Women's History Month: 2025 spotlight

Ana Lambe is the embodiment of the kind of fierce femininity that women who make history have. Having the incredible opportunity to work with her on my first project with Accordion has been a tremendous growth opportunity for me as a consultant. She has taught me that through patience, humility, communication, and strength there is literally nothing we cannot accomplish as a team.

Ashley Brehm is incredibly hardworking, detail-oriented, proactive, and a true JOY to have on the team. She has the best attitude even in the midst of chaos, and for that we are all so grateful. Thank you for all that you do!

Ayla Queiroga continues to inspire not only me, but those she works with. Ayla truly partners with authenticity, leads with empathy, and delivers quality work that challenges others to do the same.

Cheryl Shelhamer and Sarah Roth have served as positive female mentors for me during my time at Accordion. They inspire me to advocate for myself and encourage me to get as involved, have helped me navigate professional and personal challenges, and have been resources I have reached out to for cross-practice collaboration on projects. These women serve as leaders for the Accordionites in Denver, ensuring we stay engaged, connected, and are set up for success. They work hard to plan co-working days, awesome happy hours, and fun events—and go out of their way to make new hires feel right at home. The Denver team is lucky to have Cheryl and Sarah!

Claudia Bellanca is a force! It’s amazing to watch her drive incredible output without ever breaking a sweat. The nuanced, on-brand, beautiful events and work she does is truly inspiring.

Courtney Bowerman walks the walk of what Accordion is all about. She truly cares about her team and her people. She is always people-first and leading all of marketing (and so many others!) to bring their authentic selves and bring their best work.

I am consistently inspired by Ellie Rogoff, who approaches her work with passion and incredible attention to detail.

Gina Ciavarro has been a true inspiration; her resilience, problem solving skills, and ability to handle challenges with grace has been remarkable. She always uplifts those around her, and I am grateful to work with her and learn from her.

Halle Markel is extremely knowledgeable within her area of expertise and inspires me to learn more about NetSuite to better perform in my role. She’s not afraid to take on challenges and lead the way.

Kim Tran is the most conscientious manager who always takes the time to show up for her people. On top of being a consistent top performer, she’s also always killing it with the ‘fits!

Lily Willen is the definition of a team player. No matter how busy she is, she always drops everything to help. Beyond that, she constantly thinks outside the box to solve problems, bringing fresh ideas and creative solutions to any challenge. Her dedication and innovative mindset are truly inspiring!

Lindsay Gordon has taught us all about what it means to be a leader. She is both unwaveringly kind and expertly authoritative. From spearheading our new Learning Management System to championing the Skills Matrix, Lindsay has changed Accordion for the better.

Mijani Petties is a culture carrier and consistent presence for the Dallas office. For every event she goes the extra mile, and she always has a caring attitude for every person who works or visits the Dallas office. She makes working at Accordion just a little bit better. Cheers to Mijani.

Paige Weidner is such a joy to work with! She is super organized, always is raising her hand to help, and has great intuition when it comes to strategy and problem solving. She is the most reliable teammate and creates such a positive atmosphere on our team. Anyone is lucky to work with Paige!

Pamela Stern is such an inspiration. She balances many jobs: practice leader, commercial excellence driver, and most importantly, mom. She’s made me believe that women really can do it all.

Penny Tehrani-Littrell is one of the people who has impacted me most during my time at Accordion. She consistently raises the bar with her work ethic, tenacity, and kindness. Thank you for teaching us all!

Rachel Bergman is a blessing to know and to work with. She always goes above and beyond to ensure we have what we need, whether its on a personal note or whether its to provide A+ execution on our engagements.

Rebecca Pfender is a great colleague and voice of reason.

Sarah Roth is an incredible and inspiring leader. She drives multiple workstreams, leads rooms with authority, and inspires confidence and growth in everyone around her. It’s truly an honor to work with her.

Bhagyashree constantly goes above and beyond to deliver top-notch solutions to our clients. Her ability to seamlessly balance personal and professional responsibilities is truly inspiring, encouraging me to push my own limits and develop strong management skills. Even in the most high-pressure situations, she remains calm and composed, making her someone I always turn to for a second opinion. Grateful to have her as a wonderful friend and colleague!

Shannon Sanders adds brightness to my day every time I get to work with her. It’s amazing how she balances the people in her life that depend on her (family, friends, colleagues) and is still able to show up every day with a smile on her face and a sense of humor that always puts one on mine; I think it’s because of her incredible organization skills and commitment to figuring out what is right for the whole group in every moment.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked under Shauna Watson. Her proactive approach with clients, responsiveness, and extensive technical expertise have set a remarkable standard of leadership. Beyond her technical acumen, what stands out most is her ability to strike the perfect balance between coaching and delegation. She empowers by offering thoughtful mentorship while also fostering independence and confidence. Her leadership has not only strengthened my professional growth, but has created an environment where challenges are embraced as opportunities to excel.

I love how much Sheeja Vengiyil cares. She consistently wants to make Accordion the best place it can be for all of us. And she doesn’t hesitate to do the hard work, thinking, and organization to make things happen.

Big shout out to Shirley Yeung for her dedication to growth and mentorship. Her guidance has made a meaningful impact. Thank you for all that you do!

Ana Lambe’s leadership style is extremely inspiring. I had the pleasure of attending a very well thought out summit hosted by Ana in Dallas, which proved to be extremely successful. Through her leadership, the CFO Tech ERP Directors and Senior Directors have spearheaded some massive firm improvements in how we engage with and deliver with our clients.

Claudia is always a pleasure to work with. She is a consummate professional. Accordion could not run without her, and her presence is felt throughout the firm and everything we do. She constantly tackles problems and gets things done. Thank you Claudia!

