Raffa, the top 100 CPA advisory/professional services firm based in Washington, D.C., has announced a new mentorship program in conjunction with Vital Voices, a global non-profit dedicated to women leadership.
With the launch of their Empowering Vital Leaders Initiative, Raffa will be mentoring and offering their services, pro bono, for one year to Vital women leaders.
The announcement came after Raffa vice president and partner Kathy Raffa, along with managing director of Search, Transition & Planning Karen Schuler, ran workshops and met with 100 Vital Voices leaders and decided to further their relationship with the group.
“We have an opportunity to connect our own Raffa professionals with women at the forefront of change and global progress," stated Kathy Raffa. "The VV100 represent 100 of the most exceptional leaders from Vital Voices’ network of over 15,000 women from 140 countries. These visionary leaders strengthen laws, create jobs, serve as role models to women and girls and defend human rights and political freedoms. We can help them achieve their bold and innovative visions with our expertise in business operations.”
From left: Josh Payette, IT at Raffa; Jeyalene Baron, Raffa broker/senior account manager; Kathy Raffa, Raffa VP and partner; Elsa D’Silva, mentee and cofounder of Red Dot Foundation; Shreen Tewfik, Vital Voices senior program coordinator; and Patricia Williams, partner at Raffa at the first Empowering Vital Leaders Initiative meeting.
Raffa
Raffa will offer one senior level staff member, along with one or two associates, to work with each Vital Voices leader. Topics will range from best practices in financial management to developing methods of using technology to advance social change. The first group of mentees is comprised of leaders from the Philippines, United Kingdom, Honduras, India, Uganda, Nigeria, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, and Jordan.
“For 20 years we have partnered with exceptional women who are redefining what it means to be a leader. We know that now more than ever – unique and strategic partnerships like this one will serve as powerful vehicles for change,” said Alyse Nelson, president & CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, per a statement.
“Our ability to support these women via technology with their important missions across the globe will also help us become better leaders and professionals ourselves," added Raffa. "We will learn from each other, and together we’ll Do More for more women who do so much good for the world.”
For more on Raffa and the partnership, head to the firm's site here.
Sean McCabe is a senior editor with Accounting Today.