The Authentic Advisor

With vast amounts of content available through abundant channels it's easy to become overwhelmed when building capability. What's the best way to select, access and apply learning and development resources to meet your own current and future needs? If you're a business advisor or coach, how do you meet the changing learning needs of your clients? JoAnn Labbie, Chief People Officer, Allinial Global and James Mason talk about shifts occurring in learning and development, the importance of creating a career success plan, and how to maximise time available for skill development in a busy schedule. In this podcast, JoAnn shares her opinion on the future of learning, and the importance of 'soft' skills such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence and listening. Don't miss JoAnn's tips on how advisors can effectively upskill clients in the current unpredictable environment.

What are the latest shifts in leadership and culture? Nikita Tomlinson, Director at Sudburys Ltd, Northland, New Zealand talks to James Mason, Mindshop about what's working for successful clients, and the top challenges they currently face. Exploring the key elements essential to building a high-performing culture and the impact on leadership strategies as businesses shift their focus back to profitability by streamlining operations. A must-listen for independent advisors and firms looking to get cutting edge insights on today's leadership and culture consulting. Join Nikita and James as they reinforce the importance of developing a solid strategy in this area to help clients succeed.

Are you a business advisor looking to take equity stakes in businesses? Tune in to the latest episode of our podcast where Cameron McMillan, Principal, Right Hand Advisors, sits down with James Mason, Managing Director at Mindshop. Cameron shares his journey of getting more heavily involved in the ownership of other businesses while retaining his advisory business. He reveals how he determined which businesses to invest in and how his strategic planning and implementation advisory skills were vital during the process. Listen in to discover the practical ways Cameron manages to juggle the roles of advisor and investor, and learn about the barriers he had to overcome. Cameron also shares his top three tips for advisors looking to go down this path. Don't miss out on this invaluable episode!

Join James Mason as he interviews Dennis Lee, a Partner at RSM Singapore's business consulting division, on practical ways advisors can implement environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies for their clients and in their own firms. Increasingly, leaders are eager to learn and educate themselves, not just for environmental reasons but also to positively impact their business and people. Clients seek advice on how to take meaningful action, often requiring a major strategy rethink and radical change beyond simply changing the light bulbs. Don't miss this episode on how advisors can make a significant difference in helping implement ESG strategies for a brighter future.

While at face value, many business owners seems to have it all figured out, in reality many have relationship, health and personal issues with a layer of business worries on top. That's why Mario Vicari's mantra as a business advisor to privately-held companies is: 'if I do my job well, I make your life better'. In this podcast, Mario, director at the largest independently owned Philadelphia-based accounting firm with 250+ staff, shares his approach to complex problem solving through facilitation and how he avoids competitive bidding situations by being 'advisory led'. Mario looks to future consequences of managing remote workforces, talking about his adaptive approach and shares the importance of building a solid personal balance sheet so clients have options when it's time to exit the business. There's a wealth of fantastic, wide ranging insights in this episode for every business advisor.

What relevance does the Buddhist metaphor of the second arrow have for business advisors? Nick Mayhew has a profound, optimistic message for business advisors; that a client's emotional wellbeing (and their own for that matter) can be continuously improved through the application of ten key principles. After a tidal wave of disruption and years of choppy seas, we are all overdue some calmer waters. Nick shares how improving leaders' personal emotional regulation can have positive effects that ripple through teams, businesses and to a wider circle of relationships. In this thoughtful, timely podcast, Nick and James Mason contemplate vision, purpose, rugby and the pleasure of breaking rocks. A perfect opening podcast for a new start.

With over 35 years under his belt as a successful business advisor, Al Ramos has been there and done that. Sharing his insights and experiences in a candid conversation with James Mason, Al shares his top three tips for others on their journey to delivering business advice. Honouring your values, understanding that there is an opportunity cost to every decision you make and the importance of going to a 'mental gym' are just some of Al's 'must do's'. Al shares his experience with cancer to highlight the importance of health and wellness to bring your best to all relationships both business and personal. After serving on a number of boards and taking equity shares in 'businesses with potential' Al shares how to balance directorship and being a paid for your advisory skill set fairly. Listen in to hear how Al's passion for business advisory has developed throughout all phases of his career. Whether you're just starting out in an accounting firm, moving from a corporate role to become an independent advisor or an established business advisor looking to take equity in their clients' business, there is something for everyone in this episode.

When Jacqueline Watson's not running the London marathon, she's guiding Henderson Loggie's marketing and business development activities. Learn how Henderson Loggie are dominating targeted markets with laser-focused communications, personal brand-building and storytelling built on community purpose and business vision. Hear about what's working, what's not, shifts in tone of voice, plus the social media platforms delivering cut through recruitment and go-to-market campaigns. If you want to know how your accounting or advisory firm can to tap into the 'rise of the individual' and stand out in saturated markets this is the podcast for you!

George Virtue, former Managing Partner of Avail CPA, Southern Alberta's largest independently owned business advisory and accounting firm has spent 40 years providing business advisory services to clients. In this power-packed podcast he shares his key strategies for success with James Mason, Mindshop's Managing Director. George answers key questions: How did Avail add $40k of advisory work on top of $10k of compliance fees on some client engagements? How did Avail make the shift to advisory? How does Avail price their services? George suggests solutions to the perennial 'capacity' problem and reveals why he's scared going into client meetings! Listen in to hear how this firm has succeeded by becoming advisory-led.

With the right systems and processes accounting firms have an opportunity to deliver rich, data-driven insights to clients, a foundation for other business advisory revenue opportunities such as problem-solving discussions, strategy & implementation. But firms face a myriad of disparate data sources combined with a lack of capacity and technical knowledge. Amanda Kenafake CEO of Power Tynan addressed these challenges in her own firm five years ago and is now helping other firms on the same journey. Listen in as Amanda shares her tips on how firms can harness data and analytics to go beyond the numbers with clients and drive greater advisory revenue.