The 2024 Top 100 People: Work-life balance — myth or reality?

December 18, 2024 9:00 AM

Is it possible to strike a harmony between the professional and personal? The Top 100 Most Influential People have various views on the subject, based on their experiences ascending in their careers.

We asked this year's Top 100 People: "Do you feel you have work-life balance? If so, how have you achieved it?" and they shared their thoughts, as well as some advice for how to better walk that tightrope between home and office obligations.

(To see the full responses of all the candidates for the Top 100, click here. And to see who the Top 100 voted the most influential, see here.)

Micah Highland Photography

I prefer to think of it as work-life integration. Achieving work-life integration is a continuous effort, especially in a demanding leadership role. I do feel that I generally have good integration, but it requires intentionality and flexibility. For me, it's about setting clear priorities, being present in the moment — whether at work or with family — and finding time for activities that help me recharge.

— Brian Becker, managing partner and CEO, RSM US

Erica Williams

STEVE RIDZON

I came to the PCAOB as a new mom during the pandemic, so I, like many others, experienced a lot of work-life transition all at once. Now that I'm a few years into both parenthood and the PCAOB, I have a better grasp on the balancing act, but it's still a balancing act. Some days are better than others. I think you have to have no-negotiables, especially in your personal life, and for me, it's putting my son to bed most nights.

— Erica Williams, chair, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

Yes. I achieve work-life balance by making time for my priorities.

— Richard Jones, chair, Financial Accounting Standards Board

Calvin Harris Jr.

I don't believe work-life balance exists, but I do believe in work-life integration (where the "work" and the "personal" exist in harmony). Because my "work" as CEO truly resonates with me, that integration is much easier. To me, the personal connection with the "work" you do is the key to integration. (And, by the way, I do find that long-distance running, exercise, and mindfulness also help a ton.)

— Calvin Harris Jr., CEO, New York State Society of CPAs

This is something I practice regularly and have learned what works best for me throughout my career. One key piece of advice I like to share is to make your "yes's" and "no's" count. Between work and life, our time is valuable, and it's important we make it count. Whether it's a business meeting, personal time, or family time, I treat commitments on my calendar with the same importance and focus on being fully present throughout. For me, it's also vital to prioritize activities that give me energy. To this day, I dedicate just 32 hours — 16 games — of my year to play in a softball league, but the energy I get in return is invaluable. Being thoughtful about when I say "yes" or "no" and prioritizing the things that give me energy has made a big difference in my work-life balance.

— Lara Abrash, chair, Deloitte US

Absolutely not. "Balance" is for tires and ballerinas. The idea that work and life are in some kind of constant tug-of-war is a ridiculous, infantilizing false binary. It's as if "work" is the villain and "life" is some angelic reprieve.

— Ron Baker, founder, VeraSage Institute

Ariege Misherghi

100%. I know when to say no and I know how to delegate. Business owners only achieve balance when they have the right team behind them.

— Gene Marks, president & CEO, The Marks Group PC

Nicole Connolly/Photo by NicoleConnolly.com

Yes, but I prefer to call it "work-life integration" because achieving perfect balance is a myth. It's all about making daily decisions based on priorities, which can shift as you go through different stages of life. What matters in your 20s may be very different as you get older and face new life events.

The key skills I've developed to manage this integration include clear communication with my family, effective time management, the ability to say no when needed, being realistic about how long tasks take, prioritizing, and having open, candid conversations.

— Carla McCall, chair, AICPA, and managing partner, AAFCPAs

Ian Londin

I honestly don't think work and life can be "balanced" all the time. Successful leaders will tell you that. I once heard someone describe it as work-life integration over balance. We each have to choose how we want to integrate work into our lives. Sometimes you have to commit more to your family and sometimes you have to commit more to your job. What's important is that you integrate things in a way that you are satisfied with and that you have an employer that supports your flexibility to get things done in a way that supports your health and well-being.

— Crystal Cooke, director, diversity and inclusion, AICPA & CIMA

Elliott O'Donovan

I do, but it wasn't always this way. I used to live to work, versus the other way around. I think as you get older you have life experiences that — excuse the cliché — teach you what is truly important and that your life can change in an instant. I have also learned through experience that a fresh perspective is always beneficial, and that includes taking time off from your day-to-day to experience different things and clear your head.

— Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO, The Center for Audit Quality

I don't just aim for work-life balance — I'm driven by work-life integration. By aligning my career and personal life around a clear purpose, I've woven my passion for empowering my community into every aspect of what I do. For me, it's not about compartmentalizing, but about creating a seamless blend where my professional goals and personal values are always in harmony. This integration fuels my energy, purpose and commitment to making an impact every day.

