Bridging the Gap on ADHD and Community
With Questian Telka
Recorded live at Bridging the Gap 2025, Terrell sits down with Questian Telka, co-host of the She Counts Podcast and a late-diagnosed ADHDer, for a conversation that goes well beyond the typical conference interview. On Episode 270 of The Unique CPA, Questian talks candidly about what it meant to finally receive her diagnosis as an adult, the moment she describes as “my whole life makes sense to me now,” and how understanding her own brain became less about labeling herself and more about having a user manual. She moderated a panel at BTG where three highly successful CPAs reframed ADHD not as something they succeeded in spite of, but often because of, like a “superpower.” It’s a perfect example of what Bridging the Gap does differently from other accounting conferences, and why the profession needs these conversations happening at all times, not just once a year in a hotel ballroom.
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Libsyn Description:
Recorded live at Bridging the Gap 2025, Terrell sits down with Questian Telka, co-host of the She Counts Podcast and a late-diagnosed ADHDer, for a conversation that goes well beyond the typical conference interview. On Episode 270 of The Unique CPA, Questian talks candidly about what it meant to finally receive her diagnosis as an adult, the moment she describes as “my whole life makes sense to me now,” and how understanding her own brain became less about labeling herself and more about having a user manual. She moderated a panel at BTG where three highly successful CPAs reframed ADHD not as something they succeeded in spite of, but often because of, like a “superpower.” It’s a perfect example of what Bridging the Gap does differently from other accounting conferences, and why the profession needs these conversations happening at all times, not just once a year in a hotel ballroom.
Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com
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Category: Business
Tags: Accounting, CPA, ADHD, neurodiversity, WomenInAccounting, MentalHealth, BridgingTheGap, Conference, AccountingConference, Belonging, Community, WellBeing
Author: Randy Crabtree, CPA
Social Media Copy:
What does it look like when an accounting conference puts ADHD on the mainstage, not as a liability, but as a superpower?
At Bridging the Gap 2025, Questian Telka moderated a panel where every panelist had ADHD, and the conversation that followed was one of the most resonant of the conference. Three highly successful CPAs talking openly about the traits that didn't hold them back, but in many ways propelled them forward. On Episode 270 of The Unique CPA, recorded live at BTG, Questian talks with Terrell about her own late diagnosis, what it means to build a career while navigating a brain that works differently, and why she and Nancy McClelland launched She Counts, a podcast committed to making sure women in accounting don't feel like they're going it alone.
She also makes the case for why conferences like Bridging the Gap matter: not just for the technical content, but for the conversations that happen when people finally feel safe enough to have them.
Episode is out now! Links are in the comments.
#TheUniqueCPA #BridgingTheGap #ADHD #WomenInAccounting #SheCounts #AccountingPodcast #MentalHealth #CPA #Neurodiversity #AccountingCommunity
Show Notes start here
Title: Bridging the Gap on ADHD and Community
Subtitle: With Questian Telka
Colors: #191842 – #2484c6 – #48b4e3 – #83daff
Important Links:
About the Guest:
Questian Telka, EA is the owner/founder of ReQoncile Financials, and she has been dedicated to supporting nonprofits for over 15 years. She takes great pride in helping organizations take flight and empowering them to manage their finances with confidence. Questian loves collaborating with her clients, allowing them to focus on their mission and the work they’re passionate about—building their organizations and making a difference in their communities.
Questian is a licensed Certified Public Bookkeeper, QuickBooks Advanced Certified Pro Advisor, and an Enrolled Agent licensed to practice in front of the IRS. She is a member of both the National Association of Tax Professionals and the National Association of Enrolled Agents. Currently, Questian is the Board Treasurer for B3 Coffee, a nonprofit that works to provide social and vocational opportunities to people of all abilities and advance disability justice, ally-ship, and inclusion. Her extensive experience in the financial realm allows her to offer a variety of bookkeeping and financial services to owners of small businesses and non-profits.
