Future-Proof Bill Sheridan of MACPA

We've spent a good amount of time discussing new technology (A.I. in particular) and what it all means for CPAs and our profession. However, amidst these discussions, we've overlooked the strategies for implementing broader changes, including new technology, ideas, mindsets, and work processes.
After browsing numerous articles, I came across a resonating approach: asking our organization, "What do we need? What problems are we trying to solve?" Then, we develop a plan, train others, and launch. This problem-focused strategy prioritizes identifying our challenges and leveraging new technologies to address them.
My guest is believes in this same approach: Will Hill, founder and owner of Will Hill Consults, a coaching and consulting firm serving the tax and accounting profession. Will emphasizes that understanding the problems we aim to solve can lead us to realize that the solution may not be what we thought (i.e. A.I.). The journey begins with identifying the problem, not the technology. Listen as we discuss the questions critical for our internal teams and clients.
Resources:
Will Hill ConsultsCalculated Research & Technology (CR-T) article, "How to Implement New Technology in Your Organization"Big Think article, "7 Essential Strategies for Adopting New Technologies"Information Week article, "4 Tips for C-Suite Leaders to Accelerate Tech Wealth", by Andy Tay

My guest this week is Dr. Britt Andreatta, who has been a guest of this podcast before (check out ep. 163). Dr. Andreatta is a internationally-recognized thought leader and author who creates brain science-based solutions for today's challenges. Her most recent book is called, "Wired to Become: The Brain Science of Finding Your Purpose, Creating Meaningful Work, and Achieving Your Potential".
Her work relates directly to the "why" behind accounting - our purpose as CPAs. When it comes to the talent shortage, we believe connecting students and young professionals to that purpose will help grow our profession and secure our future. By re-centering on our core values and making our work engaging and meaningful, we can attract individuals who are eager to make a real difference.
Join me in a conversation with Dr. Andreatta, an expert in the research on the significance of discovering one's purpose. We'll explore how our profession stands to gain from a renewed emphasis on the purpose behind our work.
Resources
Britt Andreatta website"Wired to Become: The Brain Science of Finding Your Purpose, Creating Meaningful Work, and Achieving Your Potential" by Britt AndreattaCPA Practice Advisory article, "Where Have All The Accountants Gone?" by Garrett Wagner

We've had some great conversations recently about A.I.; what it means for our profession and how to integrate it into our work. This week, I talk to Jason Staats, who has been on the leading edge of A.I. and has a wealth of knowledge to share with CPAs about this new technology.
Jason's main message about A.I. is that as groundbreaking and game-changing as A.I. is, it doesn't necessarily mean our profession will change radically at it's core. A.I. is a tool we can use in service of what our profession is charged to do.
CPAs do what we're trained to do - that will not change. What we do need to do is ramp up our curiosity about these new tools and how they will allow us to better serve our customers. Instead of trying to force A.I into every aspect of our work, a better approach comes by asking what problem we are trying to solve and how at all can A.I. can help.
Resources:
CPA Australian article, "Generative AI in business: how to navigate the ethics" by Susan MuldowneyJason Staats LinkedIn ProfileJason Daily PodcastJason Daily YouTube Channel

In this episode, we welcome another longtime friend of MACPA, leadership expert and author of the new book, "This is NOT a Leadership Book: 20 Rules for Success", Emmanuel Gobillot. Emmanuel has been my go to source for all things leadership for many years. I speak to him about leadership as it relates to recruitment and retention, which is top of mind for everyone these days. Where do we find new CPAs? How can we get students interested in accounting again?
It's important for leaders to express why our profession is important and why our work matters - that "why" is what is going to get young people excited about a future career in accounting. The focus of many employees entering the workforce is their role in society, their purpose, and finding institutions that match their outlook. Those in leadership need to personify that "why" and start changing the narrative about this profession. Begin by understanding your organization's higher purpose; it should be aspirational and authentic.
Emmanuel spends a lot of time in his latest book speaking to authenticity, why it actually might be overrated UNLESS it's inline with your intent, your purpose, and the needs of your team. Listen in as we dive deep into his 20 rules to success and more.
Resources:
Emmanuel Gobillot website | LinkedIn | XThis is NOT a Leadership Book, by Emmanuel GobillotForbes article, How To Attract And Retain Top Executive Talent Through Purpose, by Karen Greenbaum

