UnChartered Territory: My Journey from Chartered Accountant to Entrepreneur

A Candid Interview with Stefano Picone, A Recent University Graduate
Who Found His Way, the Hard Way

What is your name, place of work, and job title?

My name is Stefano Picone, I live in Toronto, and I am the founder of myCAsite.com

Starting at the beginning, where did you do your schooling and what did you major in? Why?

I was born and raised in Calgary. When I graduated from high school, my parents said that I could go to any university other than the University of Calgary (let’s just say I needed some growing up to do). So I decided to go to the University of Toronto because it was the only other major city in Canada where I had family and was familiar with. I began university in September of 2000, which was the height of the Internet boom. There seemed to be so many online business opportunities, so I enrolled in Commerce figuring it would prepare me for action. Of course, the Internet quickly fizzled and I was forced to pursue something a little more pragmatic. So, I went the CA route.

After graduation, were you nervous to work in the "real world?"

I had a very difficult time transitioning from school to work. Although school involves a lot of time and effort, students have a lot of freedom in terms of when they want to study, how they want to take notes, whether to go to class, etc. And I really enjoyed this. When I began full time work, I felt there was too much structure, especially in terms of how things had to be done. Maintaining structure is very important within the CA profession.

Where did you first work and did you switch firms at any point? Why?

I started at Ernst & Young and then went to RSM Richter. The reason I switched to a mid-sized firm was because Big 4 firms are known for having very rigid audit methodologies, and again, I was trying to get away from structure.

What gave you the idea to launch your own website?

I made a lot of mistakes going through the CA process. I was terrible at recruiting, struggled with certain courses, and had a lot of unnecessary difficulties. At the time, I wished I had something like myCAsite.com to help me, so that is why I decided to build the site.

Was there a need in the market for such as website? How will it benefit students?

Virtually every student who has visited the site has said they loved it. Many of them say that the articles and message board are an invaluable resource for recruiting, homework, the UFE, transitioning to work, etc. One thing that students were really amazed with was the interview we did with Al Rosen (http://www.mycasite.com/for_web/pages/articles/interviews/al_rosen.php). Mr. Rosen is a top forensic accountant in Canada, and he deals a lot with the IFRS, which most university accounting students don't know about. In this way, the site tries to educate students on matters outside the classroom as well.

I have also had many profs and members of CA firms say that they were impressed by the site. In September, there were over 2,600 visits and over 1,100 visitors. This shows that there are a lot of people using the site. The goal is to reach 10,000 visits per month.

What were the hardships you faced in starting your own company? Did you have any help?

Starting a business is incredibly difficult because there is no template or guide to follow. I am often overwhelmed by a lack of direction, which is remarkable considering that, as I mentioned, I do not like having structure imposed on me. You also have to sacrifice a lot to start a business. A lot of the people I went to university with who are CAs have comfortable jobs and nice paycheques. They went on vacation this summer and I didn't. They are buying houses and getting married and, financially, I can't afford to do that. But I feel I would be giving up more personally by not pursuing this idea.

Fortunately, I have a lot of support from my parents and my family. They understand that I am an entrepreneurial person and they don't put pressure on me to follow everyone else and get a regular job.

What advice do you have to recent graduates who might be interested in starting their own company?

In order to become an entrepreneur, you have to be willing to embrace failure. If students stop using myCAsite.com tomorrow, and I have the shut down the site, most people will interpret that to mean that I have failed. But I know that I did the right thing by starting the site. So I'm okay with the possibility of the site not succeeding.

Where do you see the company in the future? Do you wish to expand?

Right now, I am completely focused on the short-term. As important as it is consider the future, there are so many possible outcomes. Eventually the goal is to commercialize the site, but at this point, my efforts are dedicated to marketing the site and providing as much value as possible to students.

We thank Stefano for sharing his experience, for more information check out: myCAsite.com

To Inject or Not to Inject The H1N1 Vaccine: Will You Get It?

By definition I am a sickly person. Not to be confused with “sick” (although it’s arguable I’m sure) but rather sickly. A person who suffers from small inconveniences, like strange indeterminable allergies, asthma that only pops up around exam time, and a serious inability to stay warm for very long. Needless to say I don’t go in the computer lab very often.

