Exactly four years ago, I was deep in a frenzy hunting for the perfect flower girl dresses for my daughters. This picture? It’s of them trying on the adorable dresses we finally found after visiting three stores. I was smugly proud of my find. The wedding was in Puerto Rico, right after Christmas—a much-needed reprieve from the pandemic chaos.

Have you ever had to explain to a child why their dreams might take longer than expected?

The conversation shifted, but something lingered inside me. Was it guilt? Shame? Before the event ended, I returned to them and said, "Actually, I grew up in Canada but was born in Haiti. I am Haitian." They smiled knowingly and said, “We thought so—your accent is more Haitian than Canadian.” This got me thinking: Is being Haitian an asset or a liability? 🤔 It’s a question I’ve wrestled with my entire adult life.

As an accounting leader, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of leadership and personal values. Last week, I attended a discussion for the book release of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s memoir The Lovely One. As the first Black woman to access the Supreme Court, it struck me how relatable her journey is—not just for myself, but for many Black women, professionals in law or government, and anyone in leadership—including accounting.

"So, what does a Controller do?" asked my 7-year-old, eyes wide with curiosity. She’d just returned from a visit to the controls room at an office—a space filled with wires, monitors, and mysterious boxes. Naturally, she imagined my day involved something equally exciting, like managing a spaceship control center.

Recently, I was asked twice on the same day how I felt about evolving in “my white male-dominated” tech world. This question came from two female executives I had just met. I get asked this often, but usually not on the same day. My usually summarized answer is: “I am annoyed but accepting of these circumstances, doing my best with my limited resources to find the silver linings.”

A special one! She turned "double-digits" and wants the whole world to know about it. I am proud and pensive; I have been a mom for over ten years. I have survived so far in the motherland, despite the mistakes, the forgotten doctor's appointments, despite COVID, despite the guilt. I am overwhelmed... we are celebrating, but I also need this audit to be released today.

My feed is awash with stories of women as we dive deep into Women’s History Month. I'm thankful for all the women who've supported me throughout my career... But today, I want to shine a light on the woman who profoundly impacted my life. That's my late grandmother, Zeline. Her life was a tapestry woven with resilience, determination, and humor. She's constantly inspired me and my daughters (through me).

I am returning to memory lane, sharing my backstory. I found this journal entry from September 14, 201X.

Reflecting on the journey, the universe conspired to guide me to EY. The additional semester added to my degree allowed me to finish in December and start working in January, just when EY needed an additional associate. It was both a blessing and a challenge, skipping the training received by junior staff beginning in October.

Accountants, I realized, are the unsung heroes behind every number, decision, service, and product. My journey echoed the sentiment shared by other accountants I talked to - we all chose to pursue a career in accounting because it permeates every logical aspect of our lives.

As 2023 winds down, I can't help but dive deep into my version of the annual close. I have the terrible curse of making everything financial, but bear with me—this is your life statement we're talking about! Let’s spend a few minutes on your metaphorical balance sheet, sing an eulogy to 2023, and break down the accounting of a year-end close (my way).

Today, I am showering my appreciation to my brothers, acknowledging them as the unsung heroes in my life. While growing up, they were a source of annoyance, always poking into my business, reading my diaries, and generally making a mess of my teenage sanctuaries. Fast forward to the present, Alain, Carl, and Chris are not just family but invaluable assets.

Last month, I attended a book reading accompanying a good friend. My friend is a brilliant filmmaker and documentary producer and teaches film at a local college. In addition to being esteemed colleagues of my friend,  the authors from the African diaspora were literary geniuses with multiple prizes.

This morning, I was reviewing my pictures, looking "'for duplicates and bad ones" during the 3rd soccer game of Daughter #1. I have more than 60,000 pictures on my iPhone and spend my idle time reducing the number, mostly by deleting duplicates. I stumbled upon some of the pictures I took last month during SuiteWorld and realized that I needed to honor a promise that I had made to Ms. Pat Brown.

A couple of weeks ago I was discussing with Lynn, a good friend of mine. We met at a Big 4 many years ago and have kept in touch despite the distance. While our conversations tend to be mostly about family,  common friends, professional development, and opportunities, we always end up discussing accounting.

I am walking by a beautiful beach, burying my feet in the wet sand and taking on the most glorious sunset. I start and end my days with long showers - my showers are long, steamy, and joyous. I have the best ideas and usually solve the most annoying problems during my showers. I love the ocean, and I love water. However, I am starting to discover mountains and to see them everywhere in my life.

I have been reflecting about failure and loss recently. I have failed at achieving one of my self-imposed goals to exercise for 21 days straight. I almost made it, but on day 19, my back and my knees reminded me that I had entered another decade and that I had to take it easy. 

In a couple of days, my residential town will be voting. It is an important one for a town with a population of about 30k residents that is praised for its diverse community. There are 16 openings (mostly elected volunteer positions)  including two for the planning board, one for the town treasurer and two for school committee members.