Professor Amanda Dempsey has been lauded as one of the pioneers who shaped the accounting profession in South Africa. SAICA’s AccountancySA Magazine recently featured her as one of the people who have changed the profession, citing a passion for the industry that spurred her on to do all she could to ensure it is world class. In particular, she has been at the front of efforts to help empower individuals from poorer communities through education. In this interview, hear how Prof Dempsey has dedicated her life to using a subject that many regard as boring and, perhaps unglamorous, to uplift many South Africans – with the positive effects rippling through families. – Jackie Cameron