Engaging Male Leaders: Embracing our Differences as Professionals

Professional development

All learning resources available in the CGMA Store qualify for CPD for CIMA members.

Return and refund policy

• Mary Bennett, MBA, CIA, CEC, MLBennett Consulting LLC, Owner, Lake Lure, NC

  For the past twenty-five years Mary has been a client service professional in the accounting and consulting industry. Mary has spent the majority of these years with a large top ten global professional services Firm at the partner level where she led practice areas, office locations, and large engagements consulting with clients in risk management. Mary was also the founder and partner in charge of the gender diversity initiative and a member of the inclusiveness board as a partner in the firm. Mary is the owner of MLBennett Consulting LLC, a consulting firm formed in 2010. Mary Bennett is a well-known expert on building talent to support firm business strategy; incorporating customized approaches to cultural change. Mary consults on a variety of topics including but not exclusive to: diversity and inclusiveness strategy, women’s leadership and gender diversity strategic design, leadership development, sponsorship programs and career- life integration. She is most widely known in North America as the expert in gender diversity in the accounting and consulting industry. Her approach is known for its business focus and unique customization to firm business strategy. Mary is also in demand as an executive coach specializing in women leaders and emerging women leaders. Mary has won several national awards for her work: Women of the Year, ASWA; Presidential Citation Award, AWSCPA; Torchbearers Award, Indiana Commission of Women; and more. She has been active on the executive boards of many charitable organizations. Mary is also the past chair of the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee, and a past member of the AICPA National Commission of Diversity and Inclusion. She has served as a long time member of the CPA Canada Women’s Leadership Council. She is the author of several books published by CPA Canada and the AICPA.

• Shane Wood, Squire & Company,PC, Partner, OREM, UT

  Shane graduated from Brigham Young University with a Masters degree in tax and joined Squire & Company in 1987 and has 30 years of public accounting experience. He has been active in firm leadership and is currently in charge of firm recruiting. He has been a member of the firms Women Improving Professionally Committee (WIP) since inception. Shane is a member of the AICPA, UACPA, UACPA PAC committee and Rotary International.

• Wendy Stevens, Mazars USA LLP, Partner, Great Neck, NY

  Wendy Stevens, CPA Partner, Quality & Risk Management Practice Leader, Mazars USA LLP Chair, Steering Committee, Woman@Mazars Wendy leads the firm’s Quality & Risk Management Team. The group is responsible for the firm’s compliance with professional standards, independence and ethics, and the quality of learning and education. The Team provides technical support to the firm’s accounting and auditing practice through consultation, technical quality reviews and monitoring of policies and procedures. Wendy also serves on the Mazars Group Quality and Risk Management Board. As the founding member of Women@Mazars, and Chair of its Steering Committee, Wendy leads the firm's strategic plan to enhance the development and retention of women. W@M is a long-term effort supporting the full potential of women leaders at Mazars through education, awareness, and improving visibility of and access to role models. W@M actively engages all men and women at the firm, building diverse teams to enhance the growth of the firm and the individual.
  Other profession activities include:

  • Member of the PCAOB's Standing Advisory Group
  • Member of the Center for Audit Quality’s Professional Practice Executive Committee and Smaller Firms Task Force. Wendy graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

• Kassi Rushing, APR, Horne LLP, Director, People Growth & Engagement , Ridgeland, MS

  Kassi Rushing is the Director of People Growth & Engagement at HORNE LLP. She oversees the firm's talent recruitment strategy, creates and manages the pathways for team members to grow and develop into leaders, and sets strategy for ongoing team member care and engagement. Kassi is chair of HORNE's Personnel Committee. She is also a founding member of the Belonging at HORNE Steering Committee, dedicated to the work of equitable attraction, retention and advancement among HORNE's workforce.

System requirements