Starting a career or figuring out how to level up once you’re already in it can feel overwhelming. There are exams to pass, new roles to navigate, and big decisions about where you want to go next. But there’s one thing that makes all the difference: having someone in your corner.
Mentorship has long been a driver of success in the CPA profession, helping students and early-career professionals turn technical skills into long-term careers.
The mentor–mentee relationship between Amy Bonner, CPA, and Sophie Temirov, CPA, shows just how powerful that connection can be, especially for those just starting out.
Finding guidance early on
Bonner, formerly a Director of Finance at TELUS, is currently the CFO of one of TELUS’s subsidiaries (Terrion) and was named in BIV’s Forty Under 40 list in 2024. Meanwhile, Temirov is a Senior Financial Analyst in Corporate FP&A – Reporting at TELUS, who earned honour roll standing on the May 2024 Common Final Examination.
Mentorship is something Temirov discovered early in her journey, and it all began with her connection to Bonner.
“I felt such an instant connection with Amy,” she says. “She has such a warm personality. She really gives you well-rounded personal advice, which I always really appreciated.”
That kind of guidance is especially valuable for students and young professionals like Temirov, who are still defining what success looks like for them. For her, mentorship became just as important as mastering the technical side of the designation.
“I wouldn’t be able to imagine getting my designation without this additional support from Amy… cultivating those relationships is something that should be a priority as much as learning technical skills and keeping up with the latest technologies.”
Bonner echoes that sentiment, viewing mentorship as essential for early-career professionals. “Mentorship is also about advocacy… having mentors in your organization that are going to say your name in rooms that you’re not in and put you forward for different projects and challenges is incredibly helpful.”
She also points to the value of perspective that comes from experience. “Usually it’s somebody that’s a little bit further along in their career that maybe have been through the similar challenges that you’ve been in… so they can have an objective opinion or objective advice on where to go next.”
Why CPA is a strong foundation for career growth
For those considering the CPA path, Temirov’s story reflects what draws many young people to the profession in the first place.
“I’ve always been drawn to accounting as a career. Ever since high school, I liked math, but I also really liked connecting with people, working on problems together.”
She saw business school, and eventually accounting, as a way to combine analytical thinking with collaboration. Earning the CPA designation, she says, gave her a foundation that extends far beyond just one job title.
“Getting the CPA designation in particular sets up such a good foundation to springboard from. It’s an essential tool to understand how a business works, how a company works, and how to communicate with others. From there, you can really go anywhere!”
That flexibility is exactly what Bonner sees as one of the profession’s greatest strengths. When asked to describe the CPA designation in three words, she says:
“I would say essential, resilient, and adaptability. I feel like we can do anything because we understand business as a whole… you can just adapt to any situation. I think that the CPA designation is resilient, and I don’t think that the CPA designation will go away. We’re still incredibly essential to businesses and the public.”
The next gen of CPAs
For students and professionals aged 18 to 35, the CPA path offers more than just books and exams, it offers access to a network of people invested in helping you grow.
And for experienced CPAs, mentorship is a chance to shape the future of the profession while making a meaningful impact on someone else’s career.
Together, Bonner and Temirov’s story shows that while the CPA designation builds strong foundations, it’s mentorship that really helps careers truly take off.
Ready to start your journey? Learn more.
All photos courtesy of BBZ Productions.
Originally published on Daily Hive.
