When Aubrey Cypert, CPA, first stepped into the world of accounting, she did what most of us do: looked around, took note of the path in front of her, and started climbing.
She worked hard. She became a partner at a mid-sized firm. By all traditional standards, she made it.
And then she realized something that many women in this profession eventually face but don’t always say out loud:
“I had reached the goal I thought I wanted, but it didn’t feel the way I expected it to.”
In her recent conversation on the CPA MOMS Podcast, Aubrey opened up about the moment she realized she might have been chasing a version of success that wasn’t truly her own.
The Only Model She Saw
Like so many others, Aubrey’s vision of success was shaped by what she saw around her: firm partners, long hours, busy seasons, and a steady climb up the hierarchy.
No one was modeling a different version of success, one that included family dinners, flexible hours, or the ability to build a business around her life instead of the other way around. So she aimed for what was in front of her.
“That was what was in front of me, and what I had envisioned success to be, make it to shareholder.”
But when she got there, she began to question it all.
What If the Dream Wasn’t Yours?
Aubrey’s story isn’t unique, but it’s rarely told. Many women in accounting spend years striving for titles, status, and stability, only to arrive and feel disconnected from their own life.
Why? Because the dream they were chasing didn’t actually match the life they wanted to live.
Sometimes we mistake proximity for purpose. We assume the only path to success is the one we see others walking, even if it doesn’t fit who we are, what we value, or how we want to live.
Choosing a New Path
For Aubrey, that realization was the beginning of something new. Instead of staying on a path that no longer served her, she made the brave decision to leave partnership behind and build her own practice with CPA MOMS.
It wasn’t easy. It required unlearning, risk-taking, and a lot of courage. But it gave her something she hadn’t had in years: alignment.
Your Vision, Your Rules
If you’ve been feeling that quiet tension, the one that whispers, this isn’t what I thought it would be, you’re not alone.
You’re allowed to want more freedom. You’re allowed to question the model you were handed. And you’re allowed to walk away from something that doesn’t align with who you are anymore.
There’s not just one way to be successful in this industry. And there’s certainly not just one path to building a meaningful career.
Take the First Step
Aubrey’s journey is a reminder that it’s okay to change your mind, and it’s never too late to start building something new.
If this resonated with you, we invite you to explore what’s possible when you follow your definition of success.
Start your own path with CPA MOMS → cpamoms.com/start