In this first episode of our Switchbacks series, Elise sits down with her best friend and colleague, Jen Craver, to trace a career path that was anything but linear. Jen shares how she became a mom before finishing college, returned to school as a single parent, and ultimately built a thriving tax career that led to an Enrolled Agent credential and a principal-equivalent role at a national firm.

Jen opens up about the emotional weight of stepping away from the traditional CPA path, the mentors who helped her carve out a new route as an Enrolled Agent (EA), and the skills she quietly built long before she had a formal leadership title—things like time management, process design, feedback, and inclusion. Along the way, she and Elise unpack what it really looks like to grow a career while honoring family priorities and personal limits.

Whether you’re a student, an early-career professional, or a working parent wondering if you’ve “fallen behind,” Jen’s story is a powerful reminder that you can take a non-traditional route and still reach the top of the org chart.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Jen went from young mom to college grad to tax professional

• Why she chose the Enrolled Agent path instead of the traditional CPA route

• How she built leadership credibility through process improvements and internal relationships

• The time management and feedback habits that support both her clients and her family life

Tune in to hear how career “switchbacks” can lead exactly where you’re meant to go.