Beth Kieffer Leonard has been managing partner since 2008 of Minneapolis-based accounting firm Lurie. Leonard, the first female partner, presides over a firm that was formed in the 1940s by Jewish partners whose opportunities were limited by anti-Semitism.
Q: Why did you change the name of the firm from Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Co. to Lurie last fall?
A: It was a long name. Over 75 years, the name changed multiple times. It's not about any [named] people. It's about an organization with a future.
Q: You were the first woman to make partner at Lurie. What is your history with the firm?
A: I joined the firm after two years at a national firm, a very typical progression in those days. Originally, I had no intention of remaining in public accounting. The running story is that I joined the firm smiling and haven't stopped since then. I have been with the firm 31 years and I am in my eighth year as managing partner.
Q: What are your responsibilities?
A: As managing partner, the responsibilities run the gamut from overall responsibility for running the business, client service, partner cohesiveness and succession planning, firm governance and strategy. Most important, it is making sure that we all have a ''firm-first'' point of view.
Q: How do the roots of your firm — from its Jewish history and the business climate in the 1940s — manifest themselves today?