Transcript:
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Welcome back to another episode of The Unique CPA Podcast. We are at Bridging the Gap 2025, and I have the pleasure of sitting down with Questian. Questian, welcome to the show, how are you?
Good. How are you?
I am great. Well, what I will say is today is my birthday.
Today’s your birthday!
It is. So I am really good.
Yeah, but you’re working on your birthday.
Yeah, you know, but I will say this is a labor of love because I get to talk with people like you. This is a great birthday gift.
Good, I’m happy to spend it with you.
What I’ve been talking to people about is their experience with Bridging the Gap. So take me back to what was your first Bridging the Gap conference you attended?
This year.
Okay, awesome. What I want to ask is, what did people tell you before you got here that made you interested to say, “Hey, yeah, I want to show up?”
Everyone was like, “This is my favorite conference. Best conference, favorite, can’t miss it.” And I wanted to come last year, but I was on parenting duty so I couldn’t make it. So that’s the running theme, is this is my favorite conference of the year and it’s one that I can’t miss. And it’s smaller and more intimate, but also the sessions are really amazing and very different than what we see at other conferences.
So now that you’ve been here, we’re in day two. So has it lived up to the expectation that was set for you?
Yeah, and I actually was thinking about the name and that it’s Bridging the Gap and I feel like it really is bridging the gap between some of the conversations that we have at other conferences and the topics that we have and what Randy and Tri-Merit have curated for the conference itself. So I mean, it’s been amazing. I love it. So I’m very happy that I came.
Awesome. And now also, your first conference, you’re also, you did a panel here. So give us a sneak peek into how that panel went. What was the topic?
The topic was ADHD. Basically, I can’t remember the exact title of it, sorry, and how ADHD and some of the traits that come along with it can actually be our superpower. So all of the panelists have ADHD, and I moderated, and I also have it as well. So we talked about our stories, then we talked about the traits that mostly they talked about the traits that they have that they see as superpowers rather than things that are hindering them in their career. And one of the things I felt like was really important to point out is we had three extremely successful panelists who have made incredible careers for themselves, not despite their ADHD, but in a lot of ways because of it too.
You know, I think that’s a really interesting point because a lot of times when I hear people bring up ADHD, it’s either to excuse some behavior or as like a put down. But I love the fact that you look at it and say, “Hey, there’s actually a benefit in this.” So I guess for yourself, like what was that journey like for you of having ADHD being in the field of accounting, which accounting is known for being very structured, very consistent, very methodical. So what has that journey been like for you?
I got late diagnosed, so I didn’t know, and I think this is very common for a lot of women. They get diagnosed with ADHD later. So I was actually talking to a colleague who happened to be a male and we were very similar in a lot of ways and he was telling me about his diagnosis and he had said that his parents actually knew that he had it when he was a kid, but didn’t tell him until he was an adult. And so then we had some very similar traits and I was like, you know, this sounds really familiar to me. And so when I went and got tested, afterwards I started doing research and talking to my doctor about kind of how it manifests and specifically how it really manifests in women, because it can be very different than it is in men. And it was like a moment where I was going, “My whole life makes sense to me now. Now I understand why I do the things that I do and why I am the way that I am.”
And so it has helped me. I was already naturally taking measures to try and cope with some of the challenges that I was having, but it really helped me just kind of take it to the next level and fine tune some of the processes and the things that I do. You know, one of the things, I actually have a hard time at conferences because I can’t sit still for too long. So it’s like I can go into a session and then I have to get up and I have to move around. And when I’m at home, it’s great for me having a home office and working from home because it gives me the ability to be kind of up and down and moving around a little bit more, because I do kind of have a hyperactive piece of it. I was actually sitting here as we’re filming and I’m like, oh, I’m shaking the entire tablecloth, like I should probably stop doing that.
I’m sure our awesome tech crew behind the scenes can fix that, or at least I’m hoping that they can, so no worries about it. Talking about ADHD in the profession and just, I think life in general is not something you usually hear about at an accounting conference. So what do you think made Bridging the Gap more open for that conversation to be talked about, like from the stage?
