Jeremy Clopton sits down with Matt Tait, CEO of Decimal, on Episode 107 of The Upstream Leader for a refreshingly honest look at how personal health shapes leadership. Matt recounts the wake-up call that came not from a business crisis, but from his own kids questioning his athletic past, and rather than chasing quick fixes, he describes a slow, intentional shift: waking up earlier, building habits, and crafting a fitness routine that serves as a source of joy for him rather than an obligation. Yes, the reality of balancing work, family, self-care, employees' needs, and putting out fires is messy and unpredictable, but Matt's story is a reminder that leadership isn't about perfection or control. He's shown that it's possible to systematically make space for yourself while simultaneously showing up better for those who count on you. No matter where you are on your own self-care journey, you'll want to hear Matt's insights.

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The billable hour stands as both a fixture and a flashpoint in the accounting profession, shaping careers and firm cultures for generations. But talking about it actually be... enjoyable? On Episode 106 of The Upstream Leader, producer Justin Grant, himself a former lawyer, joins Jeremy to put the billable hour under the microscope—not to rehash old arguments, but to expose the real consequences of treating time as a commodity—and have fun doing it! Tracking every minute can obscure the true value of expertise, penalizing high performers, and this often ultimately reduces client relationships to transactions. But instead of dismissing the billable hour entirely, Jeremy reframes it as a tool for resource management: a way to balance workloads and set fair expectations. Reconsider what you measure and how you measure it, think about why that matters, and listen in for advice on how to set your firm on a path toward a more sustainable, people-focused future.

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Dr. Meg Myers Morgan joins Jeremy Clopton to discuss the importance of self-worth and how it impacts one's career on Episode 97 of The Upstream Leader. They explore how self-worth should not be tied solely to monetary success, but should involve discovering purpose and joy in one's professional life. Meg shares her personal journey of understanding self-worth through raising her daughters and discusses the challenges of pricing oneself, particularly in the accounting profession. They also touch on the psychological aspects of worth, how it influences pricing, and why transparent conversations about value can enhance career growth and professional satisfaction.

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On Episode 07 of The Upstream Leader, Heath Alloway is joined by his brother-in-law, Chris Jones, for an important discussion about diversity, equity and inclusion. Chris has worked as a youth pastor and specializes in youth mental health, and he discusses his experiences with making diversity, equity and inclusion an important part of everyone's lives.

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Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway come together in Episode 06 of The Upstream Leader to discuss what they've learned over an enlightening first quarter of podcast episodes. Though they cover a range of topics, intentionality, capacity, and the "High Yield, Low Maintenance" concept that is central to the Upstream Academy's approach take center stage.

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On Episode 05 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton speaks to Bethmara Kessler, Certified Fraud Examiner, about "Same as Last Year," the idea that falling back on what worked last year limits the potential of companies, professionals, and reduces client service opportunities. They discuss ways to combat this attitude and maintain professional growth throughout one's career.

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On Episode 4 of The Upstream Leader, Heath Alloway talks to former NFL quarterback Shaun Hill. Shaun shares his insights on leadership, gleaned from fifteen years spent mostly in backup and support roles in the NFL. He talks about the "I/we/they" approach to accountability, the importance of building character, the need to treat everyone equally regardless of their ability, and how he wishes everyone received fan mail.

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On episode 03, Upstream Leader's Heath Alloway talks to Damien Martin, Partner at BKD and host of the Simply Tax podcast, about his journey to leadership which has included Simply Tax as well as a short film noir about tax strategies. Damien's philosophy to leave things better than he found them has served as a guide throughout his career, and he tells Heath about his plans for the future as well as how he's reached this point so far.

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Jeremy Clopton welcomes Solon Angel to The Upstream Leader for Episode 02. An entrepreneur with an obsession for exponential growth and solving big problems, Solon is the founder of MindBridge AI, which aims to "create a better future for all by improving the global financial system."

