Women’s History Month Interview #1: Robyn Dougherty and Cami Grimm
March is Women’s History Month. Throughout this month, Brown Plus will be featuring interviews between our women mentors and mentees on various topics, including life balance, mentorship and career growth.
This week, Robyn Dougherty, CPA, Audit Principal (mentor), and Cami Grimm, CPA, Audit Senior Manager (mentee), discuss the topics of life balance and mentorship.
Meet This Week’s Mentor: Robyn Dougherty, CPA, Audit Principal
Robyn is an Audit Principal at Brown Plus with several decades of public accounting experience. She provides accounting and auditing services to her clients, specializing in the construction/engineering, retail/wholesale and manufacturing industries. Throughout her career in the Brown Plus Accounting and Auditing Practice, Robyn has advised clients on complex accounting and reporting matters, in addition to providing comprehensive tax services.
Meet This Week’s Mentee: Cami Grimm, CPA, Audit Senior Manager
Cami is an Audit Senior Manager at Brown Plus with 10 years of public accounting experience. She specializes in providing audit and review services to clients within various industries, including construction, manufacturing, wholesale, auto dealers and other closely held businesses. Cami is primarily responsible for the planning, fieldwork and wrap-up of the audit and review services that she provides.
Cami: How has your approach to life balance changed over the years?
Robyn: I started my career at a time when the phrase ‘life balance’ did not exist. The struggle was real in the early years, when the deadlines and demands of the CPA profession took precedence over everything. As my personal life evolved and my professional roles grew, I had the good fortune to be part of the process of creating alternative schedules for myself and others in the Firm. Brown Plus was open to change, but the biggest question was, ‘What will work look like for individuals seeking an alternative to the current career path, and how will it benefit the Firm?’ It took a lot of trust, trial and error to arrive where we are today. I believe we have created a culture where our young female staff can now see themselves fulfilling both their career goals and personal commitments with careers at Brown Plus.
Robyn: Have you ever experienced ‘working mom guilt,’ and, if so, how have you handled it?
Cami: I don’t know any mom that hasn’t experienced ‘working mom guilt.’ I found there’s no solution that works for everyone all the time; it depends on your mix of kids, home life and community. The best way to tackle mom guilt is knowing ‘life balance’ is not a daily balance; it’s a constant ebb and flow that balances out over time. During tax season, my work demands are higher, and I lean more on my family and community. During the summer, I take advantage of our vacation benefits and summer hours to gain back some of that family time. There are times when it all hits at once —deadlines approaching, kids’ activities and personal burnout. When this happens, I take a short pause to address both my own and my family’s needs, because I know my work output will be more efficient and effective if my ‘mom guilt’ is addressed.
Cami: What lessons have you learned from mentoring other women in the profession?
Robyn: I have been honored to mentor several young women at Brown Plus over my career. We have been fortunate to have some very talented women in our Firm. I think the biggest lesson I have learned is that I need to provide my mentees with the opportunity to express their goals and share their obstacles. Often, this includes gently pushing them beyond their current comfort zones and encouraging them to explore their ideas. I am hopeful the young women in today’s profession will continue to trust in themselves and in Brown Plus to achieve success. My message to the young women in our Firm is to not undervalue what you bring to the table. Believe in yourself and the Firm to provide the best outcomes for both. There has never been a better time to achieve your career goals while also fulfilling your personal commitments and creating success!
Robyn: How important has mentorship been in your own career progression?
Cami: Mentorship has been vital to my career growth. Robyn is a trusted sounding board, advocate and friend who also challenges me and pushes me out of my comfort zone. Mentors like Robyn have already walked down this career path and faced many of the challenges that I now face. Her guidance has steered me in the right direction and propped me up for success. I am incredibly appreciative of the time and energy Robyn and my other mentors have put into my growth, and I strive to turn that around and provide the same to my own mentees.