Testimonials

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS:

We’ve been working with Mary as our DEI consultant for almost two years now. She has been instrumental in leading us in our journey to become a DEI leader in our industry. She has taken the time to get to know our firm and in particular, those who are key players in our DEI efforts. We definitely consider her a member of our team! From the initial assessment phase to structuring our inaugural DEI Council and our Pilot Sponsorship Program, she has led the way. Mary goes the extra mile whether it is joining our monthly Council meetings, providing guidance in difficult situation or joining in our DEI related firm events, she is there to make sure we’re always headed in the right direction. We would not be where we are now in our DEI efforts without her!

Joy Batteen, Partner & Chief People Officer, Kaufman Rossin (2023)

Mary Bennett's MLBC Sponsorship Program has been a game changer . At a time when many firms are talking about gender representation at the senior most levels, Mary has helped concretize our commitments. The MLBC sponsorship program is in it’s second year at our firm with a new cohort expected to kickoff in the fall. . A formalized sponsorship program requires great subject matter expertise, program management and coaching skills- Mary has all of it in droves! Her ability to work collaboratively with senior management and deliver consistently has also been exceptional. We look forward to working closely with Mary in the future to ensure our pipelines to the most senior roles in our company stay diverse and equitable.

Sujatha Menon Zafar, Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, S&P Global (2022)

MARY BENNETT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING OUR FIRM SET THE COURSE FOR OUR FUTURE. HER INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCE WITH OUR INDUSTRY, COUPLED WITH HER BACKGROUND IN ORGANIZATION DESIGN AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, INTERTWINE FOR AN AMAZINGLY IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCE. SHE IS THE BEST EXECUTIVE COACH THAT I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH AND HAS HELPED ME GROW, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY, TO A LEVEL I NEVER THOUGHT ATTAINABLE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND MARY BENNETT - SHE IS AMAZING!" (2021)

PATTY KAUTZ, COO, VONLEHMAN & COMPANY

"WE HAVE WORKED WITH MARY BENNETT 4+ YEARS. SHE WAS CRITICAL IN GUIDING US THROUGHOUT INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESULTS AND PHASED IN DESIGN OF OUR CURRENT GENDER DIVERSITY STRATEGY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HER EXPERIENCE, GUIDANCE AND COACHING THROUGH THE EVOLUTION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR WOMEN@MAZARS STRATEGY. STRONG EVIDENCE OF OUR PROGRESS CAN BE SEEN THROUGH SOME OF OUR WEBSITE POSTINGS HTTPS://MAZARSUSA.COM/ABOUT-US/WHO-WE-ARE/WOMENATMAZARS/. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF WOMEN@MAZARS AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION AND WORKING WITH MARY BENNETT. " (2019)

WENDY STEVENS, PARTNER, QUALITY & RISK PRACTICE LEADER, MAZARS USA

"WE HAVE WORKED WITH MARY FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING OUR FIRM ESTABLISH OUR DIVERSITY FRAMEWORK AND SHE CONTINUES TO ASSIST WITH OUR ANNUAL STRATEGY." (2019)

WENDY HENRY, MANAGING PARTNER, ST LOUIS, BKD LLP

"AS PART OF OUR LARGER COMMITMENT TO A SENSE OF BELONGING, ONE SPECIFIC STRATEGY WE IMPLEMENTED WITH MARY’S GUIDANCE WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FORMAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. MARY’S INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE WAS CRITICAL TO THE LAUNCH AND LONGEVITY OF THIS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GROWING LEADERS, ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR AT-RISK POPULATIONS. IT IS NOW TRULY PART OF HORNE’S DNA AS A FIRM. MARY HELPED US THINK THROUGH THE TIMING OF WHEN TO BEGIN A FORMAL PROGRAM, HOW TO GET LEADERSHIP BUY-IN, AND HOW TO EDUCATE OUR TEAM MEMBERS ON THE BENEFITS AND REQUIREMENTS OF SPONSORSHIP. MARY CONTINUES TO ADD SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY IN HER ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SESSIONS WITH SPONSORS AND PROTÉGÉS. IN THESE SESSIONS, SHE IS HELPING THEM TO THINK ABOUT WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THE CAREER GOALS OF THE PROTÉGÉ, HOW TO ATTACK BARRIERS, AND THE OFTEN HELPS IDENTIFY THE ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE NEEDED FOR SUCCESS. IN EVERY WAY, MARY IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR LAUNCH AND THE ONGOING IMPORTANCE OF SPONSORSHIP WITHIN OUR FIRM." (2018)

KASSI RUSHING, DIRECTOR OF TALENT DEVELOPMENT, HORNE LLP

"MARY BEGAN WORKING WITH HORNE IN 2012 AND HELPED US TO ENVISION, STRATEGIZE AND BEGIN OUR JOURNEY TOWARD CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL TEAM MEMBERS. SHE HELPED US ESTABLISH PRIORITIES, DEFINE AND PRESENT OUR BUSINESS CASE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DEVELOP AND NURTURE SENIOR LEADERSHIP BUY-IN, AND IMPORTANTLY, HELPED US ANTICIPATE AND NAVIGATE THE POTENTIAL PITFALLS. SHE HAS BEEN A KEY COLLABORATOR TO OUR ONGOING INCLUSION STRATEGIES AND AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF OUR BELONGING AT HORNE STEERING COMMITTEE." (2018)

