Speaker Spotlight - Angi West

Tax Manager at DHG

Month: June | Theme: Insecure

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.

I got a lot of questioning glances when I told my family and friends I was going to go to business school and become an accountant.  My undergraduate degree is in music, and not just music but voice and analysis/composition and then I did follow up professional studies at Berklee College of Music in writing and arranging.  There was no clear signal that I would become a business lady.  I believe strongly that if you work hard with dedication and kindness the correct path unfolds and it led me to where am now.  So for that past decade I have been reveling in numbers, in problem solving and in developing others.  I love my job because I get to serve others and be a trusted advisor to my clients.  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a dancer, but I wasn’t good at it.  I also wanted to be contrary so anything anyone suggested I wanted to do the opposite.  

Can you remember when you first learned about your field of work? How did you discover what it was, and how did you know it was what you wanted to do?

Even if you study business and accounting you do not know the depth and breadth of what a tax accountant does until you are one.  I said yes to the job and over time the magic of being a partner in business with my clients unfolded.  Don’t think for a second that all we do is tax returns!

What is the best part and hardest part of your job?

Developing the careers of the people around me is the overriding everything of my job.  it is the painful part and the joyful part.  

What on-the-job tools do you use every day?

kindness and patience.  oh do you mean like software? who knows? the phone? my incessantly loud typing?

What about your community inspires you?

I know a LOT of really capable people and they inspire me to NEVER be complacent.  

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?

You can’t manage people like you manage projects. 

Can you name a moment of failure in your business experience that you learned from or that helped you improve your business or the way you work? 

I have not been the best coach and manager and had some major staff failings over the years that led to intensive leadership coaching.  You know when the doctor gives you a medicine that actually solves the problem and you feel better?  That was what happened when I worked really hard on myself with my coach.  I am nowhere near where I want to be but I started to become the boss I want to be when I grow up and I am so grateful for those failures!   

What books/resources would you recommend to someone interested in furthering their creative practice, or starting a creative business of their own?

I have gifted “the artist way” to so many people over the years and will continue to do so until someone can prove to me that it isn’t the very best practical workbook on creativity.  prove it.  You can’t.  Every time I have completed it I have become a stronger thinker and person.  I think it is about time I do it AGAIN! thanks for asking this question!!!

If you were magically given three more hours per day, what would you do with them?

do the artist way again

Who are your favorite creators and makers, local and beyond?

Seth Kauffman
Michael Libramento
Tyler RamseyI am partial to 1) musicians and 2) my friends