Our Spotlight series highlights the careers and lives of tax professionals across the globe. This week’s spotlight is on Mimi Song of CrossBorder Solutions, a firm providing technology-driven tax solutions. As Chief Economist, Song is responsible for managing client relationships and ensuring the successful completion of all work. She has a history of working in the financial services industry, having previously served as the Director & Transfer Pricing Unit Head at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and as a Vice President at Duff & Phelps.
What’s your official title and what does it mean? Chief Economist. I’m here to help everybody in the company, from our subject matter experts to our sales team, to help educate both them and our clients.
Free time: book, audiobook, or podcast? Book.
Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest? I’ve chosen to focus on transfer pricing because it gave me an opportunity to look at all different types of companies and industries. You really get to understand the underbellies of a variety of organizations and fields. Truly, no two fact patterns are the same.
What’s the last movie or show that you watched and loved (DVD, Netflix, or in the theater)? “The Queen’s Gambit.” She was a bad-ass woman who tackled a very male-dominated world, and she had to prove herself every step of the way. The character development was excellent.
What college did you attend and what did you study? I studied economics at the University of Michigan, and it was awesome. Michigan is great because of the balance of education and sports. In fact, I was there the last time we won the Rose Bowl and were declared national champions.
Go to pick-me-up: Coffee or tea? Coffee. Always. Americano, black.
What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you? You have to pay your taxes, but you don’t have to leave a tip. I continue to support that statement.
If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be? There could be several here, but I guess right now, I would be a teacher. With young kids, I have a front-row seat to the educational system, and I think it’s an area that needs more investment. I would love to be an advocate for teachers.
If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code—an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever—what would it be? ONE change? Only one? Gosh. I’d rather start from scratch.
Favorite food, snack, or candy during tax season (or other busy time)? I’m not a big snacker. I like substance, so white rice, seaweed, and kimchi. Maybe with a fried egg.
What tax news or move made the most impact on your practice or clients this past year? The implications of COVID and the guidance that came out as a result. It gives companies an idea of what types of challenges they should anticipate in the future.
If Uncle Sam handed you a big tax refund check right now, what would you do with it? Oh, what would I do with it? I would save it for a rainy day—is that boring? OK, I’d buy my parents a plane ticket to New York. We haven’t seen them since the start of the pandemic, so that’s the first thing I would do.
Find Song on LinkedIn, and on a recent episode of the Taxgirl podcast in which she talked about global minimum tax rates. Read more about Song’s company, CrossBorder Solutions, on its website.
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