INTHEBLACK February 2023 - Magazine - Page 31
“The most successful
person in the office isn’t
always the one who’s there
earliest in the morning and
leaves latest at night. We
need to understand that
the best way might not be
how we’ve always done it.”
DIONIE LIPPIS ASA, COLLINS SBA
BORROW
Career Courage:
Discover Your Passion,
Step Out of Your
Comfort Zone and
Create the Success
You Want from the
CPA Library
subsequent appointments – at both
Preece Martin and Collins SBA.
Likewise, it was at a networking
event that a fellow attendee invited
her to become a CPA Australia
Student Ambassador. In addition
to educating other students about
the designation and careers in
accounting more broadly, Lippis
has attended a range of networking
and professional development
events. “We also formed a really nice
community of junior accountants,”
she adds. “It creates a great network
at a very early stage in your career.”
While Lippis admits that
networking can be scary, she
believes anyone can – and
should – pursue it, for the sake
of both their professional and
personal development. “It can
be terrifying, but you just have
to learn to be comfortable with
the uncomfortable,” she says,
highlighting that it not only gets
your name out there and enables
you to interact with people in
your industry, but also helps you
determine the kind of accountant
you want to be and the kind
of company you want to work for.
“It’s so important, in terms of
forming your outlook and your
knowledge, but also seeking
any opportunities that might
be available,” she says.
These days, Lippis works fulltime while studying to be a CPA.
She also volunteers as treasurer of
the School Food Matters board and
takes every opportunity to network,
attend conferences and mentoring
events, and share her professional
experiences on leadership panels,
specifically supporting emerging
leaders and new graduates in
Tasmania. Of her busy schedule,
she explains, “I once made an
active decision to always say ‘Yes’
to opportunities. You might feel
nervous putting yourself out there,
but seize as many opportunities as
you can, because you never know
what will come from it.”
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 31