As organizations work to build cultural fluency and awareness of different groups and identities, understanding the significance of heritage months and national days is an important part of those efforts. Every year, we recognize and celebrate 13 different cultures and minority groups in the form of a heritage month. There are also over 1,500 national days established to raise awareness and/or celebrate everything from historic events, traditions, social justice causes, and medical conditions to hobbies, activities, and ice cream flavors.
In this session, we will explore the history of heritage months and national days. June is LGBTQ+ Pride month, and Brian Streig, CPA, is back for another conversation. Brian is Tax Director at Calhoun, Thomson + Matza, LLP, in Austin, Texas. In a previous Diversity & Inclusion 1-On-1 presentation on CPAacademy.org, he shared his experiences as a gay man working in public accounting. This time, he will share more of his story, what Pride month means to him, and why he thinks recognizing heritage months should be a part of every organization’s DEI strategy. We hope you join the conversation!
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the importance of cultural awareness and fluency in leading diverse teams
- Identify different cultures, identities, and communities in nationally recognized heritage days
- Recognize strategies for incorporating recognition events into DEI strategy
Jina Etienne, CPA, CGMA
Etienne Consulting
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, Speaker & Trainer
[email protected]
(301) 778-5510
Jina is a consultant and speaker on diversity, inclusion, culture, and belonging. She creates training programs and workshops to help clients move forward in their D&I journey. She is a storyteller and speaks candidly about her experiences, hard lessons, and ‘aha’ moments that helped her understand the importance of individuality, the value of curiosity, and the courage it takes to “just” be yourself. Often described as “approachable” and “relatable” by her clients, she works with purpose and the intention of being engaging, practical, and immediately applicable to real-world situations. Jina draws from her unique background and mix of work experiences to offer examples and share insights designed to benefit everyone across the workplace ecosystem – executives, management, employees, and customers.
Previously, she was Principal Consultant at EtiennePartners (EP), a boutique consulting firm that offered a unique strategy development, workshops & coaching to leaders, executives and entrepreneurs. Co-founded with her husband, EP was a full-time partnership in both work and life. Although in different professions, their work often intersected around the importance of self-awareness in leadership and navigating conflict within teams. Combining their experiences, backgrounds, and work led to the development of their unique approach to D&I, which she continues to use in her practice today.
Brian Streig
Calhoun, Thomson + Matta, LLP
Tax Director
[email protected]
(512) 439-8400
Brian Streig, CPA, is Tax Director at Calhoun, Thomson + Matza, LLP, in Austin, Texas. Brian has over 20 years of public accounting experience in tax assistance and compliance with clients from start-up to multinational corporations. Brian currently has a specialty serving clients in the insurance industry and has significant experience with technology, entertainment, non-profit, and professional services.
As a gay man in public accounting, Brian is familiar with the challenges, barriers, and misconceptions many in the LGBTQ+ community face at work, particularly for those who work in the professional services community. He is passionate about this issue because he wants the next generations of accountants to feel safe and comfortable being themselves at work. Today, he lives in Austin, TX, with his husband Curt Young and their dog Ryder.
About Our Presenter
Etienne Consulting's work is informed by their unique mix of experience in public accounting & business consulting, association management & member engagement, and diversity & inclusion consulting and training. Although in a variety of roles and industries, their work has always intersected around the importance of self-awareness in leadership, clarity of purpose, and navigating conflict within teams.
This led them to develop techniques to deepen awareness and strengthen communication — core skills necessary for driving meaningful change in organizations. They work with businesses and firms to infuse diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of people experience, operations, policy, communications, branding, and community & social responsibility. Their training programs and workshops are designed to bridge the gap between diversity and inclusion by offering concrete skills and communication strategies teams and use to build teams capable of leveraging their full diversity to drive innovation, growth, and lasting cultural change. They also offer support in developing, implementing, executing, and reporting on D&I strategy.
- CPE Credits
- Support and FAQs
- Terms and Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- CPAwebengage, Inc.