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On episode 01 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton talks to Courtney DeRonde, managing partner at TDT CPAs and Advisors, about energy management's profound effect on productivity. Courtney deconstructs billable hours and discusses the difference between time or project management and energy management. She also shares the best sources for more information so that leaders can make positive, impactful changes in their practices.

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High-yield and low-maintenance: This is your ultimate goal as an accounting firm member, regardless of where you are in your career journey. Brought to you by Upstream Academy, The Upstream Leader Podcast is your source for insights and education on becoming a high performing firm leader. 

Join hosts Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway for interviews with insightful, engaging and entertaining experts, who share knowledge and expertise on firm best practices, processes, technology and more! With a focus on culture, teams, clients and growth, you've found your passport to building a better career. Join us to become an Upstream Leader!

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.

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Join Jeremy Clopton on this solo Episode 95 of The Upstream Leader as he addresses the vital role of people in the accounting profession's future. Jeremy looks back on the discussions he's had with industry leaders in recent months about the current and future state of accounting, and the recurring theme has been the necessity of developing your people as key differentiators—differentiators that stave off commoditization and make your firm and its services stand out to clients. Jeremy uses the Upstream Growth Triangle, consisting of accountability, adversity, and advocacy, as a framework for fostering personal and professional growth within firms with an eye towards key differentiation. Learn how balancing these elements can help cultivate the next generation of leaders and create a sustainable, high-performing firm.

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The Upstream Leader goes a different direction on Episode 94, with host Jeremy Clopton inviting producer Justin Grant of Professional Productions to the "other side of the booth" to discuss the evolving role of technology in accounting. Keeping in mind AI's obvious impact, they talk about the way technology has changed and should continue to change the role of the technical expert and the way firms develop their people. Competitive advantages can be cultivated through transformed onboarding processes, valuing critical thinking and soft skills, and breaking with the old, traditional ways of "grunt work" as the way to train new hires. Understanding that balanced investment in both technology and people is necessary to drive future success, Jeremy and Justin share deep insights that firm leaders don't want to miss.

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Jen Hamilton, founder of Hamilton COOs and the Fractional COO Collective, joins Jeremy on Episode 93 of The Upstream Leader to discuss the increasing trend of fractional executives within accounting firms and why they've proven to be so effective. Jen shares her journey from a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers to becoming a thought leader in fractional executive roles, highlighting the development of her emotional intelligence (EQ) and leadership skills in progressing her career. Jen addresses common misconceptions about fractional executives and offers advice for firms considering this model to enhance their strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. Fractional executives can shift the accounting paradigm by elevating a firm's performance through their strategic leadership, freeing up partners to continue to excel in their technical roles.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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On this solo Episode 88 of The Upstream Leader Podcast, host Jeremy Clopton shares insights from recent meetings with managing partners of accounting firms across the U.S. and Canada. Jeremy focuses on three major themes: the importance of consistency over intensity in both client and employee experiences, the need to change assumptions about people's capabilities and responsibilities, and the crucial role of accountability and clear expectations among partners. Aimed at improving firm culture, client service, and leadership, Jeremy provides actionable reflections to help elevate your and your firm's performance consistently throughout the year.

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"Marketing strategist for an accounting firm" was not on Kenzie Huling's "dream career bingo card," like most people. Raised by a father who built up his community scratch, she learned early on that stories—not numbers—bring people together. Without a marketing degree, Kenzie carved her own path, fueled by creative grit and a knack for seeing the soul behind spreadsheets, and host Jeremy Clopton follows Kenzie's journey from self-made creative to catalyst for connection, revealing the power of authenticity in a numbers-driven world on Episode 105 of The Upstream Leader. When Kenzie joined JHM CPAs, she found a blank canvas and set out to paint it with the real lives of staff and clients. Her approach, marked by listening deeply, celebrating personal moments, and throwing down the gauntlet of vulnerability, has transformed not just the firm's brand, but its culture.

