At Siegfried’s 31st MY Journey® event, Rob Siegfried, CEO and Founder of The Siegfried Group, LLP (Siegfried), asked attendees to consider how history, philosophy, politics, and economics shape the way they think, lead, and pursue the lives they want most.
Broadcast to more than 1,100 professionals across Siegfried’s 19 offices nationwide, the event focused on intellectual humility: the willingness to stay open-minded and change your thinking when new evidence challenges what you believe to be true. Rob encouraged attendees to ask themselves, “Where can I evolve my thinking? Where can I grow as an individual?”
Rob also spoke about the role that limited government, free enterprise, and the rule of law have played in creating opportunity and individual freedom in the United States. He connected those ideas to personal responsibility and the courage required to live with intention.
Together, Rob and guest speaker Professor Jonathan Turley encouraged attendees to examine their assumptions, engage seriously with different points of view, and think more intentionally about the futures they want to build.
America’s founding principles and what they mean for us today
In a session focused on the foundations of American society and governance, Professor Jonathan Turley, a nationally recognized legal scholar, shared his perspective on the Constitution and the First Amendment. He argued that free speech is not simply a political principle, but a fundamental human right tied to individual freedom and expression.
Professor Turley also explored the role of rage in American history and politics, emphasizing both its power and its risks. “This country was born in rage. Rage is a part of politics. But rage can also destroy us, and it can destroy the things that define our country,” he said. “We’re living in a revolutionary time, but we’ve always been revolutionary people.”
Throughout the session, Professor Turley returned to a central idea: protecting the rights and freedoms that define America requires open debate and the willingness to engage with difficult ideas, especially in turbulent times.
Getting comfortable being uncomfortable
Following Professor Turley’s session, Rob Siegfried was joined on stage by Siegfried employees to reflect on what it takes to seek out different perspectives and recognize the blind spots that can keep people from growing.
“Because of MY Journey®, I’m able to have conversations with people about difficult topics,” said Jane Carins, a Director in Chicago. “As CPAs, it’s meaningful to have a space where we can hear different perspectives and be challenged. The topics discussed through MY Journey have been incredibly relevant in my own life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity Siegfried provides.”
That openness to being challenged doesn’t just apply to politics and current events, and Rob emphasized the courage required to resist outside pressure and not let others’ opinions define your life choices.
“Ask yourself, ‘What’s going to be very meaningful in my life?’ Then take the quiet, focused time to be more thoughtful and reflective about what you want to do and why. That’s the purpose of Siegfried’s MY Journey program.”
About Siegfried’s MY Journey® program
MY Journey® is one of the ways Siegfried invests in employee growth beyond day-to-day client work. Designed to help employees think more intentionally about leadership, personal development, and the lives they want to build, the program includes live events with guest speakers, sessions led by CEO and Founder Rob Siegfried, on-demand courses, development calls with outside experts, and other tools and resources that support continued growth. Additional information is available at siegfriedgroup.com/my-journey/.
About The Siegfried Group, LLP (Siegfried)
The Siegfried Group, LLP (Siegfried) is a national, relationship-driven professional services organization that helps CFOs and their executive teams clarify what matters most — then delivers elite financial talent to make it happen. We partner with financial executives at Fortune 1000 and other dynamic companies and provide them with a powerful combination of talent delivery, leadership advisory, and financial advisory services. Siegfried hires the best people to serve the best companies, and our people work under the direction and control of our clients to get things done better, faster, and more cost-effectively.