Shrishti is an incredible inspiration to all of us, seamlessly balancing the demands of being a new mother with the high-pressure responsibilities of her role. She has handled multiple challenges with remarkable grace and effectiveness. Her capability, kindness, and empathy shine through in every interaction, whether with her team or with clients. Her ability to navigate this intense juggling act is a testament to her resilience and serves as a powerful example in the high-stakes world of consulting. She is a true role model, showing that strength, compassion, and success can coexist.

Lindsay Gordon deserves a shoutout for her positive attitude and spirit she brings to the office. She inspires me to want to work harder and be a better person.

Penny Tehrani-Littrell’s combination of brilliance, dedication, and compassion is in a league of its own. She efficiently balances the legal and business needs of Accordion while leading and mentoring the Legal & Compliance department staffed with employees in four different offices (and time zones). Penny is an incredible asset to Accordion. We are all fortunate to call her a colleague.

Sheeja Vengiyil is an amazing woman and individual. She reminds me even on the toughest days there is always something to be grateful for. She makes time to listen and connect with everyone, and I don’t know how she does it considering her workload, but she always has a smile and positive attitude. She is truly a light and joy to work with.

Supraja is a powerhouse of talent, intelligence, and kindness. As a brilliant Data Engineer, she tackles complex problems with ease. Beyond work, she is a gifted artist, creating stunning portraits with colors and emotions. She is always there to support and uplift others, helping them achieve their dreams while chasing her own. A strong, independent, and determined woman, she balances everything with grace and resilience, inspiring everyone around her.

I have so many wonderful things to say about Magdalena Assenov. She embodies true collaboration, always working seamlessly with the team to deliver high-quality results while making the process enjoyable. Her kindness and encouragement have been truly inspiring—she not only believes in my abilities but constantly reminds me that I am capable of great things. No matter the challenges, she approaches every task with a smile, bringing positivity and warmth to every interaction. Her technical expertise is outstanding—whether producing deliverables or delivering content, she consistently sets the bar high. Beyond being an incredible professional, she is an absolute joy to be around, both in and out of the workplace. Her reputation speaks for itself—colleagues, clients, and MDs trust her, value her insights, and often confide in her. She has made a lasting impact on me and many others, proving that excellence and kindness can go hand in hand.

Kristin Winford consistently sets the example for excellence. Her presence naturally elevates the performance of those around her, not through demanding pressure, but by fostering a collaborative and encouraging atmosphere. I always feel lucky when I get to work with Kristin!

Gina Ciavarro has inspired me since joining Accordion. As our CISO, she’s responsible for keeping us safe every day—and she makes it seem effortless. In a field where women hold only 16% of CISO roles within Fortune 500 companies, Gina stands out not only for her exceptional skills but also for her genuine care for the people she protects. Her leadership is a powerful example, and she truly deserves endless recognition for keeping both our team and data secure.

Lindsay Gordon has inspired me since joining Accordion. She leads authentically and sets the example on how to be an effective leader in a way that builds her team up and drives meaningful results.

Gina Giardinieri is one of the most strong-willed women I’ve worked with in my career. She’s never afraid to take on a project and take the lead, but also is an amazing team player. Her tenacity for work and life in general are very inspiring to me every day.

Moumita has been a great source of inspiration and support, especially during my early days in the office. Her positive attitude helped me settle in and start each day on the right note. Her guidance, both professionally and personally, has been invaluable, and I truly appreciate her consistent support.

Lizzy Lewis is one of the most determined women I’ve worked with. She never shies away from a difficult project and knows how to navigate any challenge that comes her way. I’m truly inspired by her charismatic nature and I admire her dedication to her role and the hard work she puts in every day.

Haley Anderson is one of the most empathetic and genuinely kind recruiters I’ve ever met. She has a deep passion for working with people, and the time and effort she puts into each conversation with everyone involved in the recruiting process is truly inspiring. She really cares about candidate experience and building Accordion’s brand in a genuine way.

Lauren Klikuszowian is a joy to work with. As a leader, she’s a hard worker, very empathetic, and thinks of people first. I’m inspired by how much she can take on and manage. She’s never afraid to roll up her sleeves to help the team and I’m thankful to be able to work with her.

Darcy Iria truly embodies Accordion’s core values and culture. She consistently demonstrates a willingness to help and goes above and beyond in every task, even when faced with challenges outside her comfort zone. Darcy is a true partner and an exceptional example of what it means to be a collaborative and valued team member.

Jessica Li consistently excels at her work. She wins over the most difficult clients, leads steering committee meetings, and delivers quality work products so quickly it leaves you stunned—all this while raising two young kids. An inspiration for sure!

Emily Lee is a total rock star. One glance at her work product puts you totally at ease knowing A+ execution is assured. She also leads meetings and bonds well with clients. An inspiring future leader!

Bonnie Chung is one of the most talented consultants at Accordion. She can have back-to-back calls where she is first walking a database engineer through some complex SQL code, to then explaining the nuances of the resulting KPI to the CFO. Multi-faceted and inspiring!

Erica Thurm is a true superwoman. She will wake up at 4am to feed her babies, hop on a 6am flight to NYC to lead an internal session, have client calls and catch up with colleagues all day, and then get back on a 6am flight the next day to return home. Very inspiring!

I’ve worked with Magda Assenov on more than one project. Magda’s ability to motivate and encourage Accordion and client team members is really inspirational, and she makes it happen so seamlessly with her unwavering positivity, collaborative yet direct approach, and ability to sprinkle fun along the way. Her confidence and conscientiousness make clients look up to her as a trusted advisor. Hope more and more people get a chance to work with Magda!