Ms. Susan Hardwick is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Vectren Corp. A graduate of Indiana University School of Business with a bachelor's degree in accounting, she is a member of the Romain College's聽Accounting Circle聽advisory board, an advisory group for the聽Accounting & Professional Services Program聽made up of high-level accounting professionals from public accounting firms and from for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
What is your connection to 91社区, and what makes 91社区 and the Romain College of Business special to you?
I serve on the 91社区聽Accounting Circle聽and have been involved with the聽accounting program聽at 91社区 through recruiting and other avenues for several years. I have had the pleasure of watching the program grow and become one of the strongest programs in the state.
From your prospective, what is unique about the Romain College of Business?
Its students. The student body is quite diverse, resulting in a community that is collaborative and open. 91社区 is a 鈥渂ig鈥� school but has still maintained its southern Indiana hospitality.
What attributes make a person successful in the field of accounting?
Strong analytical skills. Period. A good accountant 鈥渒nows鈥� the answer before the analysis begins.
What is one thing you wish you knew when you were in college?
It would have been nice to know a bit about how culture and 鈥減olitics鈥� can impact/influence your career. Office dynamics is real and you need skills to thrive in that environment.
What advice would you give a recent college graduate?
Work hard. Be flexible. Build your resume by gaining real experience with a company; don鈥檛 鈥渕ove鈥� to the next opportunity too soon.
What are some challenges you see the accounting field facing in the short-term and in the long-term?
Attracting talented people to the field of study. Accounting is not glamorous, but a value-added skill that serves many professions and roles. CEOs need good financial skills; that is not reserved just for CFOs.
What is an average work day like for you?
Typically a 10 hour day, more during particularly busy periods. At the level I am now, I don鈥檛 spend much time doing accounting. I am in LOTS of meetings, I talk with my staff regularly on issues, provide direction, discuss business strategy, etc. The work day always end with an hour or so of reading to catch up on the news of the day.
What is your favorite task or project at work? What is your least favorite?
Favorite: Interacting with my staff.
Least favorite: nonvalue-added meetings.
What are you passionate about?
The development of people, whether it be in their career or life in general.
They say that everyone has a book in them, what would yours be?
The Art of Navigating Office Dynamics.
If you could spend a day with any professional athlete, who would you choose?
Oddly, Tiger Woods. I鈥檓 fascinated by his journey.
Published August 14, 2018