Why Belonging - and Not Just Inclusion - Is the Real Goal | MOVE Like This Ep. with Donny Shimamoto

There's a difference between being included and truly belonging — and for many women and professionals of color in accounting, that gap is exactly where careers stall. Donny Shimamoto of the Center for Accounting Transformation joins host Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk to explore why the profession keeps losing diverse talent before it reaches leadership, and what firms can do differently.

Donny speaks from personal experience as an Asian leader in the profession, bringing both candor and optimism to a conversation that also tackles the political headwinds facing DEI efforts today. His argument: when firms stop treating diversity as a separate initiative and start integrating people-centered practices into their overall strategy, belonging becomes a competitive advantage — not a checkbox.

The episode also announces an exciting new research collaboration between the Accounting MOVE Project and the Center for Accounting Transformation.

What you'll take away:

• Why belonging is a more meaningful — and measurable — goal than inclusion
• How neutral language can expand DEI participation without diluting the mission
• Why retention of diverse talent fails at the leadership level — and how to change that
• What it looks like to integrate people practices into firm strategy
• Details on the new MOVE + Center for Accounting Transformation research initiative

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Resources & Links

Full episode on CPA Trendlines: https://cpatrendlines.com/2025/05/14/donny-shimamoto-reimagining-diversity-and-belonging-in-the-accounting-profession-move-like-this/ 

Connect with Donny Shimamoto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnyitk/ 

Center for Accounting Transformation: https://improvetheworld.net 

Participate in the MOVE Project: https://accountingmoveproject.com 

 

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