If you think ethics standards and well-being research sound dry, think again. The latest episode of Chartered Accountants Global Update packs the punch of a TED Talk, the immediacy of a news briefing, and the heart of a conversation we all need right now.
This episode delivers two powerful stories that hit at the core of the profession in 2025: how we build trust in a world of AI and climate claims, and how we rebuild ourselves in a culture that rewards burnout.
1. Ethics Isn’t Boring — It’s a Superpower
In conversation with Sinead Donovan, Carla Vijian of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants proves that ethics is anything but abstract.
Her career spans Malaysia, New Zealand, Sydney, London, and now New York — but it’s her audit mindset that ties it all together. When the rest of us read headlines, Carla sees the incentives, the assumptions, the risks and the unseen forces that really shape global events.
Whether it’s the Northern Lights carbon-capture project or debt-for-policy swaps, she highlights the same truth: without strong ethics standards, big innovations become big question marks.
And when it comes to AI? Carla puts it sharply:
We don’t trust AI — we use it. Just like we don’t trust an Excel formula without checking it.
Her “Three C’s” for future accountants — Curiosity, Courage, Consistency — are worth printing out and sticking on a wall.
2. The Resilience Revolution Is Here
The second half of the episode previews an essential follow-up discussion with Brad Hook and Declan Scott — and it couldn’t come at a better time.
CAW’s research earlier this year showed Chartered Accountants are kind, curious, creative… and exhausted.
We’re multitasking ourselves into hypervigilance.
Our boundaries between work and life have dissolved.
And sleep? For many, it’s a crisis hiding in plain sight.
One statistic hits hard:
Adults can stay focused for just 47 seconds before getting distracted.
Brad and Declan dig into why this is happening — and more importantly, what we can do about it. Their solutions aren’t corporate wellness clichés. They’re evidence-based habits that change how teams work:
It’s practical. It’s human. It’s uncomfortably honest.
Why You Should Listen
This episode captures something rare: the crossroads the profession is standing at — between innovation and integrity, between high performance and human sustainability.
It’s not fear-mongering. It’s not fluffy inspiration.
It’s truth, told by people who care deeply about the work we do and the world we shape.
