FLP, the Finance Leadership Podcast

"It is very important to use that (strong) language. It's such a competitive arena out there. Why give anyone a reason to NOT buy what you are selling?" GBD58. Julie Holunga is a leadership trainer, speaker and coach who works with CPAs, attorneys and other professional women. She tells Jennifer Gardner of AICPA & CIMA(Durham, USA) about the way we're perceived by others. They unpick how communication is not simply the way we speak but the way we 'show up', how we present ourselves at meetings and in our interactions with others.   WE DISCUSS: how what you say can influence your 'brand', identifying the weak words that undermine the way you're perceived by colleagues and clients, choosing leadership language that helps - not hinders - your career progression, and changing the words that you didn't realise could be holding you back.   OUR GUEST Julie Holunga is an executive leadership coach who trains and develops corporate women, primarily in the legal, accounting, technology, and professional services fields, who are striving to bring direction, focus, leadership and impact to their careers.  Julie started her career working at Harvard University in the Capital Gifts group. She has built relationships with leaders at Wall Street firms leading the efforts to advance women into positions of leadership. Certified as an associate through Emergenetics, Julie spent seven of her formative years living and attending school in France, India, and Hong Kong. Connect with her on Linkedin here.   LINKS. JustNotSorry is a Chrome Extension for Gmail will warn you when you use phrases that might be undermining your message.   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. These conversations with expert guests are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Hear more. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Skill Up. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect. #GoBeyondDisruption  @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2019 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"Are you looking for incremental improvement, or are you REALLY trying to become a future-oriented organisation?".  GBD57. Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, Durham USA) talks digital disruption with CPA Technologist David Cieslak aka "Inspector Gadget". Frequently recognised as one of the top 100 most influential figures in the industry, David recently presented a session at the AICPA's CFO 2019 Conference in Chicago. Here, he outlines the drivers of change in today's digital world.   WE DISCUSS: How the finance function is changing. The price of digital illiteracy. The mindsets that will help us survive in the digital world. What other skills will finance professionals need beyond just the tech? How do we create our vision for 2025?    OUR GUEST: David Cieslak is Chief Cloud Officer and EVP with RKL eSolutions, a leading business process automation consulting firm with offices across the US. In his role, he is responsible for helping companies grow strategically with cloud-based solutions and industry-specific service expertise for ERP, CPM, CRM, AP Automation, and other critical business processes.  He is a frequent speaker for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA) and other state accounting societies as his alter ego “Inspector Gadget.” He is a SAGE Intacct Certified Consultant and holds the GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC). He is the past Chair of the AICPA IT Executive Committee and past president of the California CPA Education Foundation. Awards include Accounting Today's "Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting" (2001, 2002, 2005 – 2018) and CPA Technology Advisor's "Top 25 Thought Leader" (2011-2018). Connect with him here  or on Twitter.   LINKS: Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. David Cieslak is EVP of RKL eSolutions.    MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. These conversations with expert guests are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Hear more. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Skill Up. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect. #GoBeyondDisruption  @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2019 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"For CPAs who know about the space already, you've already got the trusted advantage. Now all you need is the blockchain knowledge". GBD56. "TheBitCoinCPA" himself, Kirk Phillips, joins the AICPA & CIMAs's Kyle Hannan to share his passionate interest in how blockchain will transform accounting. Kirk has a niche consulting practice in the crypto blockchain space in addition to pioneering many other projects. He authored the Ultimate Bitcoin Business Guide, The AICPA’s Blockchain Fundamentals program, shares his expertise as a tech blogger, and contributes to yBitcoin Magazine and Coindesk.    WE DISCUSS: The trust premium Understanding risk and recognising reward. The crypto myths that need shattering. Thoughts on the recent crypto bear market. Dealing with the naysayers   OUR GUEST: Bitcoin-super-user and entrepreneur, Kirk Phillips (CPA, CMA, CFE & CPB) is based in Philadelphia in the USA. As an author and educator, he's also an ICO advisor with a deep understanding of blockchain and cryptocurrency. He has recently produced the "Ultimate Bitcoin Business Guide: For Entrepreneurs & Business Advisors" Follow him on social media using @TheBitCoinCPA and on LinkedIn here.   LINKS: Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Discover more about TheBitCoinCPA.   CONNECT: Share on social using these suggested links and hashtags.  #GoBeyondDisruption #Podcast  @AICPANews @CIMA_News   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. These conversations with our expert guests are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Hear more. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Skill Up. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect. #GoBeyondDisruption  @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"We operate better when we engage. Look up, meet the people and understand the human being behind things". GBD55. As the AICPA & CIMA CFO Conference begins in Chicago, we talk to the Group Chief CFO of Bowmans Law, Jo-Ann Pohl. A qualified chartered accountant and professional banker (PBSA), in 2014 she was named by Euromoney as one of Africa’s top 20 rising stars. Jo-Ann is part of the 2013 South Africa Boss of the Year alumni and member of the African Leadership Network (ALN).    WE DISCUSS: The growing role of women in corporate and finance positions across fast-developing economies in Africa and beyond. Going beyond the IT: from EQ to MQ - the 'meaningfulness quotient' Practical tips for successful implementation of RPA in corporate finance. The maths of accumulated impact: Creating the “little monsters, the ‘little dominoes that can topple the empire state”. African proverbs and the 5 truths at the heart of what makes us better leaders, better colleagues, better role models, and better business-people.    OUR GUEST: Jo-Ann Pohl has held several CFO, Executive, and Non-exec Director roles in the banking and investment world. These include C-suite positions at Telesure Investment Holdings, Standard Chartered Bank Africa and a senior role heading up the Finance and Shared Services team for Barclays Africa and the Middle East. Her work with start-ups and global corporates has built pivotal expertise in change management, leadership and strategic direction, governance, oversight and external stakeholder management. Jo-Ann also chairs the Board of the Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa, is a member of the 30% Club Southern Africa Steerco, adjudicates the Technology Top 100 (TT100) and Accenture Innovation Index and Gender Mainstreaming Awards. In addition, she counsels cancer patients and mentors young entrepreneurs and women in business. Connect with Jo-Ann via LinkedIn here.   LINKS: Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. Participate in the 2019 AICPA Women's Global Leadership Summit this November — and experience the support of your women colleagues along the way.   CONNECT: Share on social using these suggested links and hashtags.  #GoBeyondDisruption #Podcast  #AICPAWomenLead  @AICPANews @CIMA_News   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. These conversations with our expert guests are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Hear more. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Skill Up. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect. #GoBeyondDisruption  @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"What is driving change in our profession? The fuel is TECHNOLOGY".  GBD54. We sat down recently at AICPA & CIMA's London Office with Jim Bourke, CPA, CITP, CFF, CGMA, and Managing Director of Advisory Services for US-based WithumSmith+Brown. Visiting the UK on a speaking tour, Jim's passion for the profession is clear as he discusses the technological changes that will offer profound opportunities. He outlines the digital mindsets that will help our profession move forward, and describes the trends that will fuel today's teams as they drive into tomorrow.   WE DISCUSS: WHO Drives Digital Change in A Business? How NON-techies drive tech-based transformation. the "Triple A Rating": moving from Advice, through Advocacy, and then to ACTION that drives digital change.   OUR GUEST: Jim Bourke is Managing Director of Advisory Services at WithumSmith+Brown. He's a frequent international speaker on technology's relevance to the accounting profession and has written widely on topics related to CPA business technologies. Jim is a member of AICPA, NJSCPA, a past member of AICPA Council and AICPA Board of Directors. Past Chair of the AICPA Tech+ Conference and AICPA CITP Credential Committee, as well as current Chair of AICPA ENGAGE conference. Connect with Jim via LinkedIn here.   LINKS: Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. Connect via #GoBeyondDisruption  @AICPANews @CIMA_News   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST: New to our podcast and not subscribed yet? Get our shows every week automatically and free.  Interviews with our international experts are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful.  Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"To flourish and use AI, a company needs to be proficient in the strategic acquisition of data" GBD53. In a fast-evolving cyber tech landscape, our guest Pratish Sharma advises finance and other organisations on safe practices with their digital footprint. He is a corporate trainer and speaker, an expert in AI (Artificial Intelligence), cybersecurity and RPA (robotic process automation) through Excel & Automated Solutions. Pratish tells AICPA & CIMA's Kyle Hannan what he's learned from years of specialising in IT infrastructure and helping corporates improve the security of their information systems.   WE DISCUSS: Business automation and dashboards. Big Data. Chatbots and Accounting Bots. Lawtech The 'trolley' problem. What kind of skills can we learn for the future? How can we safeguard ourselves by knowing more than the ‘bots’? Disruption to people as the human workforce is decreased and more roles are automated. Recruitment, talent and headhunting. Do we need to become more creative to protect ourselves from automation? How can organisations think differently and retrain staff instead of reducing?   