Yeah. I think what made Bridging the Gap more open to having those conversations is part of Randy’s story, and that was something that he wanted to do in the conference so that as a career, or for our careers, we are able to maintain our mental health and wellbeing while still running our firms and our businesses. And so having, I think, his life experience and then creating a conference, my takeaway from what he was saying in his keynote, and what I’ve seen at the conference is, I want to do this differently. And so they’re intentionally choosing topics that maybe you wouldn’t see at another conference because maybe it’s a little bit taboo or maybe it just doesn’t fit in the typical mold, and it’s like things that are not supposed to be talked about or said when you are in a professional environment. Which is, I think, one of the amazing things about the conference is that it’s bringing those topics to the forefront because they do need to be talked about. You go into one of these rooms and you have those conversations and it resonates with so many people. So it’s really important that we’re talking about and presenting those topics along with, you know, technical pieces of training and firm running as well.
So I guess as you guys were doing that talking, you’re going through this panel: Was it an interesting thing of like just seeing light bulbs go off for people in the audience as they were able to connect with your story?
Oh yeah, of course. I mean, it was really interesting because there were a lot of people in there, you could see them shaking their heads, or they seemed to feel very comfortable, kind of like yelling something out here and there. You know, at one point Shirley stood up and she’s like, “Can I say something? Can I add something to that?” And so I was like, “Okay, come on. Go ahead, throw it out there.” So yeah, you could definitely see it resonating. And then the feedback after: So we stuck around and talked to people afterwards. People stop you in the hall and you realize how important it is just to not feel alone in those areas. And then it resonates. And I think there’s even scenarios where there were people who were like, “I’ve not been diagnosed,” somebody came up to me and said this, “I’ve not been diagnosed, but I could really relate to a lot of things that Sharam was saying. And so I think I’m going to investigate this more.” And so those conversations need to keep happening so that people can kind of, you know, like I said, it doesn’t change who we are. It’s not, I kind of look at it as, it’s not a label, it’s more like a user manual, so it’s like having an understanding of that piece of yourself and how your brain functions and the chemical reactions that are taking place just helps guide you and helps you understand why you’re making certain decisions the way that you do.
Awesome. You know, I love that, and I love that about this conference because it does allow people to start having those type of conversations and take the impact that we feel here, and to do other things outside of the conference. I think you’re a great example of that. I mean, you and many others are doing some great things. There’s a podcast that you’re doing, I see you online, there’s an impact that you’re making. So can you tell us a little bit about kind of your driving force behind the impact that you’re doing within the industry?
Yeah. So Nancy McClelland and I have the podcast She Counts, and it’s a podcast focused on women’s topics in accounting. And we want men to listen too because we need male allies. And so it’s really just a passion project to kind of highlight what women in our profession are dealing with and going through, and to make sure that they don’t feel alone. Because at one time when she and I were starting our own firms, these were conversations that we wanted to be having with other people, they were things we were thinking about. Then as we started attending conferences, the conversations were happening like on the back end in a WhatsApp chat or at a conference. And so we ended up on a Zoom call with each other, and I was like, “We should really start a podcast so that this is out there,” because like these conversations need to be out there for everyone because there are plenty of people running firms alone or working in firms and feeling alone. And that just sense of like, “I’m not the only one,” and community, is so important for, I mean, there’s data everywhere that talks about how important that sense of community is to eliminate loneliness and to feel like you belong. So that’s why we’re doing it and we both really enjoy it and it seems to be, I think it was really needed. We needed it!
You know, I love that so much, because even as I talked to Randy about kind of his vision for this conference and just really the industry itself, of it really creating that place where people can start having the right type of conversations, and then also take those conversations outside of the conference. Because you don’t want it to be a situation where people are like, “Hey, I only talk about it once a year at this specific conference.” But I love the fact that the conference is encouraging people to go have those conversations throughout the year. It’s going to take a lot for all of us to collaborate to really change the profession. So I’m very curious for you as just kind of, as you think about the conversations that you and Nancy have, as you think about the conversation you had with the panel, it’s just kind of like, what do you hope that people who listen to the things you say, what do you hope they kind of walk away with?