As a sickly person I have become accustomed to researching vitamins, teas, protein shakes, whey powder, basically all things Pro-Health. Through my experience the natural way to good health has proved much more effective than the prescription way. I find the lists of “possible side effects” and reactions to medication more scary than the problem it’s trying to fix in the first place.

It would seem that through this way of thinking I would be against vaccinations altogether, but I am not. The benefits have been historically proven. Vaccinations have saved countries of people from things such as polio, smallpox, tuberculosis and the mumps. And I have traveled to India enough times to know how important it is to get your shots.

Although, historically, vaccinations have saved many lives, they have been the source of much controversy. Critics argue that the long term effects are still unknown, and others say vaccinations can make you more sick and are unnatural causing the body to react negatively. A vaccination is, essentially, placing the dead cells of a certain agent into the body to encourage the production of antibodies. The body basically builds immunity to the agent by being introduced to the weakened version of it. I find this method risky because the body must build immunity. It must fight a biological war to become stronger, but who is to say we will all win? A vaccine is to be taken when in top physical condition. If you take it while your immune system is compromised, your body may not have the strength to fight it.

In the case of the H1N1 vaccine there are many arguments for and against it, and I would like to present them for debate. H1N1 can affect a wide range of people. The World Health Organization lists children aged 6 months to 5 years, people under 55 with severe chronic or other medical risks, people of aboriginal or metis descent, health care workers and pregnant women as the most at-risk groups. However during the summer outbreak of H1N1 people outside those groups were put in the hospital and some even died. Illustrating that although there are high risk groups, we are all still at risk.

H1N1 is a serious concern because of its volatility; Winnipeg Regional Health Authority states that some people who get H1N1 may experience very mild symptoms and may not even be aware they have it, while others have died within a matter of 24 hours of contracting the virus. When giving advise even experts clash; some experts state that if you begin experiencing flu like symptoms, it is best to stay at home to prevent spreading it. Others say that if you begin feeling symptoms like shortness of breath and high fever, go to the hospital right away and receive the anti-viral Tamiflu. The confusion surrounding H1N1 may explain the increased wait times at local hospital emergencies, up to 6 or 7 hours currently.

Argument #1: H1N1 is no different than the regular flu and the media has caused mass paranoia and fear, therefore I will not get the vaccine.
To be honest, I grappled with this idea myself. As a critical watcher of T.V, I am aware of such things as media bias and hype. Because of this I choose to get my facts from the credible sources, like WHO, WRHA, and Health Canada. The facts from these sources make the truth bitterly clear: H1N1 is not like the regular flu. Young, healthy people are being hospitalized in a matter of hours as H1N1 can begin lung deterioration quickly with little or no warning. The majority of people who get H1N1 will not be hospitalized and have mild symptoms but determining whether you will be part of that majority or not, is nothing more than a guessing game.


Argument #2: The H1N1 vaccine was developed so quickly under such severe time constraints that it can not be safe due to a lack of long term testing, therefore I will not get the vaccine.
Flu vaccines have a long Canadian history, with new vaccines created yearly to match the changes in the influenza virus. For example, in 1976 there was a swine influenza outbreak in which a vaccine was made and distributed. The 2009 outbreak is slightly different mutation and requires a different vaccine however the facts prove that scientists have been testing and studying a similar vaccine for 30 years. Vaccines must change in order to stay effective and relevant. According to healthcanada.com, Health Canada and the Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq approved AREPANRIX, the vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 flu virus on October 21, 2009. Although the vaccine was created in a matter of months from the time H1N1 began spreading, it is not only is it approved by Health Canada, but is approved by the World Health Organization, and has already been distributed worldwide. I would argue that the possible side effects of the vaccine are less worrisome than possible death from the virus.

