Over the next several months, Uncommon Sense will feature occasional episodes focusing on an historic group of CPAs: members of the first-ever class of Alberta graduates from the CPA program following the unification of the accounting profession in Canada. These CPAs, who crossed the CPA convocation stage in February 2016, were the first in Alberta not to have a legacy designation attached to their CPA titles. As the 10th anniversary of this class of graduates approaches, we'll hear stories and insights from members of the class.

In this inaugural episode of the "first class" series, host Erin Schwartz has a free-wheeling conversation with Katherina Richard CPA, a Partner at MNP in Edmonton. Katherina shares her thoughts on being part of that memorable graduating class as well as her career path to partnership and her work serving First Nations and Metis Settlement communities. Katherina and Erin also reflect on blending motherhood with careers, explosions (!), and that forever-famous CPA "helicopter ad" from 2015.