Uncommon Sense

Mar 25 2025 34 ep. 32 mins 22

Uncommon Sense Podcast artwork

Alberta Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) are remarkable. They’re experts and entrepreneurs; innovators and change makers; early adopters and trailblazers. And they each have a story to tell. Listen to the Uncommon Sense podcast to hear Alberta CPAs share their stories and insights on leadership, business, education, finance, technology, and so much more. Uncommon Sense is produced by the Alberta CPA Education Foundation’s Hesje CPA Knowledge Centre.

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Taking the Unconventional Path: Nikki Marchiel, Part 1

Mar 25 2025 36 mins

The Uncommon Sense podcast profiles Alberta CPAs who prove how diverse and unpredictable careers as CPAs can be. The words "diverse" and "unpredictable" certainly describe the unconventional career path of Nikki Marchiel CPA, CA. In this first part of a two-part series, Nikki discusses how she journeyed from more-typical accounting roles to become a post-secondary educator as well

Convocation Conversations: Celebrating the CPA Grads of Spring 2025

Mar 18 2025 31 mins

It's another on-the-road episode of Uncommon Sense! We popped into the February 21 CPA convocation ceremonies in Edmonton to talk with a number of the successful grads as well as CPA Alberta leaders and other guests. As we wandered through the crowd with our microphone, we came across a lot of excited grads and proud parents, many of whom chatted with us about the value of earning

A "First Class" CPA: A Conversation with Dave Doneleshen CPA

Mar 17 2025 25 mins

It's another episode in our series featuring members of the first-ever class of Alberta graduates from the CPA program following the unification of the accounting profession in Canada 10 years ago. In this episode, we chat with Dave Doneleshen CPA, another member of that historic class. Dave chats with host Erin Schwartz about what it was like to be part of that inaugural class of

Tax Tips For Personal Tax Filers, 2025 Edition: Part 2

Mar 04 2025 27 mins

In this second half of our two-part tax tips episode for 2025, CPA Antonia Stiuca provides more information and pro tips for listeners as they work on their 2024 personal tax returns. Antonia explains how to claim medical expenses on your 2024 personal tax return, talks about what you can do if you don't get a T4 slip from an employer, and covers a whole lot of other topics related

Tax Tips For Personal Tax Filers, 2025 Edition: Part 1

Mar 04 2025 23 mins

Uncommon Sense is back with its annual tax tips episode! In Part 1 of this two-part episode, CPA Antonia Stiuca walks listeners through some valuable information that will come in handy when they're preparing their 2024 personal tax returns this spring. If you're wondering if the Canada Carbon Rebate is considered taxable income or how the talk in 2024 about changes to taxes on cap

A "First Class" CPA: In Conversation with Katherina Richard CPA

Feb 26 2025 28 mins

Over the next several months, Uncommon Sense will feature occasional episodes focusing on an historic group of CPAs: members of the first-ever class of Alberta graduates from the CPA program following the unification of the accounting profession in Canada. These CPAs, who crossed the CPA convocation stage in February 2016, were the first in Alberta not to have a legacy designation

From Cameroon to Calgary: A Black CPA’s Incredible Journey, Part 2

Feb 17 2025 27 mins

In this episode, we wrap up our two-part conversation with Calgary CPA Nadine Niba, a Black woman with a powerful story. Nadine reflects on the importance of mentors, colleagues, and friends to her personal and career success, and discusses the work she currently does to support and mentor Black women and other newcomers who face many of the same struggles she did as a new immigran

From Cameroon to Calgary: A Black CPA’s Incredible Journey, Part 1

Feb 11 2025 28 mins

Calgary CPA Nadine Niba is a CPA from Cameroon whose story of struggle and success as a Black woman immigrant is powerful, inspirational and unforgettable. To mark Black History Month, this episode of Uncommon Sense focuses on Nadine's journey from West Africa to Calgary about a decade ago. Nadine speaks openly about the gut-wrenching challenges she faced as a Black immigrant as we

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe or Frenemy?

Feb 06 2025 38 mins

There's a big debate these days about whether AI is a useful tool or a threat. But there is no debating that AI is here to stay—in business and in our personal lives. In this episode, CPA Stan Korsountsev shares his expertise to unravel some of the mysteries about AI, how it works, and its role in and outside of the workplace.

The Big Conversion: Creating New Housing in Calgary Through Office Conversion

Jan 29 2025 27 mins

Conversion of vacant office space into residential housing has become a popular trend in cities across Canada in the years since the pandemic. On this episode of Uncommon Sense, CPA Heather Weir of the Astra Group of Companies talks about her company's experiences in turning vacant office buildings into vibrant housing units; describes the positive economic, environmental, and soci