Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner, CPA.CITP, CGMA, DTM – 2018 40 Under 40 Honoree

• Twitter: @Pittelkow
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethpittelkowkittner

Professional Associations/Memberships (please include any leadership roles):

• AICPA: Council, Leadership Academy, Journal of Accountancy Editorial Advisor, Young Professionals Leadership Committee, Ethics Division NOCLAR Task Force, CPA Ambassador, Mentoring Program, Conference Speaker
• Illinois CPA Society: Board Member, Audit Committee, Ethics Committee Secretary, Ethics Columnist for INSIGHT Magazine, Women’s Mentoring Circle, Conference Speaker
• Toastmasters International: Distinguished Toastmaster, Club Officer
• Swing for Kids: Board Member
• Harvest Bible Chapel: Ministry Leader

Career Highlights

• Passing the CPA Exam
• Working in both public and private accounting
• Attending AICPA’s Leadership Academy
• Receiving my CITP and CGMA designations
• Achieving DTM status in Toastmasters
• Serving as a volunteer leader for the AICPA and Illinois CPA Society
• Speaking at AICPA’s ENGAGE and EDGE Conferences
• Speaking at Illinois CPA Society’s Conferences
• Writing for Illinois CPA Society’s INSIGHT Magazine
• Editing for The Journal of Accountancy
• Participating in Leadership Academy 2.0
• Participating in the Young Leaders Accounting Think Tank
• Contributing to philanthropic and non-profit organizations
• Mentoring others

 

What are you doing to make a difference in the profession, your community, the world?

I serve as a mentor in my church, community, company, and overall profession. I encourage people to determine what they want as next steps in their lives and careers, and I offer them resources. I teach and write about topics that are important to the profession, such as building integrity and developing strategic, non-technical skills. I support philanthropic organizations and non-profit organizations, such as Cardz for Kidz and Toastmasters, to help improve people’s lives.

Favorite books/websites/speakers:

Books: My dad gave me The Top 500 Poems edited by William Harmon when I graduated high school, and I have been referencing it for inspiration since. Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently by John C. Maxwell is a book that provides useful tips on how to meaningfully connect with individuals and both small and large groups. Websites: ted.com, soulpancake.com / https://www.youtube.com/soulpancake Speakers: Simon Sinek (Leadership), Sheryl Sandberg (Career Inspiration, Overcoming Grief), Adam Grant (Organizational Psychology), James MacDonald (Uncommon Community), John O’Leary (Live Inspired)

What do you see yourself doing professionally in 10 years? I see myself in the accounting profession helping people more – mentoring, educating, and supporting. I love writing and speaking and will continue to use these skills to teach topics that are valuable to our profession.

What accounting conferences do you normally attend? I rotate which conferences I attend and recommend the following: AICPA ENGAGE, AICPA Women’s Global Leadership Summit, Illinois CPA Society’s Summit, Sage Summit, QuickBooks Connect

What websites/magazines do you use to keep up on news of the accounting profession? The Journal of Accountancy, Illinois CPA Society’s INSIGHT Magazine, CPA Practice Advisor, Accounting Today, CPA Trendlines, AccountingWEB, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times

 

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See more of the 2018 40 Under 40 Honorees, and the 20 Under 40 Vendor Superstars.