How does a shy kid from the DMV who hid behind his parents’ legs grow up to lead one of the most influential accounting organizations in the country? In this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, we sit down with Calvin Harris Jr., CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA).

Calvin shares his incredible journey of resilience, starting with a challenging college experience where he lost his scholarship and faced homelessness, forcing him to work at a moving company while his friends were in class. He opens up about how he fought his way back to Morehouse College, his rise through the ranks at Arthur Andersen, and the "acting" roles that taught him to lead before he had the title. We also discuss his pivotal time as CFO of the National Urban League, his passion for running marathons, and how he is redefining what a CPA looks like—tattoos, band t-shirts, and all—on social media.

Calvin Harris Jr., CPA is Chief Executive Officer of NY CPA (the New York State Society of CPAs). He is a results-driven C-Suite professional with over three decades of successful management and leadership experience. Recognized, in multiple years, as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential in Accounting”, Calvin has worked with organizations as diverse as the National Urban League, United Nations Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Legal Services Corporation, NeighborWorks America, the State of Maryland, and numerous start-up organizations. An expert in accounting, business, and leadership, Calvin has been quoted and/or interviewed by media such as: The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, CFO Magazine, Black Enterprise, Accounting Today, Ebony, Reader's Digest, US News & World Report, Baltimore Business Journal, and AMEX Open Forum. Calvin is a CPA, licensed in New York and Maryland. 

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Key Takeaways:

• From Shy Kid to Go-Go Band: Calvin discusses his introverted childhood in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and how joining a high school Go-Go band helped him find his confidence (and cover pizza money!).

• Resilience in the Face of Homelessness: A powerful story about losing his college scholarship and facing housing insecurity, which led to a humbling year working at a moving company before fighting his way back to Morehouse.

• Perform for the Job You Want: Calvin shares the best career advice he ever received: Don't just do the job you have; start doing the work of the role you want before you get the promotion.

• The "Acting" Executive: How stepping into interim leadership roles at Morgan State and NeighborhoodWorks taught him to stop treating colleagues like peers and start leading like a boss.

• Redefining the CPA: Why Calvin uses social media to show his full self—marathons, tattoos, and Basquiat shirts included—to inspire the next generation of accountants.

Calvin’s story is a reminder that your career is a marathon, not a sprint, and that sometimes you have to lose your footing to find your stride. If this episode moved you, please rate, review, and share it with a friend!

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

The Cool CPA: 5 Lessons on Resilience and Leadership from Calvin Harris Jr.

When you think of a CPA, you might picture a pocket protector and a calculator. You probably don't picture a 6'4" man with tattoos, a love for Go-Go music, and a collection of marathon medals.

But Calvin Harris Jr. is not your typical accountant. As the CEO of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA), he is redefining what leadership looks like in the profession.

In this week’s episode of No Boxes, Just Verses, Calvin took us from his roots in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) to the C-Suite in Manhattan. His journey wasn't a straight line—it was a hustle.

Here are five powerful lessons on resilience, career growth, and authenticity from the Cool CPA.

1. When You Hit Rock Bottom, Keep Your Head Up

Calvin’s success wasn't guaranteed. In fact, after his freshman year at Morehouse College, he lost his scholarship and his family faced severe financial challenges, leading to homelessness. He went from sleeping in a dorm room to sleeping in a shelter in the span of 24 hours.

He spent the next year working at a moving company, watching his friends go back to school without him. It would have been easy to give up, but he had people in his corner—his father and mentors—who fought to get him back in the classroom. Calvin’s story is a reminder that a setback is not a failure. As Tupac said in one of Calvin's playlist picks, you have to "Keep Ya Head Up".

2. Audition for the Job You Want

One of the best pieces of career advice Calvin ever received came from a mentor at Arthur Andersen. He was told: "Always be performing in the job you want, not the job that you have".

If you only do exactly what is in your job description, you aren't proving you can handle the next level. By doing the work of the role above him before he had the title, Calvin made the decision easy for leadership when it came time for promotions.

3. Stop "Acting" and Start Leading

Calvin’s career was accelerated by stepping into interim or acting roles—positions he didn't always feel ready for. When he became the interim CFO at NeighborWorks America, he struggled at first because he was still treating his team like peers and friends rather than direct reports.

A colleague pulled him aside and told him, "You need to act like my boss... be who you are". That advice clicked. He realized that even if a role is temporary, your leadership must be real. Once he embraced the authority of the position, he thrived.

4. Be Your Authentic Self (Tattoos and All)

Calvin admits that he is the second person of color to ever hold his role, and he feels a responsibility to show up authentically. He doesn’t hide who he is—he shares his tattoos, wears graphic tees, and posts about his running journey on social media.

He realized that trying to fit into a box of what an accountant should look like was limiting. By being the Cool CPA, he is inspiring a younger generation of professionals to see themselves in the industry.

5. Expand Your Options

Today, Calvin is fighting to make the accounting profession more accessible. He championed a new law in New York that gives future CPAs more flexibility in how they get licensed, moving away from the rigid 150-hour education requirement that creates barriers for many minority students.

He believes that more options are good, whether that is in your career path or your education. Just because there is a standard way of doing things doesn't mean it’s the only way.

Conclusion

From a shy kid playing saxophone in a Go-Go band to a CEO with an "Empire State of Mind," Calvin Harris Jr. proves that you don't have to fit in a box to lead. His life is a testament to the fact that hustle, resilience, and a little bit of swagger can take you anywhere.