Randy Gardner
KPMG
Denver, CO USA
"Rejection does not define us. How we bounce back from rejection does."
Career Roadmap
Randy's work combines: Business, Numbers, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Pueblo West High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business with Emphasis in Accounting
University of Colorado Boulder
Graduate Degree
Accounting
University of Colorado Boulder
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Audit Associate:
Bachelor's Degree: Business with Emphasis in Accounting
Graduate Degree: Accounting
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
International baccalaureate program in high school -This helped develop my ambition in the educational and professional sphere
2.
Attending the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder - I was nervous to attend this school as it was relatively far from home but it really pushed me outside of my comfort zone
3.
Joining clubs/organizations at university - I've always been shy and being among leadership in different school clubs pushed me to speak publicly and hone in on my soft skills
4.
Getting rejected from a few internships - rejection is unfortunately a part of life but fortunately, rejection does not define us. How we bounce back from rejection does.
5.
Landing an internship with KPMG - landing my first internship with KPMG gave me my first insight into the professional world.
6.
Traveling - In college, I tried to go everywhere. From Australia, to France, to Sri Lanka & beyond - this made me realize that life isn't just about reaching goals, it's about seeking passions.
7.
Starting KPMG - Even starting at the bottom of the totem pole in the professional world, you can make an impact. Having confidence in my abilities can go a long way!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Friends:
You're too extroverted to be an accountant; you'll be stuck in a cubicle at your computer all day.
How I responded:
I would recommend doing your own research and connecting with individuals in the field you might be interested in before writing it off. Before I listened to my friends, I started connecting with accounting companies and professionals to hear about their day-to-day roles to get a better secondhand understanding of what audit and accounting really might look like. Now I get to work with people both internally and externally everyday, ultimately pleasing the extroverted side of my personality!
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
At a young age, I used to struggle with my mental health. I was able to overcome this by surrounding myself with positive individuals, setting and achieving short-term and long-term goals, and finding productive hobbies that drive my happiness.