The end of 2025 marks an exciting milestone for TEI and the global in-house tax community: the successful conclusion of TEI’s inaugural 2025 Tax Leadership Academy. What began as an ambitious vision has now become a transformative leadership journey—one that has equipped the next generation of tax leaders with the confidence, capability, and strategic insight needed to shape the future of the profession. The academy launched in March at TEI’s Midyear Conference, bringing together emerging leaders ready to refine their strategic thinking, elevate their influence, and strengthen their leadership capabilities. Over the next eight months, participants engaged in a blended learning experience that combined in-person sessions, virtual workshops, peer collaboration, and real-world leadership challenges.
Concluding at the Institute’s Annual Conference in San Francisco in late October, the academy brought together rising tax leaders for a structured curriculum combining leadership training, peer collaboration, and real-world application. The program culminated in a Capstone Business Case, where participants presented solutions to a panel of judges, demonstrating the analytical rigor and executive-level thinking the academy aims to cultivate.
TEI proudly congratulates the thirteen exceptional leaders who completed the academy. Their dedication throughout the year reflects personal commitment and the profession’s growing need for strategic, people-centered tax leadership. We are proud to recognize graduates Malinda Barends, Brent Beckman, Joao Braga, Karoll Gagnon, Betty Mak, Arianna Piech, Tiffany Rhone, Aneta Skrzypczak, Tracy Ford, James Stonehocker, Chiquita Edwards, Annie Pan, and Reginald Butler.
The inaugural academy would not have been possible without the dedication, expertise, and vision of many individuals across the TEI community. A heartfelt thank-you to our academy instructors and steering committee members—Paul Magrath, Louis Mestier, and co-chairs, Lionel Nobre and Josephine Scalia—whose leadership shaped the structure and success of this new program. The Institute also thanks the many mentors, who generously shared their experience and insights with participants, and the TEI staff, whose hard work brought the academy to life. This program truly represents a collective effort—one that demonstrates the strength and spirit of TEI’s global network.
With strong demand and positive participant feedback, TEI has opened enrollment for the 2026 Tax Leadership Academy, set to launch March 14, at TEI’s Washington, DC, office, in conjunction with the 2026 Midyear Conference. Learn more and apply at tei.org/tla.
