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Mary MacBain

Executive Director
Kansas Society of CPAs
Topeka, KS

 

Seven years into an administrative job she had outgrown, Mary MacBain decided it was time for a do-over. Many years before, she had spent two years at a university without graduating. “This time I was focused, and I knew what I wanted.” She completed her undergraduate degree, got a masters degree and passed the CPA exam on her first try.

Fortunately for Mary, she had no shortage of strong role models around. “I also became a CPA because of female role models who were CPAs,” she says. “One of these women was my mother, who was the only woman in the business school when she graduated. Another was the budget director at a hospital where I worked. The grace, professionalism, confidence and sheer joy these women exhibited as CPAs made me want to be one, too!”

Now Mary is the role model. After successfully starting her own consulting business selling accounting systems to small- and medium-sized businesses, she became the director of the Kansas Society of CPAs. Along the way, she’s made nearly 100 speeches on professional topics, written magazine articles, and volunteers extensively.

“There is no better brand in the business world than ‘CPA,’” Mary says. “It’s a brand that means trust, integrity and objectivity, and it’s one of the most respected and trusted of any profession. You can start your own business, work as an independent contractor and carve out a lifestyle that fits your own desires – and it’s especially great for women!”

Got questions of your own? Ask a CPA.