OUR GUEST: 'Digital revolutionary' Pratish Sharma qualified in teaching IT at the ripe old age of 19 and went on to work with city councils running technical courses for local communities around the UK. Pratish helped many people rejoin the workforce in a challenging landscape of mass career change in the era of the IT boom. His current focus is on delivering targeted training programs for finance and business professionals, as well as analysts and technical teams on topics including; forecasting & planning, VBA & automation programming, statistical modelling, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. In addition, Pratish is involved with mobile technology via the Android Forum, as well as with the emerging scene of the autonomous car.  Connect with him on Linkedin here and via social media as @PratishSharma on Twitter.   LINKS: Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. MotionAI is a chatbot/AI system bought recently by Hubspot SMACC offers full accounting services via a chatbot.   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST: These conversations with our expert guests are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Hear more. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Go deeper. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect. #GoBeyondDisruption  @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"Companies need to identify the third parties they work with because if they lose data, YOUR company's going to be facing the problem even though you weren't the one that lost the data'. GBD52. Expert certified 'ethical hacker' and top-rated tech speaker Mike Foster of the Foster Institute took time off from planning conference keynotes to talk to us during a skiing break in Montana. He tells Kyle Hannan (AICPA & CIMA, UK) about the ICT journey that has taken him from the C64s of yesterday to the CTOs of tomorrow. There are some foundational and practical steps to boost organisational protection against increasingly universal vulnerabilities.   WE DISCUSS: best practices and strategies. 2-factor authentication. security 'DMZ's for 3rd-party assurance. GDPR and data privacy. the importance of software updates and OS upgrades how to toughen defences. we also break down some of the commonly-used examples of top level jargon like 'bad actors', DMZs, 2FA, system-hardening, 'bloatware', CCPA and 'principle of least privilege'.   OUR GUEST: Mike Foster, founder of the Mike Foster Institute (USA) is a Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Information Systems Security Professional. He's delivered more than 1,500 presentations and training sessions around the world and has consulted at hundreds of companies in North America. Connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/themikefoster/   LINKS: Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. Want to check if your email address has ever been compromised in a data breach? Use the free website have I been powned. For visitors inside the US, visit Foster Institute.(this won't display for web visitors from outside the USA). For those in the rest of the world, see his LinkedIn page.  Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store.   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. These conversations with our expert guests are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Hear more. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Skill Up. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect. Use the hashtags #GoBeyondDisruption  or follow @AICPANews @CIMA_News. You can email our team at beyond.disruption@aicpa-cima.com and visit our project page at GoBeyondDisruption.com. ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.  

"What you realise is that people don't mind when people have clear boundaries. In fact, they APPRECIATE them". GBD51 Gretchen Pisano and Alexis Robin are co-founders of pLink Leadership, a US-based management consultancy that provides leadership-development, executive coaching, and curriculum-creation. AICPA & CIMA's Jennifer Gardner hears from our guests about an adaptive mindset. Why it matters? How it helps us decide to intervene on behalf of ourselves,  speed up how we adapt to a changing world and accommodate volatility in the workplace.   CONCLUDING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 2019. Throughout March we've featured a bonus selection of interviews with women who've become movers and shakers in the accounting, finance and business professional sphere. Episodes every Wednesday as usual with 'Friday Focus' shows for some extra weekend inspiration.   WE DISCUSS: Boundaries. Making sure staff mindsets are as “nimble and lean” as the company. Developing our own 'complexity of mind' by inviting insights and inputs from those around us. Challenging our own internal biases. Taking an active role in change. The strengths that women bring. How women are naturally wired to have an adaptive mindset - but how this can sometimes get in the way too. The difference between creating a community for the long term, and simply collaborating in the short term. Changing our 'self-talk'.    