Argument #3: If I get H1N1, I can just receive the anti-viral Tamiflu which prevents the symptoms from worsening, so the vaccine is not necessary.
This argument I found very convincing. If there is an approved anti-viral on the market, why should the citizens of Canada wait in line for 3 hours and inject themselves with an unfamiliar vaccine in order to prevent the flu with mild symptoms (for the majority) anyway? After doing a bit of digging, and visiting pharmacies around Winnipeg, the answer became very clear: Tamiflu is running out.
After discussing with pharmacists around the city, I soon learned that each province in Canada was only given a certain amount of emergency Tamiflu, and that the amount left in the city, let alone the country, was running out fast. Before even finishing my sentence “Do you carry Tami-” I’d receive a short and simple “No, sorry. Check the pharmacy down the street.” A few times I’d get a dismal “Good luck!” As I walked out. Hospitals are also being very choosy as to who receives the anti-viral, as they are very short supply as well.
With the anti-viral virtually non existent in our city, all signs now point to receiving the vaccine as a precautionary measure.


In Canada, we are lucky enough to have the freedom of choice surrounding our health and well being. We may choose which precautionary measures to take, and which to avoid. As illustrated by this article, choice can also become a burdensome right, one which takes good facts, and good luck. Will you get the H1N1 vaccine? The choice is yours.

I am in Favour of the Tuition Increase, and Here’s Why

anyone has taken a reasonable look around the campus, they will notice that our fair university is near a state of disrepair which can be directly attributed to the lack of funding incurred by a tuition freeze. As a simple example, the Armes Building doesn’t seem to have been changed since the early 50’s, when people sat at perfect right angles, had completely flat features necessitating geometrically flat chairs, and voiced no need for cushions. While some classes in Tier Building have gotten a make over, the others still remind me of a sanatorium, which while an untrue analogy, still explains the faint scent of urine when the humidity rises. Furthermore, any health related facility which can gain the nickname of “Gritty Grotto” brings to mind images of a grimy, poorly maintained excuse for a fitness gym. Also, I believe I see asbestos on the wall, which probably violates some sort of health code.
All this being said, there seems to be a solution which frightens people from suggesting it; funding. These are fixable problems, yet the university has had its hands tied by the lack of funding from tuitions. While my examples might be exaggerations, and meant to appeal to your emotions, MacLean’s Magazine and many other university surveys and polls have consistently rank us near the bottom of the food chain. (Even independent US sources have ranked us 17th out of 20). While I might not work for Stats Canada, I did do well in Stats1000 and 2000, which nearly makes me an expert, and in those courses we discussed a concept called correlation. It seems like those universities with high tuitions and thus high funding, tended to rank higher based on quality of faculty, programs, financing, and student-to-teacher ratio.
Question, has anyone here take a science course lately? As I recall I had a teleprompter/video professor teach me biology and run my chemistry lab. Personally, I lay awake in a cold sweat fearing the day that technology takes over and begins using me as a battery, and this, quite honestly, is the first step. Did anyone else see the new Terminator? I didn’t, but I assume that this is how the war began, and from what I hear, most of us don’t make it. I feel that I should be taught by, say, a human being, who I can interact with, and, dare I say it, ask them a question and have them respond. How, you may ask, can we as students stop the machines from taking over the planet? Pay more in tuition to hire more human teachers. By paying a slight bit more in tuition, we can hire more profs, which will reduce class sizes, allow more interaction to help facilitate better learning, and effectively raise the quality of education provided by this fine university.
Another note I would like to state to any nay-sayer of rising tuition is that just by staying in Manitoba 5 years after your graduation, you are able to make back HALF of your university tuition, therefore still making us the cheapest option available for higher education. So please, could you stop complaining about tuition? Yes, it might cost a bit more now, but Manitoba is ripe with jobs, resistant to the recession, and competitive in salary, which will pay off the slight increase in no time...plus the government will pay you half back. Work in Manitoba for five years, get experience on your resume, and get a huge tax check back, all for a slightly higher price in tuition; I’d say that’s a deal! And we Manitoban’s love our deals.