— Guylaine Saint Juste, president & CEO, NABA Inc.

I believe that work-life balance is a dynamic concept that evolves with age and experience. I've come to understand that there isn't a perfect, static mix for achieving this balance. Instead, I like to think of it as a "see-saw" that naturally shifts between periods of greater work focus and times when personal life takes precedence.

— Elizabeth Beastrom, president, tax & accounting professionals, Thomson Reuters

Shelly Weir

I don't have it, but I strive for it! Boundaries are the key to success, as is learning the art of saying "no." Of course, both are difficult when you are leading a service-driven organization.

— Shelly Weir, president & CEO, Florida Institute of CPAs

I believe we set ourselves up for failure when we use the term "work-life balance." It implies that work is something separate from life. I see it as symbiotic. Work is a part of your life — an important part – and it requires balance with everything else that is important to a person — family, hobbies, community involvement, faith, etc. Balancing all of this is a constant work in progress for me. I know I can't be effective at my job if I'm not making the space and time for the people and things that are most important to me. I like to work, and I also like to boat, fish, exercise, spend time with my family, and travel. I try to make the time for it all.

— Mike DePrisco, president & CEO, IMA

I am grateful to say that I have a better work-life balance today than I did 10 or 20 years ago. It's an ongoing journey of growth and self-awareness, continually striving to show up fully, both professionally and personally. I owe a lot of my progress to those around me, especially the younger generation, and my son in particular, who has been mentoring me in ways I didn't expect. He's helped me understand where to set boundaries and how being mindful can actually enhance my impact.

— Denise LeDuc Froemming, president and CEO, California Society of CPAs

MIKE_BUSADA

Yes. Work-life balance does not have to be a zero-sum game where one side wins while the other side loses. You can achieve an enormous amount in both realms if they are well-integrated and you remove distractions from your life. For me, achieving work-life balance has required thoughtful prioritization and habit formation over a long period of time. I started with a vision for the well-rounded person I want to be in the future (I am still a work in progress!) and I design each day around the habits that will compound over time to create that person. I track my habits every day and sit down monthly to review the data and give myself feedback. A lot of people think that work-life balance is achieved by working less and living more; sometimes that is the remedy, but I believe that work is a fundamental part of life. We were designed to use our individual giftings to create, to serve and to contribute to our fellow man through work. Therefore, it is important that we design systems in our life that allow us to give our best to everyone in our lives, whether it's at work, home or in our communities.

— David Wurtzbacher, founder & CEO, Ascend

I am continuously working towards achieving a better work-life balance. Some weeks, I manage it well; other times, I struggle. One practice that helps is No-Meeting Fridays, which I adhere to about 90% of the time. However, I still find it challenging to say no and often take on additional projects due to my enthusiasm for initiatives that elevate AAM or add value to our membership.

— Rhonda Clark, executive director, Association for Accounting Marketing

I don't strive for balance between work and life but instead for integration. In my experience, it's not an achievable goal to try and balance the two. I find that I have more success when I look at how to prioritize work on some days, family and friends on other days, and then grab a little time for myself in all of that. I set clear boundaries, and most importantly I stay present. When I have set a boundary around time with family or friends, I make sure I'm not taking work calls or checking email messages. Instead, I focus on being present in that moment. I find that when I constantly try to switch back and forth between "work" and "life" that neither feels fulfilling.

— Jennifer Cryder, CEO, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs

Gary D. Newlen

Yes. To me, hybrid work arrangements with flexible work hours really help achieve work life balance and also minimize employee stress levels. People can and should feel comfortable picking up their children or taking a break for a walk. Sometimes in our profession we need to work more hours but at least being able to step away and take care of something or start earlier or later really helps people feel like you can balance everything on your plate.

— Barbara Vanich, chief auditor and director of professional standards, PCAOB

Paul Griggs

I believe that to bring your best at work, you need to be able to fill your cup with the things that matter most to you outside of work. To me, these are the "nonnegotiables" — things you can never sacrifice, as they enable your best. They can be dinner with your family, spiritual practices, working out each morning or getting enough sleep — whatever matters the most to you, motivates you, and enables you to be your best, for yourself and those around you. For me, time with my family will always be at the top of my list. My family energizes me, they often put me in my place, and they help me to be better each and every day.

— Paul Griggs, US senior partner, PwC

Yes. I willingly live on airplanes, which is thrilling, diverse, and an opportunity to share my talents to help others improve their firms and their lives. It's my purpose for being here, so my work and life are one and the same!

— Gale Crosley, CEO and founder, Crosley+Co.

No, but I'd like to give it a try one day.

— Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk, president, BBR Cos. and Accounting MOVE Project