Talkin’ To The Next Generation
The future of business is younger, en-
ergetic, technologically savvy and, well,
different. But rather than shy away from
this changing workforce demographic,
we’ve built an environment of collabo-
ration and inclusion – one in which our
younger team members can influence
the future of Rea.
D o e s A Yo u n g
Advisory Board
Make Sense For
Yo u r B u s i n e s s ?
By Annie Yoder, CPA, CFE, CFF,
principal & director of development,
[email protected]
(New Philadelphia office)
Rea’s Young Advisory Board
Rea & Associates’ Young Advisory
Board (YAB) was developed to give our
younger employees a platform to share
ideas, challenge processes, identify
areas of improvement and pursue de-
velopment opportunities alongside the
firm’s leadership team.
The YAB meets with our CEO and me
three times a year to learn about the
firm’s processes, share feedback and
offer ideas to ignite positive change.
To encourage new voices, seven young
professionals are tasked to represent
their peers over a 12-month period; and
one member is tapped to serve a two-
year term to maintain synergy from the
previous year.
While YAB meetings have a structured
agenda, there is plenty of time for open
dialogue – without any consequences.
For this initiative to give us the feed-
back we need to move the firm forward,
it’s imperative that each board member
feels empowered to speak freely.
On The Agenda
Competition for top talent in the ac-
counting industry is fierce. So, last year,
10
the board identified new and improved
ways to attract, recruit, develop and re-
tain talented staff. As a direct result of
the YAB’s feedback, we’re adjusting our
recruiting process and developing or en-
hancing a few other internal programs.
Does A Young Advisory Board
Make Sense For Your Business?
As a two-way educational tool, a YAB can
help businesses redefine and improve
existing policies, procedures and goals
while encouraging leadership to embrace
a variety of different (and relevant) view-
points. This can be a terrific way to gain
access to new and exciting ideas. Dur-
ing our first year of the YAB, we let board
members determine their area of focus,
but you can just as easily assign specific
projects for your board to tackle.
If you’re interested in initiating your own
YAB, remember (above all else) to listen.
The input and insight you will gain from
this group will be instrumental to the fu-
ture of your company, but if you don’t tru-
ly listen to what your young team mem-
bers have to say, or if you don’t use their
feedback to drive change, this initiative
won’t fuel the success you’re looking for.
Moving away from a top-down mental-
ity isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. By giving
young people a voice in the company’s
future, you’re ensuring that your culture,
your go-to-market strategy and your
business as a whole remains fresh and
current.
Email me if you would like to learn more
about our experience.