Senior Manager, Health Care Advisory Services, Ernst & Young
Shakeya McDow may not be a traditional Jindal School graduate, but her experience demonstrates that courses at the Jindal School can help advance a career. After several years in accounting and finance, McDow accepted a position in the internal audit department at Brinker International. It was then she decided to enroll in the Jindal School’s Internal Auditing Education Partnership (IAEP) program to earn a graduate certificate. Through her experience at the Jindal School, she developed meaningful relationships and advanced her knowledge and skills. She continues to stay involved at the Jindal School, specifically as she supports students and faculty as president of the Dallas Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors and a board member on the Jindal School’s Internal Audit Endowment committee.
Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?
I have held various positions. all within information technology, accounting and finance. My first job was with IBM as a Unix programmer / project manager. A few years later,…I was laid off. I then accepted a position with Maggiano’s as the assistant accounting manager of banquet sales. Within two years, I worked my way up and became the regional accounting manager for the northeast region. I stayed with Maggiano’s until I got a call from Brinker International and was recruited to work in Corporate Review at [company] headquarters in North Texas. From there I went to Blockbuster and then to Ernst & Young, where I worked in Risk Advisory. I am still at Ernst &Young, but in October 2013, I moved to the performance improvement healthcare advisory practice. A highlight from my career that makes me very proud actually happened when I was working at Maggiano’s. One night, we experienced a power outage while the restaurant was still open. Since we had no power, we had to build everything from scratch, all the receipts, bills and financial statements. I worked 24 straight hours until sunup to turn in a perfect, handwritten financial statement to the general manager. He was completely shocked. As a result, I was flown to Colorado for what I thought was a training session, but instead was a manager of the year surprise-recognition party. I will never forget that day. I have been fortunate to receive much recognition for my work throughout the years. In October 2011, I was selected by Ernst & Young as the Chairman’s Value Award recipient at the national level. Then in November 2011, I was one of three representatives for the Ernst & Young Global Chairman’s Value Award! That was a very proud moment for me. Most recently, my proudest achievement is being named one of the Top Emerging Leaders in Internal Audit by Internal Auditor magazine. [Read the story] On a personal note, I am proud that I have been married to my wonderful husband, Robert, an accountant for American Airlines, for 12 years now.
What brought you to UT Dallas?
When I got the phone call from Brinker International asking me to relocate to their corporate review department, I truly did not know a lot about internal audit. I searched online and found the Internal Auditing Education Partnership program at the Jindal School and called the program office. Mark Salamasick [program director] personally answered my call, and that same day and I came to campus to meet him. I immediately knew this was the perfect program for me, and I enrolled in classes immediately. I paid for my coursework myself and even stayed to finish the requirements to take the CPA exam.
What is your favorite UT Dallas memory?
I’m a “front row of the classroom” kind of gal. However, on my first day of class, I was a few minutes late due traffic and had to sit in the top corner of a completely full classroom. The class was taught by Mark Salamasick, the director of the program. I remember Mark began reviewing the syllabus and his expectations for the course, and as nice as Mark is, he said to mark his words that about 30 percent of the class would not return the following week. But that’s what makes his program successful. He weeds out those who aren’t serious about it in the beginning, and those that remain will more than likely be successful.
Who was your favorite professor, and/or what was your favorite class and why?
Mark Salamasick was my favorite because he is a realist. He brings real-world applications into the classroom by bringing in industry professionals. It’s not just theory or lessons from a textbook, but rather real-life industry experience. I also loved Amy Troutman, a senior lecturer in accounting. She made accounting relatable and easy to understand. Accounting can be fun, but you have to appreciate it first. You have to see that it is truly the fundamental underlining of a business.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like to spend my free time with my husband, Rob. We love to travel, especially to tropical locations. For example, last year we traveled to Turks and Caicos [Islands], and the year before that we went to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. It is definitely expensive, but it’s our way of investing back into our relationship. We work so hard that we love our travel time. Rob loves to golf…so I do too. I love to shop, and Rob kindly sits while I do my shopping. We both have a passion for giving back, especially to the youth and encouraging them to be the future leaders in the business world.
What advice do you have for current students hoping to succeed in the business world?
My advice to students is to make decisions based on today. When you get caught up in the “what if game,” you aren’t able to focus on the present. You have to be present to be open and to receive what is offered to you now. Regardless if you are sweeping a floor, entering data or running a Fortune 500 company, you have to give 100 percent of yourself. I say 100 percent and not 110 percent because I only have 100 percent of myself to give. And remember you have to know when to turn it off and relax! My “aha moment” in life came when I heard a quote by Joel Osteen. “Don’t get so caught up in the destination that you miss the miracles along the way.” We are all overachievers, and our culture feeds on that. We see where we want to go, but you have to focus on today. For example, today I had the opportunity to pause my work day and come to Mark’s class to speak to his students—the future leaders of the business world. Learn to appreciate each day.
What makes an effective leader?
My definition first starts with the definition of leadership. Leadership is a lost art. Leaders lead us. Not to a place, but to our better, truer version of ourselves. When I see an effective leader, it means I see that they are taking me somewhere new, and I want to follow. Learn more about the Jindal School’s Internal Auditing Education Partnership (IAEP) program.
