Brad Preber on building a career through curiosity and service

As a student, Brad Preber was known for sitting in the front row, asking questions, and making regular visits to office hours. That curiosity and determination would become defining characteristics throughout his accomplished accounting career, ultimately leading him to serve as CEO and Chairman of Grant Thornton LLP, one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S.

Yet accounting was not part of Preber's original plan when he started at UNM.

"At the time, all the high schools had structured their curriculum around STEM majors, principally to suit the needs of Sandia and Los Alamos labs," Preber said. "Coming out of high school, I was actually looking more along the lines of getting either a math degree or a programming degree."

As a Presidential Scholar, Preber balanced academics while working to support himself, making career stability an important consideration as he planned for life after graduation. While exploring a math degree, he sought guidance from one of his instructors.

"I asked my professor, 'What kind of education do I need to be able to secure a job?'" Preber recalled. "He said a master's degree, but realistically, you're going to have to get a Ph.D. if you want to get a job. I asked how long that would take, and he said six or seven years. I knew I couldn't wait that long - I needed a job."

The professor then suggested accounting, a field that would allow him to apply his interest in math while offering a more direct path to a career after graduation.

Preber earned his BBA in accounting with honors in 1982 from the Anderson School of Management, now The James & Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership, launching a career that would eventually place him at the helm of a multibillion-dollar accounting and advisory firm.

Along the way, Preber developed a leadership philosophy rooted in service to others. That philosophy took shape during a transformative period in his life that prompted self-reflection.

"There is an author by the name of John C. Maxwell. He had a quote that I had on my desk that I referred to almost daily, 'A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,'" said Preber. "A large part of servant leadership is having a legacy of bringing others along with you and making sure that they have the tools to be successful."

Preber retired from Grant Thornton LLP in 2022 after helping guide the organization through significant growth and unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, firm revenues increased by 17% while profits surged by more than 80%.

His commitment to leadership and service has continued through numerous board appointments. Preber currently serves as an equity advisory board member of PKF O'Connor Davies, an independent advisory board member and audit committee chair for The Plaza Group, and an independent board member and governor chair of Dine Development Corp.

Reflecting on his career, Preber emphasized the importance of adaptability and character.

"A lot of success is about curiosity, resilience, and humility. No matter what you decide to pursue, you'll go through many changes in your life and career, and adapting to those changes takes resilience. Humility is what allows you to achieve success in a way that makes you proud of who you are and gives your family reason to be proud of you as well."

Since graduating from UNM, Preber has maintained a strong commitment to the university, serving as a trustee of the UNM Foundation and helping support initiatives such as the McKinnon Center and the Dean's Fund.

In recognition of his professional achievements and contributions to the community, he was inducted into the Anderson Hall of Fame in 2008.