At the 4Front: Lessons in longevity with Fran Simpson FCCA

In this episode, we’re joined by Fran Simpson, who reflects on a 27-year career built on resilience, relationships and a willingness to say yes.   Fran shares how all she ever wanted was to be a “businesswoman” - earning her own money and making her own way in life, and how the variety of experiences throughout her career have shaped the leader she is today. She speaks openly about the power of long-term relationships, the value of networking within one firm, and how strong leadership and investment from others played a pivotal role in her success.   Fran challenges the idea of imposter syndrome, reframing it instead as simply facing experiences you haven’t had yet, and embracing the stretch that comes from being pushed beyond what you thought were your capabilities.   Drawing inspiration from the book 'Tiny Experiments', she shares how small, intentional changes transformed her productivity and leadership effectiveness. We also discuss the importance of honest feedback, how a culture of high support and high challenge has shaped her development, and why the hardest feedback to hear is often the most valuable for growth.   Fran reflects on leading through significant change - from hybrid working and evolving audit regulation to building offshore models, and why communication has never been more critical. She also shares candid thoughts on wellbeing, the blurred lines created by technology, and how younger generations increasingly value the journey and experience over traditional end goals.   Visit our ACCA Big 4 and Mid-Tier Hub for helpful resources, articles and tools to support your career journey.