Episode 29: Young Leadership, Global Collaboration, and the Mindset that Matters

Young Leadership, Global Collaboration, and the Mindset that Matters

In the latest episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update, we explore how chartered accountants across the world are shaping change — in their communities, their organisations and their own careers 

Our first story features chartered accountant and risk professional Rebecca Casey, whose career journey shows that young professionals don’t need to wait for permission to lead. From AI governance and data integrity to practical action on sustainability, Rebecca demonstrates how professional skills can be applied to real-world challenges. Her message is simple but powerful: choose one problem, apply your expertise and start making an impact.

We also share highlights from our recent CAW Connects overseas representatives’ meeting, where leaders from member institutes came together to strengthen collaboration and identify priorities for 2026 and beyond. These conversations reinforced the value of working as a connected global community.

Finally, we turn to insights from our latest Resilience Report, developed with the Resilience Institute, which explores how adopting a growth mindset can help professionals respond more effectively to challenge, change and uncertainty.

Together, these stories reflect the purpose of Chartered Accountants Worldwide — supporting a resilient, connected profession that serves the public interest.

Transcript

HELLO! Welcome to Episode 29 of Chartered Accountants Global Update, your weekly audio newsletter from Chartered Accountants Worldwide. Today we're covering three important updates from across our global community.

We'll be discussing our recent conversation with chartered accountant Rebecca Casey about youth leadership and sustainability action, an update from our overseas representatives' meeting, and insights on developing a growth mindset from our Resilience Report. Let's dive in.

Our first story takes us to a conversation that challenges the notion of "waiting your turn." We recently sat down with chartered accountant and risk professional Rebecca Casey from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, who demonstrates that young leaders don't need to wait for permission to make an impact.

Rebecca's journey is impressive. From a school enterprise in Sydney to Deloitte and now working across Young Chartered Accountancy panels in both New South Wales and the UK, she made a career leap to London while still in her twenties. But what makes her story particularly relevant is how she's translating professional expertise into real-world action.

During our conversation, Rebecca was fresh from the One Young World Summit, and the energy from that experience came through clearly. She spoke candidly about AI governance, data integrity, and ethics—not as abstract concepts, but as daily practices. Her take? Accountability shouldn't be a compliance checkbox. It needs to be a habit.

What struck us most was how Rebecca connects the dots between professional skills and grassroots impact. She volunteers with a hard-to-recycle plastics program and has made a personal pledge centered on reuse and repair. These aren't just feel-good initiatives—she's applying the same rigorous thinking she uses in her risk management role.

Rebecca's approach to the circular economy is practical. She talks about procurement standards, lifecycle thinking, and concrete steps to reduce waste. And she's not just implementing these ideas in her personal life—she's bringing them into her workplace, demonstrating how chartered accountants can drive meaningful change in organizational practices.

Her message is clear: choose one problem, apply your skills, start small, and show results. It's a playbook for focused impact that any of us can use. If you're interested in hearing the full conversation, you can find it on our website or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now, turning to organizational news. In early February, we held our latest CAW Connects event—an overseas representatives' lunch and meeting that brought together leaders from across our member institutes.

This meeting built on momentum from our discussions back in July 2025, and the focus was squarely on practical collaboration. Representatives from ten member institutes shared their top priorities and outlined key areas where we can work together more effectively in 2026 and beyond.

What was encouraging was the quality of the conversations. These weren't just polite exchanges—they were open, constructive discussions about how we can maximize our collective impact. The room demonstrated something important: the strength of connections across our global chartered accountancy community.

The engagement we saw underscores why CAW Connects matters. These gatherings aren't just networking events. They're opportunities to strengthen relationships and support coordinated action across borders. When member institutes can align their efforts and share insights, we all benefit.

It's this kind of collaborative spirit that makes Chartered Accountants Worldwide effective. We're not working in isolation—we're part of a global network committed to advancing the profession and serving the public interest. If you'd like to learn more about CAW Connects or get involved, visit our website for details on upcoming events.

Our final segment addresses something that affects all of us: how we respond to challenges. In collaboration with the Resilience Institute, we've been exploring a question that might seem simple but has profound implications: What if the way you think about challenges is more important than the challenges themselves?

This idea centers on what's called a growth mindset—the perspective that views setbacks not as failures, but as opportunities to learn and improve. In today's fast-changing professional landscape, this isn't just motivational talk. It's essential.

At Chartered Accountants Worldwide, we believe resilience starts with mindset. That's why our Resilience Report, developed in partnership with the Resilience Institute, is packed with practical insights and real-world examples.

Brad Hook, who heads the Resilience Lab at the Resilience Institute, breaks down what a growth mindset actually looks like in practice. He explains why it matters, and more importantly, how you can develop it. This isn't about positive thinking for its own sake—it's about building a more adaptive, resilient approach to your work and career.

The report includes stories from chartered accountants who've put these principles into action, along with practical tools you can use right away. Whether you're facing exam pressure, career transitions, or complex client situations, the mindset you bring to these challenges can make all the difference.

We've also created a video featuring Brad Hook that dives deeper into these concepts. You can find both the full report and the video on our website at charteredaccountantsworldwide.com. I'd encourage you to check them out—these are resources you can return to whenever you need them.

That wraps up Episode 29 of Chartered Accountants Global Update. Thanks For Listening! See you next time