This document summarizes James Deiotte's speech at the 43rd Annual Accounting Awards Banquet at Cleveland State University. It discusses Deiotte's background growing up in Cleveland and earning degrees from Cleveland State University and the University of Miami School of Law. The speech focuses on assembling the necessary tools for one's career, including storytelling, leadership, persuasion, and strategic planning. It also addresses challenges such as readiness for the journey, blind spots, and leadership. The speech emphasizes developing talent and having pride in one's work.

1. CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY
43rd Annual Accounting Awards Banquet 29 April 2016
James Deiotte Class of ‘80 and ‘84

2. ABOUT ME
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
College: Cleveland State (BBA/MBA)
and the University of Miami School of Law
 When my heart was
broken
 When my heart was lifted
 3 things to do before I die
 Encounters with famous
people

3. ONE OF MY MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED...

4. “I ESPECIALLY LOVE ALL THE INSTRUMENTS OF ART: INKS,
PENS, PAINTBRUSHES, WATERCOLORS AND OILS, FINE
PAPERS AND CANVASES, AND ALTHOUGH I LOVE TO MESS
AROUND WITH THESE TOOLS AND OBJECTS, I HAVE MINIMAL
ARTISTIC SKILLS.”
-SHARON CREECH

5. ASSEMBLING YOUR TOOLBOX

6. ASSEMBLING YOUR TOOLS FOR YOUR CAREER

7. Storytelling
Leadership Tools
Persuasion
Conversations
Role modelling
Vision
Negotiation
Decision-making
Strategic
planning
Learning
Management
Tools
Tradition
Management
systems
Ritual
Control Systems
Role definition
Incentives
Promotion
Training
Hiring and Firing
Operating procedures
Disincentives
Power Tools
Coercion
Threats
Fiat
Punishments
INSPIRATION
INFORMATION
INTIMIDATION

8. CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE
READINESS FOR THE JOURNEY BLIND SPOTS LEADERSHIP

9. “IF YOU WANT TO
GO FAST GO
ALONE, IF YOU
WANT TO GO FAR,
GO TOGETHER.”
- AFRICAN PROVERB, AUTHOR
UNKNOWN
READINESS FOR THE JOURNEY

10. GO ON THE JOURNEY WITH FRIENDS

11. YOU WILL NEED TO RELY ON EACH OTHER MORE
Born in the USA
• 1930 - TRADITIONALS
• 1946 - BABY BOOMERS
• 1965 - GEN X
• 1977 - MILLENNIALS
• 1994 - GEN 9/11, GEN Z
Born Elsewhere
• 1994 – BORN FREE (SOUTH AFRICA)
• 1989 – GENERATION OF FREE (POLAND)
• POST 80’ (CHINA)
• THE GENERATION OF €700 (GREECE)
• MTV GENERATION

12. YOU WILL NEED DIRECTION
• 1977 – FCPA and SELF REGULATION
• SARBANES OXLEY AND SECTION 404
• REGULATION OF THE PROFESSION AND THE PCAOB
• EU RULES OF INDEPENDENCE AND MANDATORY ROTATION
• BIG DATA AND ANALYTICS
QUERY I: WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON FUTURE MADOFFS?
QUERY II: TO BIG TO FAIL AND LIVING WILLS

13. B L I ND SPOTS
“IF THERE'RE WEAKNESSES YOU DON'T
KNOW ABOUT BUT OTHERS DO. YOUR
BLIND SPOTS, IT'S EMBARRASSING. PLUS,
PEOPLE USE THEM TO MOCK YOU AND
TAKE ADVANTAGE OVER YOU AND YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.”
“THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU MAY
NOT TELL YOU YOUR BLIND SPOTS FEARING
TO OFFEND/HURT YOU. OPEN UP AND ASK
THEIR FEEDBACK AND GET ENLIGHTENED.”
ASSEGID HABTEWOLD

14. NEARLY ALL TRUISMS
SHOULD BE CHALLENGED!
DYNAMICS IN THE PROFESSION
PEOPLE DYNAMICS
SUBSTANCE VERSUS FORM
CONTROLS (404/SARBANES)
US AND IFRS – CONVERGENCE
PREVAILING PRACTICES
DATA ANALYTICS AND BIG DATA
TALENT ASSESSMENTS
VALUES AND CULTURE
FIRM VALUES VERSUS LOCAL CUSTOMS/CULTURES
DIVERSITY BRINGS IS INCLUSIVITY
GENERATIONS

15. “THE FIRST
RESPONSIBILITY OF A
LEADER IS TO DEFINE
REALITY. THE LAST IS TO
SAY THANK YOU. IN
BETWEEN, THE LEADER IS
A SERVANT.”
MAX DEPREE
LEADERSHIP

16. PRIDE IN ATTRACTING TALENT AND HAVING FUN

17. PRIDE IN DEVELOPING EACH OTHER

18. THANK YOU!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones
you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)