I hope they walk away with a couple of things. I hope that they walk away feeling like they aren’t alone, I hope that they can relate to it and it resonates. We try to offer solutions, so in the podcast and anytime I’m speaking I try to not only, if I’m highlighting a challenge, try to always offer solutions, so having takeaways in that sense as well. So rather than just going, “Oh, hey, I recognize that, it’s a problem for me too,” and not giving anyone any solutions or answers. And one of the things that we do on the podcast is we bring other people in who have more experience in certain topic areas. So for example, we had Lynnette Oss Connell come on because she is a burnout coach. Neither Nancy nor I should be speaking on burnout and how to eliminate it, but it’s really important!
Awesome, I love that. So, final question I want to ask, and I’ve been asking everyone this, so let’s say you and I are sitting down with a person who’s never been to the Bridging the Gap conference, and the topic of Bridging the Gap 2026 comes up. Why would you tell them they should show up to Bridging the Gap 2026?
I would tell them that they have to show up because number one for me, the sense of community is incredible, the sessions are different, you’re not going to find sessions like it at any other conference. Like I said, the sense of community is just incredible, and those are probably the two most important reasons to me.
I love it. Well, Questian, thank you so much for coming to hang out with me on my birthday.
Yeah, happy birthday! I mean, you get a built-in party tonight, right?
Yes. I am really looking forward to the party, so everyone who’s listening to the podcast, make sure you look out for the photos that are going to come from the Enchanted Forest Party. So thank you so much for listening to the podcast and thank you for coming on and being an awesome guest.
Yeah, thanks for having me! I’m happy to be here.
About the Guest
Questian Telka, EA is the owner/founder of ReQoncile Financials, and she has been dedicated to supporting nonprofits for over 15 years. She takes great pride in helping organizations take flight and empowering them to manage their finances with confidence. Questian loves collaborating with her clients, allowing them to focus on their mission and the work they’re passionate about—building their organizations and making a difference in their communities.
Questian is a licensed Certified Public Bookkeeper, QuickBooks Advanced Certified Pro Advisor, and an Enrolled Agent licensed to practice in front of the IRS. She is a member of both the National Association of Tax Professionals and the National Association of Enrolled Agents. Currently, Questian is the Board Treasurer for B3 Coffee, a nonprofit that works to provide social and vocational opportunities to people of all abilities and advance disability justice, ally-ship, and inclusion. Her extensive experience in the financial realm allows her to offer a variety of bookkeeping and financial services to owners of small businesses and non-profits.
Meet the Hosts
Randy Crabtree, co-founder and partner of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals, is a widely followed author, lecturer and podcast host for the accounting profession. Since 2019, he has hosted the The Unique CPA podcast, which ranks among the world’s 5% most popular programs (Source: Listen Notes). You can find articles from Randy in Accounting Today’s “Voices” column and the AICPA Tax Advisor, and he is a regular presenter at conferences and virtual training events hosted by CPAmerica, Prime Global, Leading Edge Alliance (LEA), Allinial Global and several state CPA societies. Randy also provides continuing professional education to Top 100 CPA firms across the country.
Terrell Turner is a 3x nationally ranked CPA, 2x Top 20 Global Finance Influencer. He is the founder of the TLTurner Group, which has been recognized in NYC Times Square and the NY Times as a top accounting and CFO firm that specializes in supporting law firms. Outside of running an accounting firm, Terrell hosts multiple vlogs and podcasts in addition to co-hosting The Unique CPA. Terrell is also a speaker and a content creator who regularly hosts and collaborates on video and audio content projects with multi-billion dollar corporations, bar associations, universities, and non-profit organizations.