Sara Webber Laczo is the Chief Communications Officer at RSM US LLP, an audit, tax, and consulting firm focused on the middle market in the United States and Canada and a member of the global accounting network RSM International. In her role, she plans and directs the firm's overall communications strategy including internal communications, executive communications, public relations, corporate social responsibility and thought leadership. Sara also serves as an executive sponsor of RSM’s premier development program focused on positioning senior analysts to understand, forecast, and communicate economic, business, and technology trends shaping the industries the firm serves. Launched in 2018, the Industry Eminence Program is led by RSM US LLP Chief Economist Joe Brusuelas and Deputy Chief Economist Kevin Depew.
“Delivered over three years, this is an innovative program, grounded in experience, that educates the next generation of industry thought leaders—a select cohort who are able to advise our clients and educate people in the firm,” explains Sara.
An important aspect of this program is elevating how analysts talk about and implement business strategy with clients. As Sara and her colleagues were building the program curriculum, they began to look outside their organization for executive education that would supplement this objective.
“We investigated numerous options available to us, but what stood out about MIT Sloan Executive Education was their very robust and highly differentiated way of coupling technology with general business strategy. Technology is reshaping every industry, and of course we cover that in our curriculum. But we felt that the Strategy and Innovation Certificate from MIT was truly unique.”
"We wanted to collaborate with a top tier, world-renowned brand. We felt that the opportunity to attend a highly significant school of learning would be compelling for our people, and that has proven to be true."
RSM leaders attend MIT Sloan Executive Education courses in their third and final year of the Industry Eminence Program, earning a Strategy and Innovation certificate as a result. The RSM team collaborates with MIT each year to select a core set of courses for participants to complete.
“We structure the courses in such a way that participants can attend some with their cohort, to build a common language. And we maintain some course consistency from year to year as well. But we also ensure that each participant has some degree of choice, so they can dig into the topics that are most meaningful to them. We have found MIT to be excellent partners in this journey. They are genuinely interested in hearing our feedback and invested in the success of the program.”
Not only is Sara helping to lead the Eminence program, but she is currently a participant—and on her way to completing her own Strategy and Innovation Certificate from MIT Sloan. “The frameworks for thinking about digitization from a strategic perspective have been very compelling. And it was refreshing and energizing to re-engage in an academic environment.”
Since COVID, program participants have attended their MIT courses virtually. Sara and her colleagues are excited to get back on campus and to be able to offer a mix of virtual and in-person learning opportunities.
“We wanted to collaborate with a top tier, world-renowned brand. We felt that the opportunity to attend a highly significant school of learning would be compelling for our people, and that has proven to be true. The MIT reputation is a key element, as is that sense of completion certification provides. When our participants post their MIT Sloan certificates on LinkedIn, they receive a rush of responses. It has proven to have meaning, inside and outside the firm.”
Sara adds that, once upon a time, people in her industry thought of technology as a solution to a problem. “Now we understand that technology alone can’t solve anything. RSM is on a path of transformation—from an audit, tax and consulting firm that leverages technology to a digital firm that provides these services. And the knowledge participants gain from MIT is an important part of that transformation.”
Learn More about Enterprise Accounts
Companies from around the world send their executives and senior managers to MIT Sloan Executive Education for powerful business insights and practical, hands-on learning. Teams attending a program together develop a shared language and apply their learnings with greater impact in their organizations. And, organizations sending more than 20 participants per year can benefit from a special discount through an Enterprise Account agreement. Learn more.