I had the opportunity to experience my very first Gibbs Society Dinner as a new Master of Accounting student at William & Mary.  An annual tradition, it lived up to all the hype and excitement leading up to the big event.  Not knowing what to expect, I came prepared to “meet and greet” with accounting alum and enjoy a wonderful dinner at the Williamsburg Lodge.

I am definitely glad I was prepared to meet with alum because the dinner was very well attended by so many accountants and recruiters, I couldn’t believe it!  There must have been one to every student.  After having an hour or so to network and speak with several people there, we entered the dining room and sat at our assigned tables.  I sat with two other students and three accountants at BDO Seidman.

If I gained anything from attending the dinner, I learned the importance of engaging in conversation and how to do so.  To keep up that constant conversation, it is so important to be well rounded and have interest in many things besides just accounting.  I learned about the music hobbies and running interests of the alum at my table, and we even talked a little about current events.  It was a very pleasant dinner and a great way to get some insight into their professional lives at BDO, too; and as an added bonus, the food completely lived up to my expectation!

The speaker at the event was former Chair of the PCAOB and former Federal Reserve Governor, Mark Olson.  He spoke briefly at the end of the dinner on his take of the accounting profession and where it is heading.  He was very optimistic that we, as future accountants, will have opportunities to advance in the profession and affect change for the better.  I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to share dinner and conversation with many successful accountants and alums; all in all, I can say that my first Gibbs Dinner (and definitely not my last) was a success!