In Mary Newman’s ACC 280 class, students are getting a firsthand look at the versatility of an accounting degree. Newman, a lecturer in Poole College’s Department of Accounting, recently hosted a panel of guest speakers designed to showcase the diverse career paths available in the field.

The panel, titled “Beyond the Balance Sheet,” brought together three professionals representing distinct trajectories: entrepreneurship, public accounting and the nonprofit sector. For Newman, the goal was clear: “I love bringing in guest speakers because they demonstrate the relevance and importance of accounting skills, regardless of a student’s career path or industry.”

Because ACC 280 serves NC State students from a wide range of majors, the event offered a valuable opportunity to connect classroom concepts with real-world applications. Panelists included Brenna Stutts, founder of Ivy + Linen Design Co.; Ann Dyer, a tax principal at BDO; and Chris McKenzie, vice president of finance at the YMCA of the Triangle. Together, they demonstrated how a shared foundation in accounting can lead to vastly different careers.

Maggie Gibbons, a junior majoring in sport management with a business administration minor, says, “The panel was an incredibly valuable experience. It moved beyond the textbook and allowed me to network and connect with established professionals on a one-on-one level.”

Gibbons also notes how the panel reshaped her perspective on career planning. “My biggest takeaway was the importance of remaining open-minded about career paths. Your undergraduate degree doesn’t lock you into a single track forever.” She added that Dyer’s structured career path was particularly inspiring, aligning with her own preference for goal-oriented environments.

In testament to the impact of her overall experience in ACC 280, Gibbons says she recently added an accounting minor because she has enjoyed the course so much.

First-year student Kyler Sun, currently in NC State’s Exploratory Studies program, also found the panel to be eye-opening. As he navigates his academic direction, Sun says hearing from professionals with similar credentials but different outcomes helped clarify his thinking.

“Each one of the guests worked in different spaces. It showed me that even though they were all on the same pathway, they still were able to have very unique outcomes in their careers.”

Sun was also struck by the discussion around emerging technologies. “Hearing what each guest had to say about how they have had to learn to integrate AI into their workspaces was interesting. It is important now more than ever to be proficient in those spaces.”

By connecting students with professionals across industries, Newman’s panel reinforced a central message: accounting is not a narrow field, but a flexible foundation for a wide range of careers.