Pride in the Profession: Why Belonging Still Matters in Accounting

“Workplace culture should not depend on political winds.”

Liz Mason and Donny Shimamoto share personal truths, cultural insights, and a call to show up authentically—even as DEI programs disappear.

What does it mean to bring your full self to work? In this powerful Pride Month episode of the Accounting ARC podcast, Liz Mason, CPA, and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, pull back the curtain on decades of experience navigating identity, authenticity, and inclusion in the accounting profession.

For both leaders, being “out” in the workplace wasn’t always safe—or possible. Shimamoto, founder and managing director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC and founder and inspiration architect for the Center for Accounting Transformation, admits, “I purposely wasn’t out for a long time,” citing fear of client loss and exclusion from speaking opportunities. Mason, CEO of High Rock Accounting, shares a similar early-career decision to stay silent, “because people just assumed” she was straight.

But silence came with a cost: disconnection, discomfort, and missed community. “It’s not fun to wear a mask every day,” says Mason. “Authenticity is key to happiness and fulfillment.”

DEI Rollbacks, Real Consequences
The conversation touches on a rising trend in the profession: firms disbanding DEI programs to protect government contracts. “It’s heartbreaking,” says Mason. “We had affinity groups—women’s groups, LGBTQ groups—that created safe spaces. Now many are gone, even though the need hasn’t disappeared.”

Shimamoto notes that younger professionals still care deeply about inclusion, often asking recruiters where firms stand. “Firms responding with ‘no comment’ are sending a loud message,” he warns.

The Business Case for Belonging
Mason and Shimamoto are quick to clarify that this isn’t just about LGBTQ+ inclusion—it’s about building workplaces that support all underrepresented groups, from Black women to neurodivergent professionals. “Belonging lifts performance, retention, and creativity,” says Shimamoto. “That’s not political—that’s smart business.”

They also caution against echo chambers and ideological rigidity. “You can hold strong values and still listen with respect,” says Mason.

Owning the Impact
From declining international contracts in anti-LGBTQ countries to supporting firms aligned with their values, both speakers emphasize the power of economic influence. “Every decision we make—where we shop, who we work with—has an impact,” says Mason. 

The two agree: authenticity, community, and conscious choices are the cornerstones of a better workplace—and a better world. 

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