Nine distinguished CPAs were recently elected to Fellowship, and we had an opportunity to speak with them on mastering the art of leadership. Each of these FCPAs brings a unique perspective, sharing insight on the skills, qualities, and areas of focus that define great leadership. From navigating challenges to inspiring teams with trust and vision, their advice is enlightening. Below, they share what it takes to lead with excellence and make a lasting impact.
Tahir Ayub, FCPA, FCA, executive vice president & CFO, OpenRoad Auto Group
Sustainability: Our customers care about ESG. Society cares. Our employees care. The environmental, governance, and social aspects are all important, and the area that we’ve made the biggest progress on in such a short space of time is in the social piece. We established the OpenRoad Foundation which gives back to grassroots communities where we operate our dealership and where we live and work. We provide funds to small charities so they can make a real difference in our communities.
Archie Campbell FCPA, FCA, CEO, Windsor Plywood
Continuous learning: As a CPA your learning never ends, and it’s really important not to be one-dimensional. It’s not always about the numbers or the reporting, there are other sides to issues. For example in my career, I’ve completed the Family Enterprise Advisor and ICD.D designations. This type of education lets you look at the other side of the mirror and add value to clients and organizations.
Derek Cockburn, FCPA, FCGA, director procurement & contract management, Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development & Innovation
Team building: There are two key ingredients that make my team work – trust and support. On the trust side, my team comes with a wide variety of experience in all levels of government and the private sector, so I trust them and allow them to use their judgment. They know they’ve got the right to take risk-based decisions and go their own route. The flip side is support. I provide what they need to advance their careers and succeed, which includes things like removing roadblocks and sharing success stories with the executive team, so everybody gets their chance to be a star.
Shelley Gilberg, FCPA, FCMA, clients & markets leader, managed accounts, PwC Canada
Inclusion: The complexity of the problems our clients are trying to solve and the complexity of the problems that the world faces need diversity of gender, religion, sexuality, experience, and thought to tackle these complex issues and challenges. The opportunity I have is to use the place of privilege and the leadership position I have to make space for voices and to be inclusive in how we bring people together to solve some of these problems.
Shane King, FCPA, FCA, partner, MNP LLP
Client relationships: It’s about having strong dialogue with clients and identifying what they’re looking for. Place yourself on the other side of the table and saying, “If I were a client, what would I need? What would I be looking for? And how can I help them?” I think the saying is true that your friends become your clients, and your clients become your friends.
Bruce Sprague, FCPA, FCA, CPA (Illinois), senior partner & Western Canada leader, markets & industry, BDO Canada LLP
Leading by example: Find great people to surround yourself with, and think outside the box. I’d encourage all young CPAs to think in this manner because ultimately, it’s going to be what will set you apart. Leading by example has to be more than just words. If you take a certain action people can emulate that behavior, as opposed to somebody who just keeps sending a message and doesn’t really follow through. Similarly, if you can find great talent, that talent will then build teams that achieve growth – it’s a cascading effect.
Mikaela Taylor, FCPA, FCA, partner, BDO Canada LLP
Investing in people: To successfully lead and develop my team of 700-plus, I think it means keeping your head on a swivel and always being available to hear input and to be available for people as they’re facing challenges. Top of mind, I want to make sure that our team has the best opportunities for learning and growing and developing into their careers.
Paul Townsend, FCPA, FCA, managing partner, TRA Risk Advisory
Ethics: When I was at Teekay Corporation as director of internal audit, then chief risk officer, being a CPA and being involved in the ethics and compliance functions really helped me because it gave me a lot of insight into how things work and the way fraud can be perpetrated. That knowledge allowed me help companies in their journey towards being free of corruption.
Kay Wong-Alafriz, FCPA, FCA, CFO, Kabam Games Inc
Real-time analytics: At Kabam, we’ve integrated advanced analytics into our operations, enabling real-time, data-driven decision-making that has earned the trust and reliance of our leadership team. Given our position at the intersection of technology, gaming, and customer engagement, real-time analytics play a crucial role in shaping our strategies. While we may not have direct personal insights into each player, we have access to a wealth of customer intelligence. The key lies in identifying and leveraging the most relevant data points to drive impactful decisions, enhancing both operational efficiency and player experience.
Celebrate and connect with our new Fellows and the other members being celebrated through CPABC’s 2024-25 Member Recognition Program. Join us for the gala Member Recognition Dinner on April 2, 2025.
