Alla Volodina

 If an organization is considering to invest in equity securities, it is useful to conduct a refresher training course on key aspects of Equity Securities Analysis – the evaluation of firm from the perspective of a potential investor. Here is an overview of one-day training session that could be delivered to your organization:   Overview -           Defining investor objectives and investment horizons and ensuring they are aligned with corporate goals -           Investment vehicles including money market funds, bond funds, equity funds, balanced funds and real estate funds -           Focusing on Income funds and Growth funds – which one is right for your organization and why? -           Are markets efficient? o    Historical perspective: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2325486...

 Establishing a strong marketing plan for a small or middle size organization is an important element of overall success. It is well-known that the most effective marketing plans are built by an entire organization involving all levels of employees. Before a marketing plan exercise, it is recommended to review the basics of marketing. Below is an outline for a one-day training course that will help in achieving this goal.   Marketing performance - how to measure and why -           Importance of marketing performance measurement -           Various metrics including profit metrics and customer loyalty metrics -           Strengths and weaknesses of benchmarking -           Review of The Elements of Value – Measuring and Delivering what Consumers Really Want (Harvard University)   ht...

  Bosses shouldn’t frown when employees chat around the water cooler about their kids or extend their coffee breaks to rehash last night’s hockey game, a new study suggests. Those informal minutes spent reliving good things happening outside the office can actually help people to work more effectively, according to a new study by Charlice Hurst, assistant professor of organizational behaviour at the University of Western Ontario.  “Most managers tend to look at personal conversations among co-workers as a waste of company time,” she said. “But time spent in this way can boost people’s happiness with their job, and benefit the organization.” The study of 130 employees in a range of careers, from sales to management, measured their level of enthusiasm and positive feelings about their work after interactions with co-workers. Each day for five days they were asked what was the most positive thing they had done, whether they had shared that experience with other people at work, an...

  We explore techniques that can turn a routine interview into a positive, productive, and even transformative experience. This workshop is conducted from the interviewer perspective. PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW Understanding the role, goals and objectives of an interviewer in a specific scenario Determining and allocating responsibilities in an interview involving two or more interviewers Reviewing various personality types and learning to promptly adapt to different types SETTING THE STAGE The Trust Lens: Building rapport and establishing trust Taking a critical look at credibility – the hidden tool Becoming an active listener CONSTRUCTING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS The power of “W” questions Typical question mistakes and how to avoid them The power of follow-up and repeat/reframed questions Recognizing the interviewee’s biases and using professional skepticism when analyzing answers Taking Stock : This exercise will prompt participants to compare between their current practices an...

  Alla Volodina also advises students to refrain from multitasking since it can have a negative impact on their ability to learn. They can help the brain absorb and process information more effectively by focusing on only one subject or topic at a time. She also urges students to let go of all inhibitions and not be shy or embarrassed from asking for help to understand a topic better. Hesitating and struggling will only slow down the learning process and thus it is always better to take help when in doubt. Alla Volodina also suggests students to understand the fact that all methods do not work equally for everyone and hence it makes sense to know what methods works for them so that they can learn better by following that method, whether it is by studying in a certain manner or by eating or drinking certain things or any other way; knowing oneself will always help a student in the long run. In another of her posts,  Alla Volodina  discusses method which teachers of account...

  Self help books and other materials written by experts have always been available in plenty to help those looking for a few practical yet simple things on various issues of life. With the growing reach of the internet and its penetration to even remote corners, the concept of blogs too gained momentum and today a lot of writers, thinkers and their like have started blogs wherein they discuss and debate various issues of life in general and their interest in particular. One such blog which is highly popular amongst students as well teachers of finance, accounting and other similar subjects is that of  Alla Volodina . Being an educational expert and having years of experience in teaching students accounting and business, Alla is the perfect person to know not just the best methods to teach students but also about various methods which students can adopt to better their learning process. Her blogs are broadly written under two categories namely – study skills and teaching. Her ...

  It’s not unusual to feel nervous about your first mid-term or exam at the university level.  Many students are surprised that the level of effort required to achieve top marks in high school often translate into poor grades in university. In university, your schedule may vary widely depending on the day. You may start early in the mornings on Mondays and Wednesdays, but have night classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Whatever your schedule, it is essential to be strategic in planning your study time.  If you have a two hour gap between classes, use this time to study on campus. It will be easier to do it during the day than at night where there are more social events. Increased independence is one of the perks of being in university, but many students find it difficult to keep up-to-date with readings and assignments. Many professors will not test you every class, but simply expect that you’re keeping current with the expectations laid out in the syllabus.  Skipping ...

  Like other educational experts   Alla Volodina   also believes that teachers are the key in any educational system. It is very important to have good teachers, if we want to encourage our students for creative learning and better study skills. However, with constant working, teachers and get tired and can lose their interest in teaching. They teach students but forget to guide them about how to learn to study. In this situation, it is very important to motive teachers. Alla Volodina is discussing some important points how to motivate business and accounting teachers teaching at the high school level. Keeping up with business news and educational trends A good principle understands that how important it is to have motivated teachers. Teaching the same material several years in a row can be tiring. That is why, teachers should be encouraged to regularly update their knowledge and keep up with current business news. This will keep the teachers interested in the subject mat...

  The question of how to maximize employee productivity is an old one but new research has recently shown that many current practices do not encourage productive workplace environments. Utilizing cutting-edge research, AllaVolodina (York University) suggests an outline that could be used in a course covering latest practices on productivity. SELF-MANAGEMENT -           Timing your day – structure your day around expected peaks of high energy -           Technology: Friend or Foe? How to avoid wasting time and resources by making technology work for you -           Happiness is contagious: Why your good mood will result in more productive workforce, we explore the links between happiness and productivity based on scientific studies -           Simplifying the road map to success by turning toward...

  We receive a lot of questions from CPA candidates on how to best prepare for the CPA exams. One of our regular contributors, AllaVolodina who teaches at York University, has some helpful ideas.   Question: How do I know what to study for CPA exams / tests?   AllaVolodina (York University): I would suggest to refer to the CPA Competency Map Tool . Here you can easily find what areas to cover and in how much depth in your studying. It’s a really useful tool.   Question: Are there any areas that I should be focusing on?   AllaVolodina (York University): Yes, you should make sure that you know very well. those topics that are marked as Proficiency Level A. Indeed, you can sort by proficiency levels on the CPA Competency Map Tool site.   Question: What if I am not really strong in one area, e.g. audit or tax? Can I avoid it entirely?   AllaVolodina (York University): No, you cannot avoid it entirely. However, you can choose your ro...

  We receive a lot of questions from CPA firms on how to best prepare CPA candidates for the exams. One of our regular contributors, Alla Volodina who teaches at York University, shares her thoughts on numerous myths surround the CPA exam preparation process. Question: Would you agree that all candidates can pass the exam following the  same level of guidance  and  type of advice ? Alla Volodina (York University): A s u ccessful UFE candidate must tap directly into his/her unique strengths, which will depend on his/her personality, work experience and academic experience. It’s best if a firm has a program tailored to suit each candidate, not forcing each candidate to tailor themselves to suit one advice. Smaller size classes and ultimately, one-on-one coaching sessions, work best for this purpose. Question: Would you agree that it is unnecessary to teach candidates  how to prepare  for the exam’s technical elements? AllaVolodina (York University): Most cand...