As organizations work to build cultural fluency and awareness of different groups and identities, understanding the significance of heritage months and national days is an important part of those efforts. Every year, we recognize and celebrate 13 different cultures and minority groups in the form of a heritage month. There are also over 1,500 national days established to raise awareness and/or celebrate everything from historic events, traditions, social justice causes, and medical conditions to hobbies, activities, and ice cream flavors.
In this session, we will explore the history of heritage months and national days. June is LGBTQ+ Pride month, and Brian Streig, CPA, is back for another conversation. Brian is Tax Director at Calhoun, Thomson + Matza, LLP, in Austin, Texas. In a previous Diversity & Inclusion 1-On-1 presentation on CPAacademy.org, he shared his experiences as a gay man working in public accounting. This time, he will share more of his story, what Pride month means to him, and why he thinks recognizing heritage months should be a part of every organization’s DEI strategy. We hope you join the conversation!
Learning Objectives:
Etienne Consulting
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant, Speaker & Trainer
[email protected]
(301) 778-5510
Jina is a consultant and speaker on diversity, inclusion, culture, and belonging. She creates training programs and workshops to help clients move forward in their D&I journey. She is a storyteller and speaks candidly about her experiences, hard lessons, and ‘aha’ moments that helped her understand the importance of individuality, the value of curiosity, and the courage it takes to “just” be yourself. Often described as “approachable” and “relatable” by her clients, she works with purpose and the intention of being engaging, practical, and immediately applicable to real-world situations. Jina draws from her unique background and mix of work experiences to offer examples and share insights designed to benefit everyone across the workplace ecosystem – executives, management, employees, and customers.
Previously, she was Principal Consultant at EtiennePartners (EP), a boutique consulting firm that offered a unique strategy development, workshops & coaching to leaders, executives and entrepreneurs. Co-founded with her husband, EP was a full-time partnership in both work and life. Although in different professions, their work often intersected around the importance of self-awareness in leadership and navigating conflict within teams. Combining their experiences, backgrounds, and work led to the development of their unique approach to D&I, which she continues to use in her practice today.
Calhoun, Thomson + Matta, LLP
Tax Director
[email protected]
(512) 439-8400
Brian Streig, CPA, is Tax Director at Calhoun, Thomson + Matza, LLP, in Austin, Texas. Brian has over 20 years of public accounting experience in tax assistance and compliance with clients from start-up to multinational corporations. Brian currently has a specialty serving clients in the insurance industry and has significant experience with technology, entertainment, non-profit, and professional services.
As a gay man in public accounting, Brian is familiar with the challenges, barriers, and misconceptions many in the LGBTQ+ community face at work, particularly for those who work in the professional services community. He is passionate about this issue because he wants the next generations of accountants to feel safe and comfortable being themselves at work. Today, he lives in Austin, TX, with his husband Curt Young and their dog Ryder.