We're once again joined by Pascal Finnette, co-founder and chief heretic of be radical. Be radical is a guiding force for organizations seeking to restructure in anticipation of future challenges, and it inspires individuals to evolve into leaders prepared for the demands of tomorrow's world. I've engaged in numerous discussions with Pascal about shifting mindsets and embracing disruption. In this episode, we delve deeper into the realm of artificial intelligence, seamlessly continuing our exploration from the previous episode featuring Don Tomoff on how CPAs can initiate their journey with A.I.
Pascal recently delivered a thought-provoking address at the digital CPA conference, asserting, "Companies and individuals leveraging A.I. won't just outperform those who refrain from its use; they will exponentially surpass them." Similar sentiments have echoed lately, urging us to harness the power of A.I. to our professional advantage. The expectations surrounding the transformative impact of this technology on our work, lives, and the world are immense.
While most c-suite executives anticipate cost savings this year through A.I.'s contributions to increased productivity, streamlined operations, improved customer service, and enhanced I.T., it's essential to recognize that A.I. cannot entirely replace human expertise in addressing the intricacies of tax and financial assessment problems. Many of the cutting-edge technologies developed by vendors are still works in progress.
Despite ongoing refinement needs, the utilization and potential of A.I. are experiencing rapid growth, making it an undeniable game changer. In my conversation with Pascal, we explore how A.I. has already reshaped our work and lifestyles. We discuss the challenge of regulating A.I., the first steps CPAs should consider when integrating A.I. into their business, and focus on what isn't going to change.
Resources:
Pascal Finette websitebe radical. websiteBoston Consulting Group article, "From Potential to Profit with GenAI" by Jessica Apotheker, Sylvain Duranton, Vladimir Lukic, Nicolas de Bellefonds, Sesh Iyer, Olivier Bouffault, and Romain de LaubierZDNet article, "Using ChatGPT for Accounting? You May Want to Think Again" by Rajiv Rao

It's great time to talk about A.I. - the 1 year anniversary of ChatGPT just passed which set this whole artificial intelligence ride in motion. While A.I. has been around since the 1950s, it's exponential growth is really marked this past year both with the release of ChatGPT and Google's announcement of their own A.I. model, Gemini. Not long after, lawmakers in the European Union approved the A.I. Act which sets a new global benchmark for countries seeking to harness the benefits of A.I. while trying to protect against it's possible risks such as automating jobs, speaking misinformation, and endangering national security.
While I was at the 2023 Digital CPA Conference, I gained some great tips from sources about how A.I. "newbies" can get started in meaningful and productive ways. Here are some simple steps from keynote speaker, Pascal Finette:
Learn about it - simple enough but important to fill the gap between what we know and what we should know (listening to this episode is a great start)Start small and build projects quickly - learn firsthand what is possible with this technologyApply your experience to larger projects - use those smaller projects to inform what you can do with larger projects (crawl. walk. run.)
Another step-by-step resource to get you started is the "Generative A.I. Toolkit" for CPAs, recently released by CPA.com, which includes 7 steps for building your A.I. strategy:
Experiment Focus on the near term Consider client expectations Research what solution providers are buildingDefine acceptable usePut the technology's best feature to workEnsure that humans maintain a key role in the process
These tips are a great foundation for our episode this week as I speak with Don Tomoff, Director at Invenio Advisors, LLC and longtime friend of MACPA. Don shares his wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of A.I. and explains which steps CPAs should take right from the outset.
Resources
Wired article, "Google’s Gemini Is the Real Start of the Generative AI Boom" by Will KnightGenerative A.I. Toolkit from CPA.comDon Tomoff, LinkedIn Profile