Discover how the powerful combination of CPA and MBA credentials propels your career from tactical accounting to strategic executive leadership.
Are you an accounting professional aspiring to reach the pinnacle of corporate finance? The journey from a tactical accountant to a strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) requires a distinct shift in perspective, skill set, and credentials. The course is is designed to guide you through the critical decisions and developmental steps necessary to make this leap. This course explores how combining the technical rigor of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license with the broader business acumen of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) can fast-track your path to executive leadership.
Moving beyond the ledger demands more than just technical expertise; it requires the ability to drive business strategy and influence organizational growth. In this course, we examine the synergistic power of holding both a CPA and an MBA, dissecting how these credentials complement one another to create a well-rounded financial leader. Learners will gain insights into the changing expectations of the CFO role and how to leverage advanced education to bridge the gap between reporting the past and shaping the future.
By the end of this course, you will have a clearer understanding of the career trajectory leading to the C-suite. Key learning outcomes include:
Whether you are currently a CPA considering an MBA, or a finance professional mapping out your long-term career strategy, this course provides the essential knowledge to help you make informed decisions about your professional development and propel your career toward the C-suite.
Motivational & Leadership Speaker
Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.
Chief Financial Officer | Strategic Finance & Growth Leader
Michael Walling is a strategic and operational Chief Financial Officer with deep experience scaling, transforming, and exiting investor-backed businesses across insurance, financial services, and subscription-based models. He partners closely with CEOs, boards, and investors to drive profitable growth, execute M&A transactions, and build finance organizations that scale with discipline and clarity. Michael currently serves as CFO of MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions, where he led the full integration of PetFirst following its acquisition by MetLife. Under his financial leadership, the business scaled to support 10x revenue growth while maintaining full GAAP and statutory compliance. He has built advanced financial frameworks incorporating LTV, CAC, churn, and retention analytics, enabling data-driven capital allocation decisions and multi-million-dollar optimization of acquisition spend. Previously, as CFO of PetFirst Healthcare, a Series B investor-backed MGA/TPA, Michael led a financial and operational turnaround that converted losses into sustained profitability and guided the company through a successful sale to MetLife. He owned the full transaction lifecycle, including valuation modeling, diligence leadership, deal structuring, and post-close integration. He also served as interim CEO, overseeing enterprise P&L, capital allocation, and growth strategy execution. Earlier in his career, Michael held CFO and Controller roles within industrial and manufacturing environments, where he strengthened working capital performance, restructured debt, improved divisional margins, and implemented operational finance frameworks grounded in throughput accounting and KPI-driven management. Across organizations, Michael is known for translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insights. He believes the role of finance extends beyond reporting results to answering the critical question: “So what?” His leadership style blends hands-on operational rigor with strategic depth, enabling companies to grow responsibly while building long-term enterprise value. Michael holds a Master of Accountancy from the University of Louisville and is a Certified Public Accountant.