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Jeremy Clopton delves into a hot topic—alternative ownership models in the accounting profession—with Steve Shein, co-founder of Franklin Alliance, on Episode 87 of The Upstream Leader. They explore the alliance model, an alternative to the more traditional PE and M&A routes. Steve's company specifically supports boutique accounting firms under $10 million in revenue by providing resources and strategic support without being prescriptive, with the goal of enabling these firms to draw on resources that typically only larger firms have enjoyed, with an emphasis on patient capital and reinvestment for long-term growth. There are challenges and opportunities for boutique firms in any scenario, especially those seeking to maintain independence while successfully navigating industry headwinds.

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Jeremy Clopton returns for Episode 86 of The Upstream Leader, engaging in a thought-provoking conversation with professional coach, speaker and educator, Andrew Donofrio. They discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, focusing on managing emotions and energy levels, especially during demanding periods like tax season. Andrew draws upon his diverse career in law enforcement, technology, and executive coaching to emphasize the significance of understanding and accepting different perspectives while still setting standards for performance and improvement from your charges. In addition to exploring practical strategies for improving emotional intelligence and maintaining high energy amid busy schedules, Andrew emphasizes the importance of deliberate self-care, particularly during peak times.

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Host Heath Alloway talks effective communication with Ben Decker on Episode 85 of The Upstream Leader. The Chairman and Co-CEO of Decker Communications, Ben focuses on the pivotal role communication plays in leadership. Sharing insights on becoming a better leader through humble confidence, the impact of early communication habits, and the critical importance of non-verbal cues, Ben details his approach to improving how professionals communicate, emphasizing the need for intentionality, curiosity, and the ability to provide and receive constructive feedback. He pillories the "soft skill" label that communication is often saddled with due to its central role in professional and personal success, offering practical advice for introverts and those plagued with self-doubt.

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On Episode 84 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy Clopton sits down with Kelsey O'Connor, a former Division I athlete and graduate of NC State, to discuss her view of "Life Beyond Labels." Exploring how individuals, particularly high achievers in the accounting profession, can separate their identity from their accomplishments and focus on their qualities, attitude, and the way they treat others, Kelsey shares her personal journey of overcoming a severe concussion that ended her athletic career. Through actively describing others for who they are rather than what they do, embracing servant leadership, and making use of other methods of building confidence and empathy, Kelsey triumphed over her injury and ultimately gave her class's commencement speech, hitting on these very points. She also provides insights on preparing for significant life transitions, such as retirement, and maintaining a balanced sense of self throughout one's career.

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Dan Hood, Editor-in-Chief at Accounting Today, joins Jeremy Clopton for Episode 83 of The Upstream Leader to kick off 2025 with a slew of predictions. Discussing key themes such as the accelerating pace of change, technological advancements, and the impacts of private equity, Dan shares insights on the importance of technology investments, the evolving landscape of firm sizes, and strategies for adapting to ongoing changes. He also emphasizes the need for continuous learning and strategic planning to stay competitive as the one thread that will continue to run through everything the profession does, is change.

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It's time to close out 2024 and look ahead to 2025 on Episode 82 of The Upstream Leader featuring both Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway. Reflecting on key trends, they emphasize some major positives in the profession, including firms' increased focus on intentionality and being proactive with their business development plans. Comprised primarily of creating a sustainable growth strategy, and shifting towards running firms more like businesses, there are barriers, especially with regards to firm governance and the need for partners to hold themselves as much to account as they do the employees of the firm. They look forward to 2025, with insights on coaching and the impact of private equity, among others, but underscoring the discussion are the themes of purposeful growth and the benefits of fostering a culture of development and engagement.

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On Episode 81 of The Upstream Leader, host Heath Alloway welcomes return guest Karen Scott, co-founder of Lost & Found Grief Center. Karen is joined by Melanie Blair, Assistant Executive Director, and the discussion centers around supporting grieving employees. Exploring the impact of grief on productivity, the importance of flexible workplace policies, and the need for genuine acts of kindness from employers, Karen and Melanie emphasize the importance of community, personalized support, and proactive planning in helping employees navigate their grief journeys.

