🎧 Listen to the full FEI Podcast episode: https://feipodcast.fireside.fm/179
This special podcast series features speakers from Financial Executives International’s upcoming ICONS: Leaders in Finance event on March 25, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, where financial leaders gather to share insights on leadership, innovation, and the future of finance.
Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready
Jolla’s early career was defined by a willingness to embrace opportunities – even when they were uncomfortable. After graduating from Louisiana State University during a difficult job market, she accepted her first professional role in West Virginia, far from home.
The experience, while challenging, became a turning point.
“Sometimes the opportunities that stretch you the most are the ones that accelerate your career,” Jolla explains, recalling advice from a mentor who warned her that saying “no” too often could limit future opportunities.
That mindset ultimately led to career-defining moments – including earning her CPA, participating in an international project, completing a fellowship with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and eventually joining Microsoft.
Know Your Value and Advocate for It
One pivotal moment came near the end of Jolla’s FASB fellowship, when she realized her market value had grown significantly.
Instead of simply returning to her previous role, she reached out to a former manager – who had since moved to Microsoft – and explored new possibilities.
That conversation led to a new chapter. Nearly two decades later, Jolla now serves as Microsoft’s Chief Accounting Officer.
Her advice for financial leaders navigating career transitions: understand your value and advocate for it.
Leadership Requires Scaling Through Others
As finance professionals move into more senior roles, Jolla emphasizes that the skills required for success evolve.
“You can’t scale individually,” she explains. “You can only scale through others.”
Developing teams, empowering colleagues, and learning to delegate become essential capabilities for leaders responsible for increasingly complex organizations.
In highly matrixed companies, she notes, relationships also become critical to getting things done.
Relationships Are Career Multipliers
Throughout the conversation, Jolla repeatedly returns to the importance of investing in relationships early – and consistently.
Successful leadership, she says, often depends on the strength of those connections.
“If you expect to get something from the party,” she says, “you should always bring something to the party.”
For Jolla, maintaining meaningful relationships – rather than simply expanding a large network – has been one of the keys to sustaining a long and impactful career.
A Legacy of Leaving Things Better
When asked what she hopes her legacy will be, Jolla’s answer is simple:
“I hope people say I left things better than I found them.”
That mindset – combined with preparation, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new challenges – continues to guide her leadership today.
This episode is part of FEI’s special ICONS podcast series featuring leaders from the ICONS: Leaders in Finance event. Join us on March 25, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel to hear directly from distinguished financial leaders shaping the future of finance.
Learn more about the upcoming ICONS: Leaders in Finance event here:
https://www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026
🎧 Listen to the full conversation here: https://feipodcast.fireside.fm/179