Economic and Social Reasons Why Tuition Should Go Down

Before entering the faculty, I was an extreme leftist who hated “The Man” and whose goal in life was to end social conservatism and global apathy on topics that hit close to home to me through economic reasoning. Once entering the Asper School of Business, however, I found myself understanding the mindset of fellow colleagues who would indeed be “The Man”. I may have grown more conservative whilst my time here, but I still have a little bit of residual leftist blood in me, so I’m going to take a stab at this controversial topic from my point of view: that tuition prices should go down.
Let’s start looking at this from an economic point of view. A university is an institution. An institution in the private sector would have a bottom line of reducing costs while increasing revenue. Why don’t universities do the same? Granted, universities are to be ever expanding, but during this expansion, they are definitely incurring costs. These costs are the loss of human capital. Think about it: if all students are to foot the bill of their education, there will be students who will not able to meet the financial demands of the university. If these students do not enrol, there will be a definite loss of diversity, idea generation, and productivity. Such skills are not rooted in those who can afford to go to school. Having money is not a skill, and neither should it be rewarded by the gift of higher education. The reduction of tuition would increase the supply of students entering the university, and in turn diversifying the student body, adding comprehensive quality to the graduates from the school.
Let’s develop this economic point of view further: the purpose of education through government funding is to prepare citizens to produce future economic gain for the state. Universities enrich students with knowledge that will allow them to benefit the workforce. Social norms have become such, that higher education is necessary to yield the best future opportunities. These gains include a higher standard of living and comfort that the monetary gain can afford. Education is necessary to yield the best opportunity for future generations; to allow this to be an attainable goal, we must not place more obstacles in the path of those pursuing knowledge. The reduction of tuition would indeed rid of the financial obstacle of those who pursue such knowledge, and can in turn produce future economic gain for the state with the acquired knowledge.
Universities train students to be productive. We are put through a series of obstacles, such as tests, projects, presentations, essays, theses, assignments, etc., in order to adhere to the demands we will face in the workplace with quality. With the financial impediment of tuition, students must pass through this additional obstacle and still present quality school work. The reduction of tuition will enable students who work to finance their education to put less time towards working, using that time towards completing the obstacles put forth through schoolwork, and therefore training themselves to be more productive individuals.
The financial impediment students face can also be financed more by the government. The government also controls factors which may limit citizens from producing economic gains. The government controls limitations through regulations: i.e universal healthcare to avoid paying the heavy burden of medical costs. As the government expects to provide students to one day produce economic gain for the state, they must take action to reduce the necessity of individual financing and increase the government funding for tuition. After all, if the government is instituting universities as a form of public education, there should be limited hindrances for the public to get such education. The government subsidies that reduce tuition will enable students to not face the financial hardship of financing school, and therefore meet the expectations the government has of students to produce economic gains for the state.
I wanted to outline just a few of many points that support the argument that tuition should not be as high as it is. The tuition is increasing at a rate double than the inflation rate, and such costs must be controlled if we want a future of a diverse, quality workforce.

Why Mad Men is The Best Show on TV

I admit it; I’m addicted to TV. I find it’s still the best way to track what’s going on in mainstream society and it’s a great way to pass the time while I’m on the treadmill. I especially like TV programs that take a fresh look at things and feature strong writing and character development. To my mind Mad Men is at the top of this list. The show’s writing is always crisp, the characters have depth and draw the viewer into their lives and the show has a unique look and feel. From the perspective of a marketing student, Mad Men is a treasure trove of information. It takes an interesting look at how marketers tried to position and pitch their products in an era when advertising was shifting from a print based medium to an electronic one. Think of the parallels you can draw with the shift we are witnessing today as companies move away from the existing electronic models to ones focused on m-commerce and permission based marketing. The fact the producers of the show effectively use these tools to engage their viewers and inform them also makes it a great program. From interactive games on the website to Twitter, the creators of Mad Men make sure you are never out of touch with the show and its characters. After carefully looking at the show, I’ve developed my Top 10 reasons why it’s the best one on television.
10. Nostalgia, or retro if you’re under 50 – Everyone loves to remember the days, or picture a time, when smoking and drinking in the office was an acceptable behaviour. Can any of the people on this show get through a scene without a drink or a cigarette?
9. Fashion – Skinny ties for men and hats for women. What more could you ask for?
8. Clients - Sterling Cooper works on some of the best known products and brands in marketing history. I admit taking on Nixon piece was a bust but it did provide an interesting look at how the President of the US was viewed by voters. President Obama clearly built on these lessons during his successful 2008 campaign.
7. Consumer Behaviour – For those of us that teach the course, it’s nice to see textbook lessons put to use.
6. Pete Campbell – Each of us knows, and hates, someone exactly like him and it’s great to see him get taken down a notch.
5. Horatio Alger Story – Where else but on a TV show could someone like Peggy Olson go from being a newly hired secretary to a copywriter on major accounts overnight?
4. The website – Go to www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/madmenyourself and create your OWN Mad Men alter ego!
3. Christina Hendricks - A great representative of the definition of beauty and style in the early 60’s
2. Pushing Boundaries – What other TV show has covered everything from infidelity (with twins no less) to selling marital aids positioned as exercise equipment?
1. Don Draper – The coolest man on television. Who doesn’t love a guy who has stolen the identity of a dead man, has been with more women than James Bond (another icon from the 60’s), can leave the office for hours, sometimes days, at a time without anyone batting an eye and who epitomizes the male definition of style from the 60’s. There’s also that 60’s hair. He looks much better as Don Draper than he did as a suspect on CSI Miami or as Tina Fey’s boyfriend on 30 Rock. By the way 30 Rock is my choice as the second best show on television.

