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Technology

Sandra Wiley – 2013 Most Powerful Women in Accounting

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Sandra Wiley

Shareholder & COO
Boomer Consulting, Inc.
www.Boomer.com

Education: BS, Human Resource Management
Hobbies: Golf and grandkids.

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Click here to see the other honorees
of the 2013 “Most Powerful Women
in Accounting” awards.
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Q&A:

What advice would you give to female college students about the opportunities for women in the accounting profession?

The world is open to you!  Start by really honing your technical skills but do what you do best – build relationships!   You are smart, motivated and most firms I work with are looking for the best and brightest emerging leaders – that is you! 

What advice would you give accounting firms on things they could do to better retain and advance more qualified female staff?

Listen to their desire to balance their life and work.  Most firms are talking the talk, but they are sometimes forgetting to walk the walk by implementing policies and strategies that will allow for a balanced life outside of the firm.  Women don’t want special treatment – they simply want options. 

Do you think that there is still a glass ceiling in accounting firm senior management and partner levels, or that the profession has moved to a mostly gender neutral state?

I really wish I could say the glass ceiling is broken but just look at the statistics and the numbers show that there is still a problem in promotion from manager to partner.  It is better – but there is still work to be done. 

How have you managed to balance your professional and personal life obligations, whether that includes family, etc?

It is a constant battle, and the truth is nothing is ever really balanced.  Depending on what is going on in my life sometimes my personal life wins, and sometimes my business life wins.  The challenge – make sure that one part of my life does not win ALL the time.  Also…. My google calendar has everything on it, personal and professional.  It is just my life calendar. 

How mobile are you regarding your work? How have mobile devices and apps impacted your productivity and work-life balance?

I am completely mobile.  I work from home, my company office, hotel room, airport and Starbucks!  My life is amazing given that I am now able to work when it is most convenient for me and I am not tethered to a desk in my office only.  I could not be as productive without all of my mobile devices.  It is a great time to be in business! 

What single piece of technology could you absolutely not live without, and why?

My iPhone.  I have everything there – client information, documents, calendar, email, social media and news sources.  It is my go to technology. 

What is your favorite professional mobile app, and why?

I have 2 right now, Box.com where my client documents are and WorkEtc. where my client data is.  Amazing what cloud applications are doing to change our world. 

What do you like to do when you actually have free time without any obligations to work or family?

What are you talking about – what free time!  J  Kidding.    I love to walk on the Konza Prairie near my home in Manhattan Kansas.  It is peaceful, quiet and a great time to just let my mind relax.  Love it.