Future-Proof

Let’s talk about comedy and how it relates to business. In this episode, Peter Margaritis joins the podcast to talk about just that, and his new book, “Off-Script: Mastering the Art of Business Improv.” 

Improv, at its core, is about building a conversation out of what another person says instead of relying on our own agendas. In our business settings, most of us want to control the narrative to ensure ideal outcomes. We want to script the conversations, manage the problems, predict the future, and most importantly, win.

But good leaders become better leaders by doing the opposite — by letting go of control, and going off script in their conversations, negotiations, and brainstorms. This improv-inspired approach builds the mental muscles we need to be more than merely present in the meeting, but to collaborate with others in truly authentic, empathetic ways.

This might be a totally new role, but we can do it. Peter Margaritis can help us get there.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• petermargaritis.com
• Read: Off Script: Mastering the Art of Business Improv
• Read: Getting Past No: Negotiating in Difficult Situations

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

We’re going to take a closer look at augmented reality (AR), also known as mixed reality. Augmented reality combines our real world with virtual information, images, sounds, or other media that augments our experiences in the real world. There are some really interesting case studies of how AR is being used in innovative and productive ways.

Here to help us understand AR better are Dina Broydo and Rachelle Hernandez. Dina is a Manager in BDO’s Forensic Investigations and Litigation Services Practice, and Rachelle is an Experienced Senior Associate with BDO’s Digital Analytics and Automation Practice. They share how BDO is using this technology, how it’s worked for them, what they’re hearing from team members and clients, and even the role that the pandemic has played in how BDO is rolling out the technology. As the use of this technology becomes more widespread, it undoubtedly will have implications for other areas of the profession moving forward.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• bdo.com
• linkedin.com/in/thefraudgal
• linkedin.com/in/rachellehernandez
• Remote Inventory with Microsoft HoloLens 2
• The Resilience Agenda: A Framework for Recovery in the COVID-19 Economy
• 2021 Middle Market Digital Transformation Survey

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Dr. Freeman Hrabowski is the president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and he recently announced his retirement after three decades at the helm of UMBC. He will officially step down in June 2022. He's a leader in every sense of the word, particularly when it comes to educating and graduating an incredibly diverse and inclusive student body.

Joining him is Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, accounting and finance's Wonder Woman. She's former chair of the AICPA, and the Maryland Association of CPAs, and chair of way too many organizations to mention. She's a graduate of UMBC, and she and Dr. Hrabowski have quite a history.

Together, they have some interesting thoughts about the accounting profession that are going to make this a valuable conversation.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• Success is Never Final: A Message from UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski
• LinkedIn: Kimberly N. Ellison-Taylor
• Live. Learn. Lead. The Kimberly Ellison-Taylor Story | An MACPA short film
• Read: Think Again

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

We are 20 years out from 9/11, the tragic event that changed everything in the US. We all have our 9/11 stories – the things we remember most when we think back to that fateful day.

To mark the occasion, we’re going to hear from some of the leaders in the accounting and finance profession, their stories, where they were when it happened, and how the event has impacted the profession. Those leaders are:

• AICPA President and CEO, Barry Melancon
• Tom Hood, Executive Vice President of Business Growth and Engagement with the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
• Jessica McClain, Controller for Brand USA and a member of The MACPA Foundation.
• Ed Rommel, a retired CPA, a former partner with TRS CPA Group, and a former chair of the Maryland Association of CPAs’ Board of Directors.
• Tim Samuel, CFO of Bridgeway Community Church, and a member of the MACPA’s Board of Directors. 
• Lexy Kessler, a partner with Aronson, and current MACPA Board Chair.
• MACPA President and CEO, Jackie Brown

Let’s spend some time today looking back – and looking forward.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

We’ve dissected this pandemic in every way possible so far – its impact on our world, our health, our businesses, our employees, and the future of work – as well as its impact on leadership, innovation, technology, and the pace of change in general. It’s all speeding up, right?

