The importance of diversity and inclusion with Crystal Cooke

Accounting Leaders Podcast

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at AICPA, Crystal Cooke focuses on increasing the representation of minority groups in the accounting profession. In this episode, Crystal explains the current state of diversity and inclusion in the accounting industry, including ways to promote it and what AICPA is doing about it. Join Crystal and Stuart as they dissect the typical profile of the US accountant, and delve into the statistics around minority professionals.

Together they discuss:

• Crystal’s background (2:30)
• Crystal’s and Stuart’s school experience (3:30)
• Life in Ohio state (4:40)
• Crystal’s journey of becoming an accounting professional (6:40)
• Crystal’s journey with diversity and inclusion (9:00)
• Leaving KPMG (11:40)
• Crystal’s career trajectory (12:40)
• Facing bias as a senior at KPMG (16:30)
• Starting the DEI work (19:00)
• The state of diversity in the accounting industry in the US (22:00)
• How to promote and attract diversity in the industry (28:50)
• Lack of financial literacy in the business world (34:00)
• Focus areas at AICPA (35:10)
• Challenges of promoting DEI and ways to solve it (38:00)
• Success highlights of Crystal’s career (43:10)
• Why accountants do what they do (46:00)