We’re continuing our Cohort Spotlight series for the Women’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship, sitting down with the women who make this program what it is.
Next up is Mary Barton, a Detroit-based CPA and founder of Equitable Accounting Solutions who’s made it her mission to serve women- and minority-owned businesses. We sat down with Mary to talk about building a firm with equity at its core, what she’s learned over 20 years in the industry, and her experience in the fellowship.
We covered it all in a Q&A and on an episode of the Happy Hour Hustle podcast.
Here’s what Mary had to say in our Q&A:
Q: What do you wish people understood about being a small business owner?
A: From my perspective, I wish people understood that being a small business owner means carrying both the freedom and the weight of building something from nothing. The wins often look effortless from the outside, but behind every milestone are long nights, personal risk, and constant decision-making. Small business owners are always balancing impact with survival—trying to serve their communities while keeping the business healthy enough to grow. It can be lonely, it can be heavy, and much of the labor is unseen, but we do it because we believe in the work and in the people we serve. Our businesses create opportunity, stability, and pathways for others, and that purpose is what keeps us moving forward.
Q: Why did you apply to be a part of the Fellowship?
A: I applied to be part of WEF because I wanted to grow alongside other women who are building with purpose, grit, and vision. As a small business owner, I’m often focused on supporting clients, my team, and my community—but opportunities to invest in my own leadership and development can be rare. WEF offered a space to learn, stretch, and be challenged, while also connecting with women who understand the realities of entrepreneurship. I joined because I knew the fellowship would help me strengthen my business, refine my strategy, and expand my impact—while being surrounded by a network of peers who inspire me to keep growing.
Q: What makes your business unique?
A: What makes my business unique is the level of care, clarity, and partnership we bring to small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses. We don’t just prepare numbers—we help business owners understand them so they can make confident decisions and build sustainable growth. As a boutique CPA firm, we combine technical excellence with a deeply personal, community-centered approach. Our clients receive high-level advisory, education, and hands-on support that many small businesses rarely have access to. We meet people where they are, simplify complex financial systems, and create structures that strengthen their long-term success. Our work isn’t just accounting—it’s relationship-building, problem-solving, and helping entrepreneurs thrive.
For the latest updates from Equitable Accounting Solutions, you can check out their Facebook page. Keep up with Mary on her LinkedIn.