In 1995 Canadian native Maria Messina achieved one of the most sought-after career goals in the public accounting profession when she was promoted to partner with Deloitte & Touch, Chartered Accountants, the Canadian affiliate of the U.S. based Deloitte & Touch, LLP. In an interview she granted to an accounting trade publication shortly after receiving that promotion Ms. Messina noted that Becoming a partner is exciting because you are a part of everything. Messina’s promotion earned her the respect and admiration of her family, her friends, and her colleagues and catapulted her to a much higher tax bracket and a more comfortable standard of living. But another opportunity soon arose, an opportunity that promised even more intrinsic rewards for Messina.