After spending more than 20 years at this firm, I’ve seen and learned a lot. The leaders that came before me have all impacted me greatly — former CEOs, partners and, of course, our founder. But I also realize the valuable lessons I learn every day from my peers and the generations on their way up.
As I watch my first born begin his senior year of high school and look onto college, it’s definitely a time of reflection. What I’ve learned as I’ve grown both personally and professionally is that I don’t have all the answers — and I don’t necessarily need to. We are fortunate at Cohen & Company to have diverse perspectives and forward-thinking professionals hailing from every office, workstation and remote location. We put great people first, work as a team and approach every new challenge with a refreshing sense of optimism and competitive spirit.
So, what do we do with all of this potential? We harness it and use it to help us lead fairly and effectively. As we grow, remaining a “flat” organization is always a challenge. One tool we are excited about is our Advisory Council, one of my first initiatives as CEO. Because we firmly believe great ideas don’t just come from the executive ranks, we’ve gathered individuals from all levels of the organization to help us find new ways to drive strategy, emphasize internal engagement, technical expertise, community advocacy and client service. The Council will help all generations at the firm lead and be challenged. Their input and guidance will help us ensure our clients have a different experience when they work with us, a better experience than with other firms.
However, the Advisory Council is only one of the ways we intend to “listen to lead.” We will continue to encourage employees to lean in, be promoters of our firm and never lose sight of their passion and energy for our organization and what we do. Because that’s where our real difference lies. As I fully lean into my role as Cohen & Company’s CEO, I will need to look to the lessons I’ve learned, and continue to learn, from others and adapt as the world changes around us. No single strategy or tactic can be set in stone, but we will remain focused on owning our position as the employer of choice, creating operational excellence and remaining a premium provider of services.
The depth of what we can offer the marketplace and our communities is incredible. We have many stories to tell and from which we can learn. As I continue on this journey to listen to lead, I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you and hope you will share yours as well.
Contact Chris Bellamy at cbellamy@cohencpa.com to share your thoughts on this topic.
Cohen & Company is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. Information contained in this post is considered accurate as of the date of publishing. Any action taken based on information in this blog should be taken only after a detailed review of the specific facts, circumstances and current law.