Deborah E. McGee, CPA

10/15/2026

Most of us can probably remember someone who recognized our potential before we fully recognized it ourselves. I've had people challenge me, encourage me, and help me see possibilities I wasn't considering at the time. Those conversations mattered because sometimes we're so focused on doing the work directly in front of us that we don't realize someone else can already see what we may be capable of next.

As leaders, we have an opportunity to do that for someone else. When you see potential in a person, don't assume they already know it's there. Tell them what you've noticed, why you trust them with greater responsibility, or where you think their strengths could take them. Mentorship doesn't always begin with a formal program or scheduled meeting; sometimes it begins with someone taking the time to say, "I see something in you that I don't want you to overlook."

10/12/2026

There were seasons of my career when an overflowing calendar felt like proof that I was succeeding. The more meetings, responsibilities, and decisions I carried, the more productive I felt. What I eventually realized was that constant activity left very little room to think about whether I was actually spending my time where it mattered most.

Leaders need space to think just as much as we need time to execute. We need room to notice patterns, listen to our people, question assumptions, and consider what may be coming next. When every minute is consumed by whatever feels most urgent, the important things eventually receive whatever time happens to be left over. Protecting space in your calendar isn't stepping away from leadership; sometimes it's what allows you to lead with greater intention.

10/09/2026

We spend a lot of time defining success by what we can see: the position, the recognition, the growth, or the next accomplishment. My definition has changed over the years. Today, I think much more about whether the work I'm doing aligns with my values and whether the people around me are better because of how I chose to lead.

My faith has also changed the questions I ask about success. Instead of only thinking about how far I can go, I think about what I'm supposed to do with the opportunities I've been given and how I can use them to serve something beyond myself. Achievement can tell us how much we've accomplished, but purpose helps us understand why those accomplishments matter.

10/06/2026

Early in my career, I thought confident leaders were the ones who always seemed certain. Experience changed that. I've watched excellent leaders make difficult decisions while openly acknowledging what they didn't know, and I've also watched people hold tightly to a position simply because they didn't want anyone to see them reconsider it.

Leadership requires decisions, but it doesn't require pretending you have perfect information. Confidence means being willing to listen, consider what you know, make the best decision available, and adjust if circumstances change. There is a lot of strength in being able to say, "Based on what we know today, this is the direction I believe we should take," without feeling as though your credibility depends on pretending there could never be another answer.

09/29/2026

Leaders spend a lot of time asking, "What actions need to get done?" It's an important question, but I've learned to pair it with a more important one: "What do our people need in order to take those actions and succeed?" Those two questions can lead to very different conversations because what appears to be a performance problem may actually be unclear expectations, missing information, an inefficient process, or an obstacle someone hasn't felt comfortable raising.

People-first leadership doesn't mean lowering expectations or ignoring actionable results. It means recognizing that our people are often the ones who make those results possible. Before assuming someone needs to perform better, take a closer look at the environment we've created for them to work in. Sometimes enhanced performance begins with a leader asking the right questions.

09/24/2026

Starting PZI Group wasn't part of a perfectly mapped-out career plan. I had experience, knowledge, and years of building global businesses for other organizations, but doing it on your own, with your own ideas, is very different. Suddenly, there isn't an established organization funding the idea or a familiar structure around you. You need to have faith and conviction in what you are establishing to take the risk yourself.

Entrepreneurship taught me that preparation can only take you so far before action has to begin. That lesson applies far beyond starting a company. There will be opportunities you don't feel completely prepared for, conversations you're nervous about having, and decisions that arrive before you have every answer. Sometimes courage isn't reaching a point where you finally feel ready; it's realizing you know enough to take the next step and trusting yourself to learn the rest along the way.

09/21/2026

There is a misconception in leadership that changing your mind makes you look indecisive or have broken your word.

I've come to believe the opposite is true. Organizations are constantly evolving and with that comes new information that should be evaluated and can lead to a new decision. A conversation may reveal something you hadn't considered, or experience may show you that an approach isn't working the way you expected it to.

Holding onto a decision simply because you were the person who made it isn't strength. Strong leaders are willing to acknowledge when they know more today than they did yesterday and adjust accordingly. Changing direction doesn't discredit the prior decision, sometimes it means you're listening, learning, and paying enough attention to recognize when a better path has become available and having the courage to pivot the direction.

09/18/2026

At PZI Group, we like to end the week by celebrating our wins, and as I’ve reflected on this week, my time at the Tennessee SHRM Conference & Exposition is certainly one worth celebrating.

It was a privilege to take the stage for “De-Risking Global Hiring: How HR Leads EOR, Compliance, and Cost Control Without Losing the Human Element.” After years of working in global employment, that last piece continues to be one of the most important.

There is a lot to navigate when hiring across borders. The right Employer of Record partner can take on much of the administrative burden that comes with employing someone in another country, allowing HR and organizational leaders to spend more of their time focused on the relationship with the employee.

The more complex global employment becomes, the more intentional we have to be about keeping people at the center of it.

I’m grateful to for the opportunity to connect with fellow HR professionals and exchange perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping our profession. It was an experience worth celebrating as we close out the week!

09/18/2026

In meetings, often we naturally hear the individuals who are comfortable speaking first, processing out loud, or challenging an idea in front of a group, especially if you are a leader that processes information this way as well.

Over the years, I've learned to pay special attention to the people who haven't spoken, and I can tell are deliberating thinking over the problem. Some of the best insights I've encountered came from individuals who needed a little more time or a direct invitation before they were ready to share what they were thinking.

Creating that space doesn't require a complicated leadership strategy. Sometimes it means asking the individual that is a little quieter what they think and actually waiting for the answer instead of filling the silence. Silence can be a leader's best tool. Leadership isn't simply about making sure your voice is heard; it's also about recognizing whose voice may be missing from the conversation and creating an environment where people know their perspective is valued.

09/14/2026

Have you ever had a feeling that you needed to call someone, check in, or simply show up—even when you couldn’t explain why?

Recently, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to visit a client I hadn’t seen in several months. It meant four hours of driving each way, and as is probably true for most of us, there were plenty of other things competing for that time. I made the drive anyway, and once I got there, I understood why.

That experience became the inspiration for my latest blog, Making the Time Matter. It’s a reflection on listening to those quiet nudges, the importance of being present for the people around us, and why I believe our faith sometimes calls us to show up before we fully understand the reason.

Sometimes, you just have to trust the nudge and make the time.

Read the full blog here: https://hubs.la/Q04v-0BD0

Have you ever had a thought that simply would not leave you alone? Maybe you felt like you should call someone, check in on a friend, reach out to a client, or make time for a conversation. You may not have known why, but something kept nudging you to act. That happened to me recently. […]