08:01) - ‘Sexuality Scrambles the Brain’: Dress Codes Start Young
• (10:16) - Polished, Don’t Ramble, Don’t Confront: Behavior Rules for Women
• (13:35) - Shifting Responsibility + A Real Conference Story
• (16:58) - When Attire Really Is a Safety Issue (Rail Yard Example)
• (18:06) - Accountability & Research: Fines, Reviews, and Lookism Today
• (23:55) - The ‘Attractive Accountant’ Comment: Why ‘Just Take It as a Compliment’ Fails
• (27:12) - Blending In vs. Being Yourself: Power Suits, Color, and the Double Bind
• (28:36) - Finding Your Style Again: The Necklace Story & Owning Your Presence
• (31:56) - Dressing for Alignment: Quieting Self-Doubt So You Can Focus
• (33:03) - Objectification Theory: How Body Monitoring Hurts Performance
• (34:22) - The Double Standard: Why Women Overthink Outfits (and Men Don’t)
• (37:26) - Dress Codes & the ‘Emotional Tax’ (Especially for Women of Color)
• (38:41) - Pantyhose Rules and Other Outdated Policies: Real-World Stories
• (41:57) - Gender-Neutral Policies vs. Reality: Redefining Professionalism
• (46:31) - Culture Fit Matters: When a Suit Makes Clients Trust You Less
• (49:17) - From Appearance to Function: How Allies Can Redirect the Conversation
• (51:15) - What to Do If You’re Unsure What to Wear: Mentors, HR, and Clarity
• (56:28) - Practical Self-Test + Closing Challenge to Rethink Dress Codes

Resources

• Dress for the job you want meme - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLyndaCarter/photos/dress-for-the-job-you-want-/1159144220762794/
• Erica Goode LinkedIn post re: physical attractiveness comment - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/erica-goode-cpa_opentowork-activity-7394630117991309312-LD3k
• “Professionalism” often codes male and white… unless you’re Will Ferrell on SNL - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mLsU46h8IA
• Stereotype Threat - https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/stereotype-threat

Studies & Articles Cited:

SPONSORS: [Forwardly, Relay, Client Hub]

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

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Connect with Nancy

Connect with Questian

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Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Feb 25, 2026 1 hr 1 min

When There’s No App for What You Need: Building the Tool You Wish You Had

Episode 21

Show notes

Judie McCarthy's team was spending a third of their time chasing down information—then one of her biggest clients called in tears, completely overwhelmed by the constant requests. Judie joins Questian and Nancy to share why that moment launched her from bookkeeper to tech founder. She talks through juggling two full-time jobs for years, selling her 25-year practice to the lowest bidder (and why that was the right call), and why the fear of regret turned out to be stronger than every other fear she had about building something new.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Relay- https://relayfi.com/shecounts
Client Hub - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts

• (00:00) - Welcome to She Counts
• (02:13) - The Birth of Client Hub
• (09:38) - Transitioning from Practice to Tech
• (16:24) - Selling the Practice
• (21:35) - Building and Vetting a Software Idea
• (32:00) - The Importance of Listening in Leadership
• (33:32) - Building Client-Centric Tech Products
• (36:19) - Keeping It Simple: Focus on Core Features
• (39:20) - Challenges and Triumphs of Women in Tech
• (50:06) - The Power of Partnerships and Community
• (57:07) - Advice for Aspiring Female Founders

Resources

• Judie McCarthy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/judiemccarthy/
• Client Hub + She Counts - https://www.clienthub.app/lp/shecounts
• Client Hub on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/client-hub-inc/
• Laura Redmond on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraredmond/
• Dolly Parton quote - https://x.com/DollyParton/status/1182038149087846402
• Studies on the topic of gender differences when selling a business:

• Research shows a higher share of female directors is associated with fewer acquisition bids and lower bid premiums (suggesting more conservative deal-making) - https://www.aeaweb.org/conference/2012/retrieve.php
• Research shows that greater female representation correlates with smaller relative transaction sizes in M&A - https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/full/10.1142/S2282717X25500033

• Why do female entrepreneurs decide to exit their ventures? - https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A1573378/FULLTEXT01.pdf

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