But let’s take a closer look at how COVID-19 has impacted the world of financial planning – not only for clients and the state of their finances, but for businesses, practices, and how the profession is changing as a result of this crisis.

Lyle Benson is president and founder of L.K. Benson & Company in Baltimore, and he joined us back in the summer of 2020 to talk about some specific worries around personal finance and savings during the early days of the pandemic. Today, we’re doing a deeper dive into financial planning.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• lkbenson.com
• Read: A third of Americans say they got better with money during the pandemic
• Read: COVID has rewritten the rules on financial planning

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Lee Frederiksen is a business strategist, a behavioral psychologist, and the managing partner of a marketing firm called Hinge which caters to the professional services industry.

Lee makes the case that more professional service firms have been positively impacted by the pandemic than negatively impacted.

This crisis has been difficult for people in many ways: jobs, businesses, and even lives lost. We can talk about money all day, but, in the end, this crisis is about human beings who were here a while ago and aren’t here now. This has been a human tragedy of immense proportions.

Lee has some fantastic insights, and ones you’ll want to keep in mind, because this likely won’t be the last crisis we go through in our lives given how fast things are changing.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• hingemarketing.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leefrederiksen

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Bill Pirolli is the new chair of the American Institute of CPAs and a partner with DiSanto Priest & Co., in Warwick, Rhode Island. He gives us his take on the future of the profession, some of the things he has his eye on, and his priorities for the coming year – all of which will impact everyone in the profession.

Bill has been thinking about pipeline issues, engaging the next generation of CPAs, keeping interest in the profession strong, and making sure we’re providing tomorrow’s CPAs with the skills they need to thrive. 

That’s just one of the issues on his agenda for the coming year. He’s also thinking hard about things like diversity and inclusion, navigating the profession through a post-pandemic world, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We talk about all of that and more as we look towards the future.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• William (Bill) Pirolli, CPA/CFF/PFS, CGMA
• “The Future of Accounting Jobs in a World With Artificial Intelligence”

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Anirban Basu is chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in the great city of Baltimore, Maryland. He is one of the most popular speakers on the MACPA educational circuit, chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission, and of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee. He was named one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. When it comes to the economy, he knows what he’s talking about, so we’re going to take a quick look with him – at Maryland, United States, the COVID factor, housing, all of it – and see what he has to say.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• sagepolicy.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anirban-basu-2110335
• “Global growth to stay strong but virus the top risk”

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

We’ve discussed the .cpa domain before – a new domain that’s available exclusively to CPAs. There are many benefits involved with this domain (for both you and your clients). The domain has been out there since earlier this year, so we thought now would be a good time to take stock of where things are for people. How’s this domain working for everyone? How many people have used it? What about it has worked? What lessons have been learned? What would people do differently if they could change things? There’s been much excitement surrounding .cpa domains, but do they live up to the hype?

Chris Cromer is going to help us make sense of everything. He’s a technology expert focused on the applications, networking, infrastructure, compliance, and security for the CPA.com web properties, including CPA.com, AICPAStore.com, RIVIO.com, the CPA.com email service extension, and the .cpa domain.

We’ve had the .cpa domain for around six months, now. Chris gives us insights such as the uptake, what the popularity means for the domain itself, the benefits on offer, and more.

To keep learning, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• CPA.com
• AICPAStore.com
• RIVIO.com

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media

Lexy Kessler is the partner in charge of Aronson’s Government Contract Services Group and chair of the AICPA’s PCPS Executive Committee. As of July 1st, she is the new chair of the Maryland Association of CPAs Board of Directors. We’re going to look at her priorities this year and the trends impacting CPAs in Maryland and beyond. Of course, diversity and inclusion in the pipeline are always a focus – however, Lexy is also excited to step into what she calls “MACPA 3.0,” stepping into the opportunities for the association that look ahead, past the current leadership and structural changes.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit blionline.org/blog.

Resources:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lexykessler
• “The CPA Pipeline Report: Decoding the Decline”
• “Time commitment, relevance push people away from CPA Exam”

Future-Proof is a production of Crate Media