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Heath Alloway hosts an insightful Episode 80 of The Upstream Leader featuring Caitlin Gibbs, Matt Skinner, and Trevor Brown. This landmark episode, the first ever with three guests, is an exploration of the evolving landscape of the accounting profession, with the panel touching on leadership development and networking, mentoring, challenges within the profession, and the importance of collaboration among firms. Highlighting the impact of technology and strategies for business development and talent retention, the panelists offer valuable perspectives on sustaining growth, enhancing work-life balance, and enticing the next generation of accountants to join what they consider a profession that is full of potential.

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Jeremy Clopton engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Sarah Krom, Managing Partner at SKC & Co., on Episode 79 of The Upstream Leader. They discuss the challenges the profession seems to be encountering in needing to teach skills around professionalism, with Sarah sharing her firm's solution: to formally teach "behavioral competencies" alongside the technical skills virtually all firms promote. Touching on developing a framework for professionalism, the importance of behavioral competencies, and strategies for effective mentorship and coaching, Sarah offers practical advice for both leaders and early career professionals. This approach has paid off for Sarah in a massive way, as she has been named one of America's Top 200 CPAs by Forbes.

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Allan Koltin joins Jeremy Clopton on Episode 78 of The Upstream Leader to discuss the evolving landscape of the accounting profession. Allan's expertise is wide-reaching, built over more than 40 years within accounting as a practitioner, consultant, and thought leader. Covering M&A, private equity, ESOPs and more, Allan underscores recent industry growth, the importance of transformation, and strategic adaptations that firms must embrace to remain competitive, stressing that PE is not the only answer. Talent management, effective advancement, and cost reductions are all pieces of the puzzle, and Allan goes so far as to emphasize the challenges of PE integrations—the necessity for standardized processes, culture shock, changes in valuations, partnership agreements, and so on. There are few more knowledgeable voices in modern accounting than Allan Koltin and this episode is one you don't want to miss.

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It's time to rethink the CEO role from the ground up! On Episode 104 of The Upstream Leader, Jeremy sits down with Chip Chaon, CEO of LattaHarris, about his unconventional path from outside the industry to the top seat. Together, they dig into the realities of shifting from a traditional partnership to a corporate governance model, the challenges of unwinding large client books, and the importance of aligning compensation with leadership—not just production. Facing the big challenge of a firm that needed modern ideas, Chip had to build trust among the partners, foster a culture of mentorship in order to keep the leadership pipeline full, and prioritize work-life balance for everyone in the firm. Many firms resist change until desperation hits, but Chip was able to ride the wave between inspiration and desperation to great effect. If you're curious about the future of firm management, this episode offers a rare, honest look behind the scenes.

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"Maybe" takes a back seat and stays where it belongs, as Jeremy Clopton hosts Kathy Klang, leader of the Success Management Division at Cummings Keegan on Episode 77 of The Upstream Leader. Kathy emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to become decisive leaders without overanalyzing, advocating for a shift from committee-based management to individual decision-making. Cultivating leadership is a process that involves multiple steps, including training, setting parameters, and encouraging a culture of open communication. Kathy explains that mistakes are inevitable in such a setup and identifies how to handle fixes, but above all it remains a collaborative process so that it doesn't feel punitive for the person in question. A master class on leadership brought to you by a former managing partner with over 40 years' experience in the profession—you don't want to miss this episode!

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Erin Raukar joins Heath Alloway on Episode 76 of The Upstream Leader to discuss her experiences throughout her career leading up to her current position as Director of Human Resources and Administration at Cummings Keegan. HR plays a strategic role in any accounting firm, and Erin has vast knowledge of HR's inner workings, which she's gained from roles at Target Headquarters, educational institutions, and in the public accounting space. Focusing especially on the importance of feedback, onboarding, and relationship-building, Erin touches on the significance of early relationship investment and effective time management to ensure firms run at their peak. Erin also shares her insights on creating a positive onboarding experience and the value of peer networks, offering practical advice for firm leaders aiming to enhance their operational and HR strategies.

