October 08, 2025

Designed Without Us

1 hour 6 minutes

Twyla Verhelst joins Nancy and Questian to explore why women accountants are slower to adopt AI and why that matters more than you might think. From biological risk aversion to the "cheating" stigma, Twyla unpacks the unique barriers women face with technology while revealing how every prompt we enter (or don't enter) is actively training these tools. If we don't take our seats at the AI table now, we're allowing these transformative technologies to be designed without our input, our communication style, and our needs in mind.

Sponsors
Forwardly - https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts
Justine Lackey's The Incubator - https://justinelackey.com/register
Keeper - https://keeper.app/shecounts/

(00:00) - Welcome to She Counts Podcast

(03:14) - Twyla's Journey with AI

(06:10) - Challenges Women Face with Technology

(17:05) - The Importance of Women's Input in AI

(24:47) - Real-World Examples of Gender Bias in Tech

(31:43) - Encouragement and Tips for Women in AI

(37:58) - The Value and Risks of AI Tools

(38:21) - Women and Technology Adoption

(40:52) - Learning in Community

(43:44) - Practical Uses of AI

(46:28) - The Importance of Communication

(51:47) - Meeting Transcripts and Note-Taking

(56:40) - Fun and Practical AI Applications

(01:00:00) - Twyla's Role in AI Education

(01:01:41) - Conclusion and Resources

Resources

Twyla Verhelst on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/twylav/
TB Academy (Twyla & Byron’s AI classes) - https://learn.tbacademy.ai/courses
Karbon - https://karbonhq.com/mid-sized-firms/
Erin Pohan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/
WAVE - https://cec4-erin.systeme.io/0cc9badd
Bookkeeping Buds - https://www.bookkeepingbuds.com/
Theresa Sutter on Bookkeepers on Fire - Bookkeeper On Fire | Theresa Sutter - YouTube
Ashley Francis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-francis-seattle/
Jennifer Dymond - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenndymond/
Scaling New Heights - https://www.woodard.com/scaling-new-heights-2026
Mary Delaney, Karbon CEO - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marywdelaney/
Chad Davis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaddavis1/
Jason Staats - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstaats/
Tam Nguyen - TechwithTam.com
Mike McDerment, Freshbooks Founder on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-mcderment-68895a1/
Cheryl Sandberg - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sandberg-5126652/

Join Our LinkedIn Page!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/she-counts-podcast

Subscribe on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@SheCountsPodcast

Follow She Counts on IG

https://www.instagram.com/shecounts.show/

Connect with Nancy

https://www.thedancingaccountant.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcclelland-cpa

Connect with Questian

https://www.reqoncilefinancials.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/questian-telka-ea-78383666

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://www.forwardly.com/shecounts

https://womeninaccounting.ignitionapp.com/

https://keeper.app/shecounts/

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast

https://www.earmark.app/

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

...more

View all episodes

By Questian Telka, EA & Nancy McClelland, CPA

4.9

1515 ratings