To kick off Season 2 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton hosts Sam Allred, Director at Upstream Academy, a firm dedicated to guiding accounting firms to high performance. Sam loves Mondays, which is the focus of the conversation. Jeremy and Sam discuss cultivating a love for Mondays. They talk about what to do if you're struggling to find enjoyment in your work and how Sam is preparing to enjoy Mondays after his career concludes.

Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway team up for The Upstream Leader's final quarterly recap of season 1. They discuss both the difficulties and opportunities inherent in adapting to change and embracing failure. Sharing personal anecdotes from their own professional journeys, they make an unassailable case for the importance of change and failure in your own personal and professional development.

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On Episode 23 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton speaks with Randy Crabtree, co-founder and partner of Tri-Merit Speciality Tax Professionals. Randy discusses the life-changing experience that led him to shift the course of his career to align with his passions. He highlights the importance of leading with open-mindedness and enabling employees to shape work around their own passions.

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On Episode 22 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton hosts Pete Miller, Shareholder at Clark Nuber, an accounting firm in Bellevue, Washington. Pete is what Jeremy calls "an expert at becoming an expert," having established three different practices within the firm. Pete reveals that it was his passion and courage that were vital in helping him establish these initiatives within the firm and mold his career.

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On Episode 21 of The Upstream Leader, Dennis Sherrin, CEO at the Avizo Group, joins Heath Alloway. Dennis discusses how leaders can cultivate insights from their life experiences and maximize their unique strengths. He also talks about the aspects of accounting that keep him excited about the profession, the importance of soft skills, and the transformation the industry will undergo over the next several years.

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On episode 20 of The Upstream Leader, Heath Alloway discusses the importance of the debrief with U.S. Air Force and commercial pilot, Taylor Fox. Taylor explains the Air Force's approach to the debrief as a fact-finding exercise, not only to determine who was responsible for things that went wrong, but what the cause was for what went right. Through the debrief process, efficiency and accountability are increased for all involved—and even those who weren't there. The takeaways are invaluable for future mission planning, a key link to the accounting profession.

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On Episode 19 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton speaks with John Sensiba, Managing Partner of Sensiba San Filippo LLP. John discusses how his firm transitioned to a purpose driven, client-centric model through changes in compensation structure and B Corp certification. He emphasizes the impact purpose can have on retention and recruiting, and offers advice to leaders seeking to reorient their workplaces' priorities.

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On Episode 18 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway come together to discuss the podcast's first year. They look back at key insights they've gleaned from their guests, and their own work in the profession, while discussing strategies and mindsets to aid firms and accountants in forging their futures.

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On Episode 17 of The Upstream Leader, Heath Alloway talks to Katie Tolin, the CEO and owner of CPA Growth Guides, about the important role marketing professionals play within CPA firms. Katie stresses the importance for marketing professionals of finding one's own career path, treating the members of a firm like one's clients, with whom you're sharing your specialized expertise, and how to get a "seat at the table" on the firm's important marketing decisions.

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Alexandra Bond Burnett, host of the Ambition to Impact podcast, joins Jeremy Clopton on episode 16 of The Upstream Leader. A speaking and impact coach, Alexandra breaks down the elements of communication, offers advice on how to make your communication impactful through a focus on three pillars—influence, connect, and affect—and demystifies the entire concept of communication in an accessible, attainable way.

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