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Heath Alloway returns to hosting duties as he talks with Peter Ostopko, founder and publisher of the Kinsman Journal, on Episode 75 of The Upstream Leader. With a backdrop of "Calming the Noise," or in other words, filtering out what is and is not necessary to focus on in your daily life, they explore Peter's leadership journey, career transitions, and strategies for finding purpose and balance. Peter emphasizes the importance of understanding emotions, fostering genuine connections, and creating a people-centric work culture. The pair also highlight the significance of empathy, intentional communication, and community-building, both professionally and personally.

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Jeremy Clopton returns to host Episode 74 of The Upstream Leader, where he welcomes Rob Brown to delve into the theme of connection within the accounting profession. Rob, the founder of the Accounting Influencers Roundtable, is a reputation and career development expert as well as the host of the Accounting Influencers podcasts. Covering topics such as leveraging technology for genuine connections, enhancing firm culture in both remote and in-person environments, and the importance of intentionality in leadership, Rob delves deep into the expertise he has gained from decades of consulting with professionals, as he and Jeremy go into great detail about innovative firm practices such as asynchronous video introductions and speed networking events, to name but two. Rob's depth of experience really shines through as he emphasizes the value of empathy and understanding in building effective relationships.

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Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway get together to discuss their recent experiences and insights from various conferences, workshops, and personal time on this special recap Episode 73 of The Upstream Leader. They explore the importance of reconnecting with nature and practicing gratitude, both in personal life, and in the workplace, and how empowering that can be in driving personal creativity and vision. They look at current trends in accounting: building a culture of optimism, the impact of private equity, and the vital need for any firm to have an intentional growth strategy. They emphasize that effective leadership leads to teaching and mentorship, which ensure the future success of accounting firms, and they discuss this from a position of experience and expertise as Upstream Academy continues to support the development of high-performing leaders in the profession.

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On Episode 72 of The Upstream Leader, host Jeremy Clopton welcomes back Jake Thompson, Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day. They discuss Jake's new book, Lead Better Now, which focuses on practical strategies for self-leadership and team development, and offers actionable insights for both new and seasoned leaders. Jake stresses the importance of feedback, balancing relationship dynamics, and cultivating an environment of continuous improvement. Emphasizing the value of vulnerability, Jake ties that principle to the need for courage in leadership, as well as aligning oneself with high achievers to foster personal and professional growth.

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Join The Upstream Leader Podcast as host Heath Alloway discusses mergers and acquisitions with Bruce Zicari, managing partner and CEO of The Bonadio Group, on Episode 71. Bruce shares valuable lessons on leading successful mergers, fostering integration, and building trust within teams. Bruce's firm has successfully navigated 22 mergers, many with him at the helm at CEO, and his practical insights on achieving synergistic growth and handling the transition process are know-how that you don't want to miss.

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Jeremy Clopton rejoins us for Episode 70 of The Upstream Leader as he engages in an insightful conversation with Carla McCall, managing partner at AAFCPAs and now Chair of the AICPA. Exploring her journey of authentic leadership, the importance of candor and self-reflection, and how creating a culture where team members can bring their whole selves to work can drive success, Carla shares her personal experiences and practical strategies for fostering a human-centric workplace culture that enhances productivity and employee satisfaction. Don't miss out on key book recommendations and actionable advice to elevate your leadership game!

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Jeremy Clopton returns to host Episode 69 of The Upstream Leader featuring Danielle Supkis Cheek, Vice President, Head of Analytics and AI at Caseware. They discuss the transformative role of technology in accounting, how AI and analytics are reshaping the profession and what it means for modern leadership. Danielle shares practical strategies for adopting new technologies, managing risks, and staying competitive, highlighting the impact of AI on efficiency, the future of standards, and emerging trends like chain-of-thought reasoning and small language models. Danielle's insights are pivotal for professionals who want to come to grips with the fast pace of change in both their leadership and firm development roles.

