Ep. 308: Brian Hock - Bridging the Gap Between Certification and Work
Ready to take your career to the next level? Join host Adam Larson as he chats with Brian Hock, Founder and CEO of HOCK International and expert in accounting and finance education, about what really matters when it comes to professional certifications like the CMA. Brian breaks down why earning the certificate is just the start—and why actually applying your knowledge, building communication skills, and getting involved at work are the keys to standing out (and moving up).
Whether you’re just starting out or eyeing that next big promotion, Brian shares plenty of practical advice: choosing the right certification for your goals, making the most of continuing education, and preparing for real-world workplace challenges. There’s even some straight talk about what to do when you don’t know the answer, the power of networking inside your organization, and how to set yourself up (and your team) for long-term success.
Tune in for an episode packed with career wisdom, honest stories, and actionable tips—with Brian Hock’s trademark straightforward approach making it all refreshingly clear. Don’t miss this thoughtful take on how to turn certifications into actual career wins!
Sponsor:
Today's episode is brought to you by U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank is a trusted financial partner for our clients, businesses and communities. We believe in doing the right thing and putting people first. It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute for the tenth consecutive year. From commercial credit cards and program management tools to innovative payment technologies and transportation offerings, U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems has the right solution to help your organization reduce payment costs, enhance control and streamline your entire payment processing function. We’ll partner with you to uncover your challenges and provide smart, clear and honest guidance to help you meet the financial goals for your business. Visit usbank.com/corporatepayments to learn more.
Today's episode is brought to you by U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank is a trusted financial partner for our clients, businesses and communities. We believe in doing the right thing and putting people first. It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute for the tenth consecutive year. From commercial credit cards and program management tools to innovative payment technologies and transportation offerings, U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems has the right solution to help your organization reduce payment costs, enhance control and streamline your entire payment processing function. We’ll partner with you to uncover your challenges and provide smart, clear and honest guidance to help you meet the financial goals for your business. Visit usbank.com/corporatepayments to learn more.
Creators and Guests
Guest
Brian Hock, CMA, CIA, CSCA, CRMA
Brian Hock graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with Bachelor’s degrees in Accountancy and History. He currently lives near Columbus, Ohio with his wife and three children. Brian began his accounting career in Togliatti, Russia, as an auditor for Price Waterhouse. In 1997 Brian moved to Moscow, Russia and worked in training with Price Waterhouse, ATC International, and Arthur Andersen. In 2000, Brian founded HOCK Training in Moscow, as an independent training organization and began training for the CMA, CPA, and CIA exams. In the following years, HOCK Training opened offices in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Kiev (Ukraine), and Minsk (Belarus). Through developing the CMA, CPA, and CIA courses at HOCK Training, Brian wrote study materials focusing on clear and complete explanations and examples rather than just summaries or reviews that are common in other materials. The additional details were instrumental in opening the doors to US certifications for students across Eastern Europe who did not have a strong background in US accounting terms and practices. In 2003, Brian founded HOCK international to offer these study materials to candidates worldwide who could not attend HOCK’s live-taught classes. HOCK currently provides on-line training for the CMA and CIA Exams to candidates around the world. HOCK also works with more than 50 training providers in more than 10 countries to provide training materials for their students.