Autumn (Schmid) Huiatt, ’07, CPA

Chief Financial Officer | Headlands Research, Inc

As the CFO at a prominent clinical trials site network, Autumn is responsible for leading Headlands Research through the processes of financial reporting, procurement, and using data and analytics to guide growth and investment opportunities. She feels strongly that the opportunities she had at UJ, like initiating the Habitat for Humanity chapter on campus and serving as the student body president, equipped her with strong leadership skills and gave her the self-confidence to do bigger things with her career.

Q: What compelled you to work towards becoming a CFO?

A: “I worked at Deloitte as an intern which turned into a job offer in their audit practice. There was a lot of travel, promotions, and excitement. But after a few years, I realized, the end game of working for a firm is becoming a partner, and that wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to be closer to the business… Instead of focusing on things that already happened, I saw the CFO role as making forward-looking decisions. Where are we headed? How do we invest? I wanted to be a part of that dialogue.” The move out of Deloitte to corporate controllership, to pursuing my MBA, to a role in business operations all led me to my current role as CFO.”

Q: What does Title IX mean to you?

A: “I’m a beneficiary of it. Increasingly, there is recognition that diversity on boards and executive teams provides a greater outcome than if there is less diversity. That openness and interest in female representation is so valuable and it has impacted me. The way has been paved; the expectation is a diverse leadership team. I get to be a part of that and I’m incredibly grateful.”

Q: Do you have any advice to share with women looking to get into leadership?

A: “I received great advice from my mentor. She told me that whoever is in the leadership role at a company controls the calendar. By that, she meant to not make the assumption that you can’t reach the highest level in your career because of a family. When you control the calendar, you can more easily prioritize what is important to you.

In addition: my advice I consistently tell myself is to focus on my ability to problem solve – not my experiences. Each day I receive new problems and focusing on the collective strength of my teams and our skillsets enables us to be successful – Don’t get caught up in what you don’t “know”. Rather focus on what you can learn with the skills you have.”

Ashley Brandt-Duda ’05

CPA, Partner | Eide Bailly LLP

Ashley, who is a partner in Eide Bailly’s audit and assurance department, specializes in providing financial statement and compliance audits for healthcare and not-for-profit organizations. She provides valuable insights around complex accounting guidance and regulatory changes within the industry to help leaders make decisions that impact their organizations. Ashley credits UJ (as well as her former professors Dr. Polly Peterson and Vicki Greshik) with helping her become technically sound for her career.

Q: Why did you want a career in finance?

A: “I always liked math and numbers in general. I had my first accounting experience with Vicki [Greshik], and I liked that it made a lot of sense. It’s useful math, as Vicki would say…What I enjoy now is that I’m working with organizations that are mission-based. Working with people who are passionate about what they’re trying to do and being able to help them understand their financial situation and where funding opportunities exist is really rewarding.”

Q: What does Title IX mean to you?

A: “I’ve never felt like I’ve been treated differently because I’m a woman. And that’s because of things that have happened in the past and as a result of women coming before me. I’ve been very fortunate, because I’ve been able to work with many strong leaders, both male and female.”

Q: Do you have any advice to share with women looking to get into leadership?

A: “I would say in general, don’t be afraid to throw yourself out of your comfort zone. There’s a tendency for people to stick to who and what they know, and to have a fear of meeting new people—women, men, whoever. If you’re given a new opportunity to take on a new challenge, dive in head first and do not be afraid of failing.”

Music is an expression I’ve used before, during, and after my time at Jamestown College. In thinking about my journey, including my time as a Jimmie, I find myself considering the lyric from one of my songs: “Better ruined all my plans.” Now “better ruined” has become a topic of discussion in our home because of the beautiful juxtaposition that it provides.

I have looked back on my time at the then Jamestown College as one of the most important times in my life. It is the only time in the lives of most people where you are given the opportunity to live in a collective group made up of people that are typically your same age and are figuring out what it means to be an adult right alongside you. I was surrounded by influential people, both peers and professors, who encouraged my drive and passion to learn and succeed. I am so thankful for the many people I met and things I experienced while at UJ.

Concert choir, campus ministry, tutoring, Jimmie ambassadors…there were so many opportunities that I was allowed to partake in because of the openness of the campus to any who were willing to participate. These opportunities led me to the beginning of my accounting career which included a summer internship program at Deloitte, part-time