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Tune in for key leadership insights on navigating adversity, on Episode 68 of The Upstream Leader. Anthony Sanfilippo, co-founder of Sorelle Capital, joins Heath Alloway to discuss his successes and tribulations in the hospitality industry. Full of stories from a 40+ year career, Anthony speaks on the importance of integrity, how to implement ideals around it within a company culture, and how to handle unexpected challenges. He highlights the role of grit and determination in achieving career growth, asserting that it's always possible to carve out a place where you'll be singled out for your unique contributions.

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Jeremy Clopton welcomes Michael Bannon of CSG Partners for a deep dive into the world of ESOPs and their rising influence in the accounting profession on Episode 103 of The Upstream Leader. Michael unpacks how ESOPs work, why more firms are embracing employee ownership over private equity, and the real impact on firm culture, leadership, and long-term growth. From tax advantages and capital infusion to boosting retention and building a true ownership mentality, this episode explores the practical realities and transformative potential of ESOPs for accounting firms of all sizes. Packed with expert insights, candid stories, and actionable takeaways, it's a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of the profession.

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Heath Alloway returns to host Episode 67 of The Upstream Leader, and he talks to James Stapleton, co-founder of Codefi, about his insights on tech entrepreneurs and startups, the challenges they deal with, and how accounting firms can look to aid this specialized group of clients. Through Codefi, James seeks to streamline financial operations and readjust traditional accounting practices through a mutual use of technology between client and firm, allowing for a relationship with room to grow on both sides.

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Join Jeremy Clopton on Episode 66 of The Upstream Leader as he talks to Jeff Bartsch, founder of Story Greenlight. They explore the power of storytelling in transforming communication strategies for accounting professionals, a skill Jeff refined first with over 20 years of experience writing stories in Hollywood, and then subsequently, coaching professionals on how best to communicate theirs. Discover how leveraging communication frameworks can lead to meaningful connections, advisory roles, and transformative outcomes in accounting firms. Jeff provides insights and practical tools to enhance your leadership and client relationships.

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The general accounting business model has remained more or less unchanged for decades, and on Episode 65 of The Upstream Leader, Michelle Golden joins Jeremy Clopton to discuss what needs to happen to capture the increases in efficiency that have exploded in the profession since the end of the 20th century. Michelle, the CEO of Fore LLC, drives home the fact that with technological advancement should come more revenue, but because so many accounting firms are still anchored to time-based billing, the paradoxical result is more clients, but equal or even lower revenue. Michelle and Jeremy discuss solutions to solving this paradox, starting with what she calls "worth-based pricing."

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Jeremy Clopton welcomes David Hartley to The Upstream Leader for Episode 64, and their conversation focuses around the challenges of leading accounting firms into the future. The impact of hybrid work environments, the role of technology, and the shift to advisory services will all play a large role in shaping the direction the profession takes in the coming years, and David stresses that just carrying on as things currently stand is not likely to bear much fruit. He breaks down the power of young professionals who are up to date with modern tools, the efficiency gains this signifies in real terms, and the need for leaders to be willing to take a chance on implementing strategies that utilize both.

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On Episode 63 of The Upstream Leader, Heath Alloway welcomes Philip Palaveev, CEO of The Ensemble Practice, for a discussion on leadership, mentorship, and conflict management. Feedback and trust play a vital role in making emotional discussions productive, and Philip covers helpful information on nonverbal communication, active listening, and the concept of relationship deposits and withdrawals and how to manage them.

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The Upstream Leader's Heath Alloway and Chance Potts, Founder of Employee Benefit Design, roll up their sleeves to tackle how mental fitness can help us function at our best level, no matter the circumstances. This approach includes recognizing how we naturally approach challenges, discomfort, and negativity and ways to rewire our thought processes to embrace the challenges we face in our lives and careers.

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In this episode, Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway discuss the challenges and strategies for building unity and a team-driven culture in accounting firms. They explore the impact of remote and hybrid work on firm culture and employee engagement. They emphasize the importance of intentional communication and connection in creating a positive work environment. The conversation highlights the role of leaders in fostering a sense of purpose and belonging among team members. They also discuss the mindset and optimism needed to navigate the profession's changing landscape.

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