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PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

Anoop Natwar Mehta relaxes at
home amid his whiskey collection
beside a photo of his late father,
Natwar G. Mehta, who was also a
whiskey connoisseur.

will maintain its relevancy without changing, then mentoring and internal promotions, as well as
we will watch a profession lose its relevance. CPA staff recruitment. Between 2016–2019, women in
Evolution will help us make this profession appeal- leadership roles increased from 11% to 31%, and
ing to future CPAs from all walks of life.” leadership roles occupied by people from a minority
population increased from 14% to 26%. Mehta is
DRIVING DIVERSITY particularly proud of moving this needle within
Mehta is committed to increasing diversity, equity, three years’ time.
and inclusion in the profession, and he believes that Mehta aims to take these lessons learned and
different people, cultures, and perspectives enhance encourage organizations to establish and measure
the ability to solve complex challenges. DEI initiatives and to provide more flexibility to
“We must showcase diversity in the profession staff, especially to women, who he noted have been
so that everyone can see a place for themselves” more likely to leave the workforce during the Great
within it, Mehta said. His hope is that in five to 10 Resignation.
years, the profession is collectively seen as diverse “Driving diversity is a journey,” he noted,
and inclusive. “To attract top talent at our firms and describing it as “not a one-year platform, but a
businesses, we need to reflect the world,” he said. constant commitment.”
During his tenure at SSAI, he and colleague “Culturally diverse collaboration is critical,”
Mauricio Peredo, Ph.D., sought to help diverse he continued, “and technology allows us to unify
employees grow in the organization (see the sidebar, people around the world.”
“An Encouraging Role Model”). Now a chief
scientist at AMA, Peredo spoke fondly of his time PERSEVERING TO ACHIEVE THE DREAM
working with Mehta at SSAI. As a child in the state of Telangana, in south-
“Anoop doesn’t seek to be the loudest in the central India, Mehta observed the dedication and
room, and he treats all colleagues as humans, not as perseverance of his family. His late father, Natwar
employees,” he recalled. Mehta, he said, wanted dis- G. Mehta, was a chartered accountant who worked
cussions to include people of different backgrounds for a firm and occupied a place of respect in society.
and disciplines because a range of voices and differ- Mehta noticed repeatedly during his childhood
ent perspectives can lead to stronger solutions. how people treated his father with esteem, and he
Together, Mehta and Peredo, then COO of would laugh with delight when his dad would say,
SSAI, spearheaded efforts to diversify the com- “Ah! I did his tax return” in response to seeing a
pany’s leadership team and workforce through famous person on TV.

8 | Journal of Accountancy June 2022