Brad Pennefather

Date: August 13, 2014

Name: Leaders of Tomorrow – Accounting Speaker Series

Presenters: Paul Leedham, Brad Pennefather, and Andry Tanusdjaja

Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) is one of the programs in Vancouver Board of Trade. The program helps and mentors undergrads about business entrepreneurship. Many students take this opportunity to develop business network along with other members of the program. The accounting speaker series is a seminar that provides business experience in different types of accounting designation.

Paul Leedham, CPA, CGA, CA of Manning Elliott

Paul Leedham starts his career as CA accountant in a mid-size firm that involves technology and fund at Abbotsford. He enjoys his career path because he encounters a mix of variety of public and private clients. Leedham decides to be involved as a mentor in Vancouver board of trade after his completion of CGA. He believes career and life must balance; therefore, he has passion in sport bike as part of his hobby.

“Not all business; must have play as well.”

Leedham always has the interest of giving back to the society. With his two designations, he is able to experience two different career paths in public and industry sectors. His believes accounting is an important skill to have since it can apply to every workforce. He suggests new entrepreneurs to concentrate more on practical than theory. Moreover, he encourages starting in small firm to start the fundamental.

Network is the key for Leedham in his success and it provides unlimited opportunities.

Leadership Lesson

Leedham emphasizes new entrepreneurs need to be ready and prepared when opportunities arrive. It is important for new entrepreneurs to act as advisors, instead of accountants, in front of clients. This will create more values for clients and about to bring value added resources to the table.

It is essential to have mindset of open to new things. In addition, Leedham suggests new entrepreneurs to obtain skills outside of accounting. Work experience will lead new accountants to be more seniority in business; therefore, professionalism is essential. New Entrepreneurs should always have the mindset of transfer knowledge back to community. Furthermore, New Entrepreneurs should always have confident; otherwise, they could not successfully persuade clients.

Benefits of being as a CPA

The global opportunities are endless with the CPA designation. New Entrepreneurs will experience different personality and responsibilities in the market. Moreover, these will also impact or influence skills in creativity and sales in the long run.

“It does not matter your letters behind your name; it matters what you bring to the table”

“Push yourself out of the comfort zone”

“Understand what can make you happy, do not just concentrate on numbers and amount”

Brad Pennefather, CPA, CMA Director of Sales of Vancouver Canucks Sports & Entertainment

Brad Pennefather begins his career at Coca Cola Company as a category manager. He realizes that 80 percent of sales are mostly from top customers; moreover, he learns the best way to communicate to individual is by using numbers.

Pennefather decides to move on to a company called Labatt to expand his ability in communication by involving with marketing and sales teams. He focuses on numbers because he understands everything company does will impact the bottom line of revenue. Because of his love for continuation of learning, he decides to complete CMA program. Furthermore, the program provides the knowledge for him to understand more about the end users.

Benefit in Life

CMA designation educates Pennefather that the art in data can turn into result. The number itself is interesting enough to influence others. His learning experience makes him understand that entrepreneurship is not just accounting, it is about sales, Human Resources, and implementation. Pennefather believes learning and be with similar people are important. Development and friendship are important, but the ability to continue learning is the key to success.

“See what you have done, what makes sense and what is worthwhile. Not many people can articulate the story and sell”

Andry Tanusdjaja, CPA, CA of TELUS

Andry Tanusdjaja starts his career in accounting field with TELUS. As a CA financial analyst, he gains his experience through corporate accounting, business analysis and internal audit. By going through the mentorship program in TELUS, he develops his networking skills in business accounting.

Why CPA?

The CPA designation provides the necessary financial experiences he needs in the working market. CPA has trained him the advanced analytical skill for his career path. In addition, CPA provides him the opportunity to develop the understanding of strategic and operational level of business.

Get a mentor

Tanusdjaja suggests all new entrepreneurs to get a mentor. This will enhance the professional experience in the workplace and receive objective and constructive feedback. Mentor can help new entrepreneurs to set clear goals, deadline and follow-up; in fact, mentor can cultivate the relationship and become more proactive in business.

Ask the right questions

Tanusdjaja recommends all new entrepreneurs to focus on the “why” instead of “what”. Even though small details matter, but business entrepreneurs should focus on big picture as well. Therefore, entrepreneurs should have the habit of keep asking questions because it will help them lead to the right direction.

How can you add value?

New entrepreneurs should always look at situation in unbiased perspective. They should ask themselves if there is any way to improve or do better in the future.

Set Objective and break it down

Tanusdjaja believes goal setting is extremely important for new entrepreneurs. They can break their life goals to one, five or ten years period in writing, and this will help them define an accurate direction towards their career. It is important to provide measurable and concrete objectives with deadline and priority.

Network Network

Tanusdjaja suggests all new entrepreneurs to focus on what they can give to others first. They should start by listening to what other people need. In addition, it is important to be involved in other non-work activities to expand network opportunities.

“Your path is unique and there is no one formal path to success”

Group Answers

The panel believes the best way to get out of the comfort zone is to increase networking activities. It is easy to stay in the office, but life experience should involve both personal and professional aspects.

Small business or family business experience has helped them to be more sensitive to dynamic. They could be more related to the similar clients experience and provide better services for those clients.

Volunteer is important for any business entrepreneurs because it can help them impact on other people’s lives. Moreover, it can energize team members and give back to community.