Ashley Kegan, CPA – 2025 40 Under 40 Honoree
Principal
Sikich, LLC
https://www.sikich.com
Recent Career Highlights:
- Helped move our team into tech-first environment; increased the use of AI and openly supported testing and finding innovative ways to go beyond the basics of consultation to solve client problems, allowing us to grow our client base without directly growing our team.
- Came back from parental bonding leave after having second son and is learning how to successfully navigate increased responsibilities as a working parent; applied lessons learned about patience and creative problem-solving from becoming a mom and applied them to being a smarter CPA and better leader.
- Serve as Executive Sponsor of Sikich’s Women’s Empowerment Circle, an internal initiative to empower all team members across Sikich to lead confidently and create a workplace culture that champions all team members.
Ashley Kegan is a Director and Shareholder of Accelerated Growth. As a member of the firm’s senior leadership team, she heads the Corporate Development function and is responsible for driving portfolio performance as well as developing new products and offerings. Ashley was previously a Manager at the firm where she led engagements with some of Accelerated Growth’s largest and most complex relationships including private equity sponsors and the venture arms of Fortune 500 companies.
She also serves as Co-Chair of Global Minimum, an organization whose mission it is to inspire the next generation of African youth to tackle challenges affecting their local communities. Prior to Accelerated Growth, Ashley was a Manager at a boutique litigation consulting firm where she served as a damages consultant and expert witness. Ashley started her career at Deloitte and worked on engagements ranging in scope from IPOs of hyper-growth companies to cost reduction initiatives within the Fortune 500. Ashley holds a Bachelors of Science degree from DePaul University.
What are you doing to make a difference in the profession, your community, the world?
I’m a founding associate board member of Chicago Innovation, an organization that focuses on democratizing innovation, and I’m also involved in their Women’s Mentor Co-op where I help women navigate successful finance careers. As an associate board member of the Chicago Children’s Museum, I chaired the spring fundraiser which raised money to ensure the museum’s community-based programs can continue their reach throughout Chicago. I’ve also begun aiding a local non-profit focused on fighting homelessness with financial review and financial stewardship, so I can put my CPA to use for the good of my community.
Favorite books/websites/podcasts/speakers/bloggers:
Work Life – Adam Grant podcast, books and articles, Women at Work podcast
See all of the 2025 “40 Under 40” and “20 Under 40” honorees.
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