Designed to broaden opportunities
The Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop (ASLW) presents a breadth of career opportunities to college and university students. ASLW seeks to inspire the next generation of accounting and finance professionals and expand the diversity of talent for the profession.
What to expect at ASLW
Students learn strategies for networking, developing a personal brand, and creating a path to their dream career.
Experts from around the country offer guidance and share insights about their academic and career journeys and licensure options.
ASLW attendees also have an opportunity to seek mentors and ask questions in one-to-one conversations with professionals who attend ourAccounting Pipeline Diversity Symposium,which runs concurrently with the Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop.
The AICPA Foundation and other organization sponsors will cover the majority cost of student attendees’ cost including transportation to/from the workshop location, hotel accommodations, training experience, and meals.
SAVE THE DATE for 2024 ASLW
Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop
Oct. 16–18
Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center
Atlanta, GA
2023 ASLW Highlights
See ASLW highlights and reflections from the 2023 event here:
Eligibility requirements
Along with identifying as an ethnic minority (e.g., Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino/x; Native American; Asian American), ASLW applicants must be a/an:
First-time attendee (i.e., you have not attended a past workshop).
Undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university.
Declared accounting major or have otherwise expressed interest in joining the accounting profession.
U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Green Card holder).
AICPA Student Affiliate Member.
Applicants must do the following:
Provide an unofficial transcript.
Provide the name and email address of a faculty member who has agreed to provide a recommendation.
Demonstrate involvement in campus and community activities.
Note: If you have attended an ASLW in the past, you are not eligible to apply.
How to apply to 2024 ASLW
Step 1: Join the AICPA as a Student Affiliate Member. It’s free and easy to sign up. If you’re already a member, you’ll go to step 2: Click Apply here at ThisWaytoCPA.com
Student applications for 2024 ASLW are accepted March 1–June 15, 2024.
Why it all began
As members of a vibrant profession, we strive to make accounting accessible to diverse populations. We want students from underrepresented populations and diverse backgrounds to envision themselves prospering in the dynamic profession of accounting and finance.
Per the 2023 AICPA® Trends Report (chart 1.3), from 2013 to 2022 the ethnic diversity of students graduating with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting was approximately 40%. To increase the representation of people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and underrepresented populations, the AICPA & CIMA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop (ASLW) was created more than two decades ago. Sponsored by the AICPA Foundation and other partners, this exciting annual event showcases myriad opportunities within the accounting and finance profession. Participation in the program is enriching for all, and the benefits of attending are far-reaching.
Contact diversity@aicpa.org with any questions about the Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop.
Perspectives from ASLW Alumni:
Yi Xia, Southern Connecticut State University
The ASLW is extremely beneficial. I was very inspired by all the speakers. Their successful stories gave me more motivation for studying my CPA exam.
Connecting with professionals and also students. I made great friends there. I also loved the stories about that not everyone’s journal is easy. People fail all the time, but the most important thing is never give up. CPA exam is hard, as long as we study hard, we will pass it even though you may fail a couple of times.
Erin Hardin, University of Alabama at Birmingham
“The event was very beneficial! I had the chance to connect with aspiring scholars and professionals. I came home with the sense of urgency to plan my career out after graduation! I did not have a plan but now I do. I learned a lot as well. The people I connected with truly are amazing. If I could do the event again, I will!! “
“What I enjoyed the most was the building your brand session, growing up we have an image of what our brand should look like while that is not true! Your brand is you! You have to be yourself at all times. You cannot transform into anyone else!”
Ryan McKelvey, University of Texas Tyler
The ASLW actually changed my outlook on this profession. I decided to become a CPA because I fell in love with accounting. Now that I am at the point in my collegiate journey that I am looking for internships, I had been feeling like I don’t have a future in accounting leadership because I hadn’t seen other minorities in management positions in local firms. Coming to the ASLW and listening to and learning from so many minority leaders and scholars inspired me to pursue all of my dreams no matter how large. I hope that one day I can give a future minority accounting student that same inspiration.
I found The Road Ahead session with Billy “Boss” Williams the most valuable. He and I actually come from the same area of Texas. Listening to his story and his journey to partnership at KPMG inspired me to dream big even though I started with little.
James Do, California State University, Fullerton
ASLW is one of the most meaningful events that I’ve experienced in 2022. I'm fortunate to be one of 100 students selected to participate in this rewarding leadership workshop. First, I have the opportunity to better understand myself, and share my story with others, thereby developing my personal brand. Next, the knowledge, lessons, experiences, and tips from experts in the workshops not only help me develop myself and improve my knowledge of leadership but also direct me to apply them in my life and positively impact my surrounding people. As a result, I will be able to lead my team more effectively and achieve our goals together. Finally, ASLW was an awesome opportunity for me to meet and build relationships with top students from all over the US, top leaders from accounting firms, and professionals from American institutions. I have been greatly inspired by their stories, successes, and accomplishments. Thanks to that, I have more motivation to get out of my comfort zone and continue writing my own story.
What I love most is meeting, interacting, and learning from students and professionals at the event. I love the moments when we study together, eat together, and discuss different topics by the pool after learning sessions. I love the conversations I have with the speakers after each session and our photos. Each person has a different personality and different background, but all of them are present at the event with the same goal of self-development, connection, influence together, and promoting a stronger accounting industry. What impressed me and stuck in my mind was their leadership mindset and networking skills. They are always willing to take pictures with bright smiles and always willing to connect and help me on my way to success.
Interested in sponsoring a student to attend ASLW? Contact Christopher Radford, Senior Manager — AICPA Foundation Fundraising at Christopher.Radford@aicpa-cima.com.