Leadership Mindsets for Tough Times

Bethmara Kessler is a highly sought-after speaker and instructor who engages and inspires global audiences to think differently about their work. She is the former Head of Integrated Global Services for the Campbell Soup Company. Bethmara’s career spans over 30 years in positions that include Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Audit Executive and Enterprise Risk Management Head. Her extensive experience also includes leadership roles in audit, risk management, information technology and corporate investigations in companies including EY, Avon Products, Nabisco, EMI Group, L Brands, The Fraud and Risk Advisory Group and Warner Music Group. Kessler also served as the Chair of the Board of Regents for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
 
Given her extensive business experience, Bethmara has deep knowledge and passion in a number of areas that fuel her speaking engagements. As an anti-fraud expert, she teaches audiences about the realities and risks of fraud, introducing them to creative ways to prevent, detect, investigate and respond to it. Her journey from a staff auditor through audit and compliance leader to a disruptive, transformational C-suite executive gives her a unique vantage point to teach differentiated perspectives on the topics of audit, compliance, ethics and data analytics. As a leader highly invested in helping others learn and succeed, a number of Bethmara’s most highly requested topics include leadership, career navigation, mentoring, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
 
Bethmara is a CFE and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Baruch College. The Financial Times, in partnership with OUTstanding, an LGBT network for business leaders and allies, named Bethmara to the Top 100 Leading LGBT Executives for three years. Bethmara was also recognized as one of New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ, New Jersey’s leading business journal, and one of Pennsylvania Diversity Council’s Most Powerful & Influential Women of Pennsylvania.

Education

• Baruch College 
  • BBA in Accounting

Credentials

• CPE

Organizations

• ACFE

Publications

• Fraud Magazine
• Fashioning a Fraud
• The Upstream Leader Podcast
• Great Women in Fraud Podcast

Achievements & awards

• ACFE Speaker of the Year
• Top 100 LGBT Executives 
• Most Powerful and Influential Women of Pennsylvania
• New Jersey's Best 50 Women in Business

What would you tell an accounting student today?

"Accounting is the language of business. If you stay curious and are open to exploring different opportunities, your background in accounting will open doors you never dreamed possible."

Becker fun fact

"I write music: https://open.spotify.com/track/59m7Y1pVx4DcXrACvKuhkW?si=ZctQRbhNQuCjDsOnT5W7Hw&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A1bkOWni5RM3iCj2D2nBm6U&nd=1&dlsi=6721a37bc3404710" 

Connect

• LinkedIn