OUR GUESTS: pLink CEO and founding partner Gretchen Pisano has worked with many Fortune 50 clients. A Faculty member of the Business Learning Institute, she also serves on the Board of the Frederick County Fraternal Order of Police Spouses’ Association. In addition to her work with senior leaders in many sectors including finance, Gretchen has engaged with leadership in the World Bank and the US military. Connect with her on LinkedIn. As COO of pLink, Alexis Robin deploys 12 years as a coach, consultant, and facilitator, and 17 years in the hospitality and meetings industry. Connect with her on LinkedIn. More about pLink on social via #thinkplink   LINKS: Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. Participate in the 2019 AICPA Women's Global Leadership Summit this November — and experience the support of your women colleagues along the way.   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST: Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Interviews with our international experts are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect via #GoBeyondDisruption  #AICPAWomenLead #IWD2019 @AICPANews @CIMA_News   ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"We need individuals who are in those different positions of power in the blockchain space to really bring us in to discuss how we can change things before it gets too solidified. There's a LOT of room for change!". GBD50 Daisy Ozim is CEO and co-founder of Resilient Wellness, a California-based public health-technology company designed to empower community-building and empowerment for collective health and sustainability. She talks to AICPA & CIMA's Mballa Mendouga about creating a public health blockchain protocol designed to re-establish cultural medicine access for marginalised sectors of society. We also hear about her work with the Blockchain for Social Justice collective, a platform designed to promote education and access of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency for underserved communities.   WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. This March we're featuring a bonus selection of interviews with women who've become movers and shakers in the accounting, finance and business professional sphere. Episodes every Wednesday as usual with 'Friday Focus' shows for some extra weekend inspiration.   WE DISCUSS - driving innovation alongside social impact - decolonising technology and public policy - putting individuals and communities front and centre - 'poverty pimping' - the social determinants of health   OUR GUEST Daisy Ozim is founder/director of Resilient Wellness. She also serves as a board member for the Bay Area Entrepreneurship Alliance where she works to ensure access to resources and support for emerging entrepreneurs. Additional duties as Commissioner for the Alameda Public Health Commission are centred around decolonising philanthropy, technology and public policy. Connect with her on LinkedIn.   LINKS. Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. Participate in the 2019 AICPA Women's Global Leadership Summit this November — and experience the support of your women colleagues along the way.   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Interviews with our international experts are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect via #GoBeyondDisruption  #AICPAWomenLead #IWD2019 @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.

"As a society we've raised our children to make fear-based decisions unintentionally. Being able to change that mindset to an OPPORTUNITY-based decision really changes the way you think about what is possible for you". GBD49. Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA is the Vice President of Finance & Tax at 1st Financial Bank USA, and was recognised as one of 2018's "Most Powerful Women in Accounting" by AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor and one of CPA Advisors’ 2017 "40 Under 40". She talks to AICPA & CIMA's Jennifer Gardner about challenging fears, finding purpose and leveraging it to positively impact the innovation and success of individuals, organisations and the wider profession as a whole.   WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. This March we're featuring a bonus selection of interviews with women who've become movers and shakers in the accounting, finance and business professional sphere. Episodes every Wednesday as usual with 'Friday Focus' shows for some extra weekend inspiration.   WE DISCUSS * Self-Trust * How fear and trust CAN work together. * the research of Brené Brown on being daring and the power of vulnerability.     OUR GUEST.  Founder/CEO of Origin Evolution LLC and an Intend2Lead team member, Lindsay Stevenson also received the AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award in 2017. Passionate about inspiring positivity in the world at large, she serves on a number of professional committees (both at the AICPA and SDCPA) and community boards and is also co-chair of the AICPA ENGAGE conference in 2019. See her LinkedIn profile here.    LINKS. Visiting the Chicago area this Spring? Join us on the ground or online for the AICPA & CIMA "CFO Conference" in Chicago this April 24-26th 2019. Participate in the 2019 AICPA Women's Global Leadership Summit this November — and experience the support of your women colleagues along the way.   MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST. Get our shows every week automatically and free. Share them easily with colleagues and friends by using the icons on your app or media player.  Interviews with our international experts are recorded by different members of the AICPA & CIMA team from our offices around the world. While the sound quality may vary, the insights will always be consistently useful. Find related CPD/CPE resources at the AICPA Store and the CGMA Store. Connect via #GoBeyondDisruption  #AICPAWomenLead #IWD2019 @AICPANews @CIMA_News ©2018 Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA). All rights reserved.