KATHERINE WATTS, MANAGING PARTNER OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES, HORNE LLP

"AS THE LEADER OF OUR FIRM’S WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MARY FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. MARY HELPED US DEVELOP OUR BUSINESS CASE AND SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH OUR INITIATIVE AND THEN HAS PERIODICALLY CONSULTED WITH US AND FACILITATED VARIOUS CUSTOMIZED WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS IMPORTANT TO OUR INITIATIVE. SHE IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALL AREAS OF TALENT DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY AND DEVELOPING FEMALE LEADERS IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS. SHE HAS HELPED OUR FIRM’S LEADERSHIP UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES WHILE BEING CREDIBLE, CARING, INCLUSIVE AND NON-THREATENING. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND MARY." (2016)

SUE PERLIN, PARTNER, PLANTE & MORAN, PLLC

“MARY BENNETT HAS BEEN A TRUSTED ADVISER TO SRHW FOR OVER 5 YEARS. SHE HAS ASSISTED US IN MANY ASPECTS OF OUR TALENT DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS INCLUDING SUCCESSION PLANNING, GENDER DIVERSITY, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EXECUTIVE COACHING AND 360 ASSESSMENTS. MARY HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ADVANCING THE FIRMS APPROACH TO DEVELOPING THE TALENT WE NEED FOR THE FUTURE. MARY HAS ASSISTED US IN DIAGNOSING OUR NEEDS, DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS AND PARTICIPATING IN IMPLEMENTATION AS APPROPRIATE. HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION PROVIDES A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE WHEN COMBINED WITH HER CONSULTING AND COACHING EXPERTISE.” (2014)

ALLEN DUNN, PARTNER RSM US LLP

"MARY’S EXPERTISE IN DEVELOPING AND RETAINING ACCOUNTING
PROFESSIONALS IS UNMATCHED. IN ADDITION, SHE HAS A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE
CHALLENGES RELATED TO RETAINING AND DEVELOPING FEMALE LEADERS AND HOW IT AFFECTS
THE ORGANIZATION’S SUCCESS. SHE IS ABLE TO QUICKLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND
EXPLAIN THEM IN A WAY THAT SENIOR MANAGEMENT CAN UNDERSTAND AND ACT ON. SHE
HELPED MY FIRM IMPLEMENT A WOMEN’S INITIATIVE THAT HAS SEEN EXCELLENT RESULTS.
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND MARY FOR ALL AREAS OF TALENT MANAGEMENT AND
RETENTION." (2014)

ANGELA COKER, CPA, PARTNER, SELLERS, RICHARDSON, HOLMAN AND WEST

MARY DID A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE WE WERE
ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO MAKE SURE OUR PARTNERS AND STAFF UNDERSTOOD SUCCESSION
PLANNING!" (2014)

BARB AASEN, CPA, PARTNER, EIDE BAILLY

“MARY BENNETT IS A SUCCESSFUL TOP EXECUTIVE WHO CAN DEFTLY GUIDE CEOS THROUGH ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. SHE IS A SKILLED COMMUNICATOR AND TRAINER WHO QUICKLY READS THE NUANCES OF DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND HANDLES THEM EFFECTIVELY AND WITH POLISH WHILE ACHIEVING THE RESULTS DESIRED BY HER CLIENT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND MARY BASED ON THE SUCCESSES MY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM ACHIEVED WITH MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES TO OUR CULTURE UNDER HER GUIDANCE." (2010 )

TODD MITCHELL, CPA, MANAGING SHAREHOLDER, ELLIOTT DAVIS LLC

“I HAVE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH MARY BENNETT AS HER PARTNER IN CHANGING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND LAUNCHING & SUSTAINING A WOMEN'S INITIATIVE IN A LARGE PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM. MARY IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO GETS THINGS DONE. SHE BOTH STARTS AND FINISHES PROJECT WITH CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION AND FOLLOW THROUGH. I GIVE HER MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION." (2010)

RAYONA SHARPNACK FOUNDER & CEO INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP

“OUR ASSOCIATION HIRED MARY BENNETT TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS A CRITICAL NEED FOR OUR MEMBERS IN ADVANCING, DEVELOPING AND RETAINING WOMEN INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES. NOT ONLY IS MARY PASSIONATE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THIS SUBJECT, BUT IS CREDIBLE THROUGH HER OWN EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING AND MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE AND TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS; 90% OF WHICH WERE OPERATING ON DIFFERING NON-TRADITIONAL WORK ARRANGEMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO UTILIZE MARY'S EXPERTISE AND COACHING FROM YEAR TO YEAR IN OUR ONGOING INITIATIVE.” (2010)

STEPHANIE CURRY, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING, PKF NORTH AMERICA

“MARY IS THAT RARE PROFESSIONAL THAT COMBINES GREAT SKILL WITH TRUE PASSION FOR HER WORK. MARY IS A RECOGNIZED EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF RETAINING AND DEVELOPING WOMEN LEADERS. SHE UNDERSTANDS HOW IT RELATES TO TOTAL BUSINESS PERFORMANCE. WHERE THERE IS INERTIA, SHE GETS THE BIG ROCK ROLLING! MARY CARES DEEPLY AND APPROACHES HER WORK WITH CREATIVITY AND A SENSE OF HUMOR -- SHE IS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH!” (2010)

KATHLEEN GRACE, PRESIDENT, GRACE CONSULTING

MARY L. BENNETT, MBA, CIA, CEC

MARY HAS TWENTY FIVE + YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCOUNTING, CONSULTING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY AT THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP LEVEL. MARY IS A PROFESSIONAL WITH EXTENSIVE CONSULTING EXPERIENCE SERVING ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL SIZES. ( SEE FULL BIO )