Social Networking Sites: Don’t Use Them and Have a Real Conversation

Alright boys and girls, marketing majors and bean counters, we are back after the infamous parking debacle and here to discuss another major part of your university experience: Social networking sites.

Social networking sites are the equivalent of tiny dogs that people put sweaters on. One person said it was cute, the dog is completely embarrassed, other people are embarrassed for the dog, it’s just a destructive cycle. Dogs don’t need sweaters they have coats of fur. And we don’t need these sites; we have cell phones, meeting places and good old fashioned conversations.

What have these sites accomplished? This first thing they have done is changed the way the opposite sex communicates with each other. Awkward face to face meetings are becoming more common simply because this generation has not learned the proper communication skills to interact. Social networking sites have abolished the need and ability for people to acquire proper social skills. A person can take 2 hours to think of a witty response, while unbeknownst to the readers they really have no wit at all. Conversely, you can’t fake very much in a real conversation; you either learn to be charming, polite and witty, or you become the smile and nod type. Both work, and both are acceptable by me because they are truthful! Not full of lies and deceit like the topic at hand.

Some may say romance and dating have become easier with social networking sites. My hero Van Wilder once said “Gwen, first dates are interviews” and I couldn’t agree more. But what has it become now? You log on to read a profile and BOOM first date over. You now know their favorite movies, you know their likes and dislikes and their funny quirks like how they love dressing dogs in little sweaters…I really can’t get over how ridiculous they are.

These sites can also be detrimental to future employment. In business school most of us strive to get a job after graduation. But how are we supposed to get a job when the person hiring can simply go online and see a giant picture of you beer bonging and giving “the man” the middle finger? There are less than two degrees of separation in this city, and even if your profile is private and blocked, there is a chance the person hiring knows one of your friends and can ask to see your profile that way. Scary stuff.

Then there is the family. Why is your mom your friend? Why do you want her seeing the picture of you making out with that thing that looks like some kind of inflatable donkey? That is not good, and if she thinks it is funny, you may have bigger family issues on your plate.

Finally, this brings us to tweets and status updates. Twitter lets crazed fans stalk their favorite celebrities’ every move, tying up 911 because Perez Hilton got beat up. Then there are personal tweets by regular people. Why do I need to know you are relaxing by the pool? Are you seriously that bored you had to tweet about it? Or how about my favorite “it’s going to be a great night tonight! Whoo!” Why the “Whoo”? Simply put, guys you are going to try to hit on every girl you see. And girls, you’re going to tell every guy in the club you have a boyfriend. And then you are going to get a street vendor hot dog. Well yes that is awesome. Especially the hot dog. But guess what, instead of tweeting about it I’m there already. Three steps ahead of you.

Oh by the way, Marissa I didn’t forget to call I just lost my phone. Wait! Hold the presses, I’ve figured out one thing these sites are great for. Getting the 250 phone numbers back into my new phone! I’m going to call you all soon to have a real conversation. I promise… Look! A dog wearing a sweater, come here Fido.