One of my passions is working with college women at the University of Kansas. After the business day ends, you’ll find me traveling back and forth on the K-10 highway, to meet with a group of women leaders. It gives me confidence that our country’s future is not as bleak as it seems at times.

One of my favorite officers, Katie, is finishing up her business accounting program, a fairly demanding curriculum that is setting her up perfectly to return next fall to work on her masters in taxation.  Last summer, Katie was an intern at a national accounting firm in Kansas City.  She lights up when she talks about it; the meetings she was invited to participate in, her exposure to client work, researching tax challenges for the partners and soaking up every opportunity the firm presented to her to learn and grow. 

Katie told me one of her favorite experiences was going to the managing partner’s house for an informal dinner with the other interns and the firm’s partners. The partner and his wife graciously opened their house, offered up sumptuous food and chatted with the interns about their summer experience at the firm.  I asked Katie if the subject of how partners bring in business was ever discussed.  She laughed and said “Oh yes.”  Katie went on to tell me about three of the senior partners, one of which took the time to chat with the group about his experience bringing in new clients.  “He smiled when we asked him about how he built his business, “said Katie.  Then he said “Building business is about relationships. You have to learn what they need, earn their trust, do really good work, and prove yourself.  Most of all, if you do it right, you’ll be having fun.”

A self professed spreadsheet nerd, Katie added that she was beginning to realize her career was going to be about more than the numbers, but rather how to create relationships with people who will ultimately need her help.  We need more downstream mentoring from experienced partners who can tell the stories, lead by example, and spend time with younger staff.

Take the time to mentor a young person in your firm. urxs2n6qv9