The Upstream Leader Podcast

Larissa Bunker, COO and EOS Integrator at Nichols Accounting Group, joins Jeremy on Episode 96 of The Upstream Leader to share her journey to leadership, emphasizing the power of asking questions. They delve into how leaders can create a culture that encourages questions rather than solely providing directives, and the insight, creativity and growth having a question-oriented culture can unlock. This goes hand-in-hand with fostering relationships and engaging team members to create more effective, collaborative environments, and Larissa discusses ways employees, whether they’re in the first day with a firm or have been there for decades, can make meaningful impacts within their teams and organizations by being inquisitive and focusing on relationships. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com

Explore the evolving landscape of accounting, where AI and automation are reshaping the profession. Discover why developing talent is crucial for firms to stand out in a competitive market. Learn about the 'upstream growth triangle'—a framework centered on accountability, adversity, and advocacy—that fosters personal and professional growth. Gain insights on empowering team members to take initiative and cultivate the next generation of leaders. Delve into strategies that ensure long-term success for accounting firms.

Justin Grant, a producer of several accounting podcasts based in Fife, Scotland, dives into how AI is transforming the accounting landscape. He discusses the shift towards valuing critical thinking over traditional metrics in hiring. The conversation highlights the necessity of nurturing both technology and human skills to thrive in today's world. With a humorous take on industry dynamics, Justin emphasizes a fresh approach to onboarding that prioritizes adaptability and genuine learning, showcasing the evolving roles of technical experts in the face of technological advancements.

Jen Hamilton, founder of Hamilton COOs and the Fractional COO Collective, shares her insights on the rising trend of fractional executives in accounting. Transitioning from a CPA to a thought leader, she emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. Jen dispels common myths about fractional roles and details how these executives can enhance strategic decision-making. She also discusses the challenges of integrating fractional leaders into existing firms and highlights the significance of trust and collaboration for effective operations.

On Episode 92 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton interviews Blake Stratton, the founder of True Productive. They discuss the importance of mindset reflection for improving productivity, going further than traditional time management tactics to really take stock of what’s going on with you mentally and psychologically in order to re-write the “software” that can unknowingly hold you back and lead to blocks in your emotional state and even your level of success. Blake explains these concepts through his personal journey of high stress and chronic productivity challenges, emphasizing the need to not just reframe negative beliefs, but to cast the causes of them as entirely neutral, proceeding accordingly. One’s emotional state clearly affects productivity and in this episode, through techniques of systematic reflection and digging below the surface, you will start to get a handle on how. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com

On Episode 91 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton is joined by Dr. David Burkus, author of Best Team Ever and several other books on business success, to discuss building high-functioning teams in the accounting industry. Noting that it’s important to move beyond technical proficiency to focus on team dynamics, David and Jeremy go into detail on three core factors: common understanding, psychological safety, and pro-social purpose. David stresses the significance of making each team member feel valued, highlighting the need for leaders to actively foster an environment where team members feel safe to express ideas and take risks, and he offers practical activities and insights to help leaders connect their teams to a meaningful purpose and improve their performance. Underscoring the conversation is the idea that it is vital for leaders to demonstrate that they care about their employees as human beings and not just numbers. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com

Jeremy Clopton visits with Monika Turek, Learning & Development Manager at HoganTaylor, on Episode 90 of The Upstream Leader. Centering their discussion on maximizing your and colleagues’ potential by fostering a culture of learning and moving beyond the traditional CPE mindset, Monika tells Jeremy about her personal journey to leadership, her willingness to go first, and what she learned from various structured development programs. Highlighting personal accountability, setting incremental goals, and making professional development paths meaningful for individual growth, they also tackle the challenges of balancing compliance with genuine learning, and how organizations can create motivating environments that align professional development with company core values. 

Jeremy is joined by Jana Cinnamon, COO and partner at Abdo Solutions, to discuss the intersection of hospitality and accounting on Episode 89 of The Upstream Leader. They explore how infusing hospitality into client interactions can transform the profession and improve both client and employee experiences. Jana shares insights about their firm’s initiatives inspired by the book Unreasonable Hospitality, emphasizing the importance of infusing a hospitality mindset into every level of an organization. The conversation highlights that fostering a culture where employees feel empowered to provide exceptional service not only improves client satisfaction but also attracts and retains top talent—and that insights into how to do this don’t just have to come from the accounting profession—inspiration is everywhere. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUpstreamLeader.com

Discover the power of consistency in leadership and client relationships as a key to sustainable success. Explore how evolving team assumptions and fostering a culture of accountability can elevate performance. Learn about the significance of mentorship in empowering future leaders and supporting early career professionals. Gain insights on creating a feedback-friendly environment for continuous growth and improvement. This discussion is packed with actionable reflections to help your organization thrive.

In this conversation, Steve Shein, co-founder of Franklin Alliance, shares his insights into alternative ownership models for boutique accounting firms. He highlights the alliance model as a way for smaller firms to thrive without losing their independence. The discussion touches on the unique challenges these firms face amid private equity influences and the importance of patient capital and reinvestment for long-term growth. Steve also shares success stories of multi-generational firms maintaining their identity while evolving through tailored support and technology-driven solutions.