Pivot Points podcast
Nichols Cauley CEO, Alan Whitman: the brains behind Baker Tilly’s breakout
Episode 34
What I really love to do is enable others to achieve things that they never would have imagined they could achieve.
Alan Whitman CEO, Nichols Cauley
Did you know what career you’d be in when you were in ninth grade?
Alan Whitman did. He’s a dreamer who challenges convention. He’ll embark on a mission to make things happen, even when the path can’t be seen.
He spent nearly eight years at Baker Tilly’s CEO, transforming it into a global advisory powerhouse. At the heart of that transformation is his radical leadership philosophy.
Whether it’s his approach to candid, uncomfortable feedback, or taking pride in coaching and enabling the next generation, Alan represents the blueprint of a leader who transforms all that he touches.
I have remembered my whole life the power of positive language. If you tell someone ‘don’t do this’, they first have to think of the thing, and then think ‘don’t.’
Lucy Knill CEO, Anthropy
You will learn:
- How a self-described “late bloomer” tax accountant became a transformational CEO of a global professional services firm.
- Why emotional leadership, candor, and uncomfortable feedback prevail at senior levels.
- How executive coaching can radically improve both individual leaders and the effectiveness of a senior leadership team.
- Practical strategies to reframe change as progress to reduce resistance.
- How to think about AI and automation as tools to eliminate friction.
- What young professionals can do now to build a future‑ready career in leadership.
Watch on YouTube
I’m one who thinks things can happen, even if I don’t know the pathway. That’s the dreamer – the guy that says we can do this, even if I don’t know how.
Alan Whitman CEO, Nichols Cauley
Subscribe to stay up-to-date
Share this page
Related Topics
