Celebrations, Reflections & More
Welcome Back to the I&D Board, Kinman Tong!
We’re celebrating Kinman Tong's leadership and looking ahead at what’s to come in his two-year tenure as co-chair of the Inclusion & Diversity board.
When Tasha Repp concluded her tenure as co-chair of the Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) board, partner Kinman Tong stepped in. In addition to his responsibilities to his clients, Kinman now leads and drives strategy in collaboration with the I&D board to bring Moss Adams closer to our goal of being an anti-racist firm.
and do this work.”
Kinman has been ambitious since joining Moss Adams in 2008, and he’s excited to bring that energy to his two-year collaboration with CEO Eric Miles, who also serves as chair of the board.
“We want to turn up the dial,” Kinman explained. “Eric and I will collaborate with firm leaders to make Moss Adams more inclusive not just within our firm but within our profession, with our clients and market industries, and in the communities where we live and work. That’s the next phase of our I&D journey.”
Personal Reformation
Before beginning his tenure as I&D co-chair in February 2024, Kinman had already demonstrated leadership within his community. As of May 2024, he’s also vice chair of the AICPA LGBTQ+ Initiative Committee, treasurer and board member for Asian Health Services, a member of the CalCPA Commission on Belonging, and board member for Aurora Theatre Company. Kinman also joined the I&D board at Moss Adams in 2020, though his term ended one year before his new role as co-chair.
When asked about his busy schedule, he laughs.
“As a partner working in not-for-profit, education, and health care industries, I support clients who are working toward equity in education and access to healthcare. There are many synergies between my social values and the organizations I represent at work and in my free time,” Kinman said.
Kinman’s personal experiences inspire his enthusiasm for intersectionality. He immigrated from Malaysia to the United States in 1999 to continue his education, but he’d already felt the pressure of balancing his role as the first-born male in a conservative, religious Chinese family.
“Culturally, there’s a lack of LGBTQ+ acceptance in Malaysia,” Kinman said. “Who I am and what I stand for has been a major part of my journey to accept myself, and having people around me who support and welcome me has been key.”
Courageous Revolution
Finding a welcoming community hasn’t always been easy. Kinman remembers the office party that inspired his passion for belonging, where he and his partner Patrick were mocked for being themselves. The two of them were enjoying the holiday event with Kinman’s colleagues when Patrick pulled him aside to say he didn’t want to dance anymore.
Kinman recalled, “Patrick said we should stop because people were making fun of and mimicking us. He was uncomfortable, which frustrated me because this was where I worked. I was a leader in this place and brought him here.”
That’s when Kinman shared his experience with his colleagues, including Thomas Zambito, initiating a chain of events that culminated in the launch of the first chapter of the Pride business resource group (BRG).
“These days, I’m blown away by what the BRG has become,” Kinman said. “People at all levels are learning through the BRG’s work. I’ve met with transgender students who have expressed how they could see themselves working at Moss Adams. We’ve created a safe space; whenever I hear those stories, it’s full circle for me.”
An Agent of Change
Kinman anticipates bringing his tenacity to his two-year tenure as I&D co-chair to further the firm’s culture of belonging, which includes being more intentional about the role inclusive hiring will play in addressing the existing student pipeline crisis.
He explains, “Many underrepresented students don’t have exposure to this profession because there’s a high cost of entry, which creates the perception that it’s not accessible. Moss Adams and other organizations are building infrastructure that addresses those barriers to grow our practice. Our firm is already working on reaching out to students earlier.”
Kinman is thrilled to collaborate with the I&D board and executive leadership to confront barriers for the next generation of talent to advance within the accounting industry, and he sees intersectionality as an essential part of that work.
“I’ve helped support many of the firm’s BRGs in their launch because I see the value in each one,” Kinman said. “Intersectionality allows us to help those most disadvantaged because they have multiple identities that act as barriers in our industry. I love questioning the status quo and doing what I can to create access points for emerging leaders to find their way.”
Though he acknowledges a downward shift in momentum across the business world in the four years since the 2020 racial justice protests, Kinman remains as enthusiastic as ever about the importance of I&D initiatives and their impact on our society.
Kinman concludes, “There has been a lot of recent pushback, but Moss Adams is not falling back or softening our stance. This is still the right thing to do.”
Good luck, Kinman. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish.
Inclusion and Diversity at Moss Adams
Moss Adams is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture where everyone feels like they belong. This means investing in opportunities for our people to find community and mentorship to support their professional development at our firm and beyond.
Learn more about our progress on our Inclusion & Diversity page.
Go Beyond the Desk
At Moss Adams, we believe in the power of possible to empower our clients and people to pursue success however they define it. Explore stories about our professionals, including their personal achievements, at our Beyond the Desk page.