Go Beyond Disruption

GBD64. Rich Fox is Vice-President of Data Science and Analytics for Apex Parks Group, one of the USA's largest amusement park operators. Kyle Hannan (AICPA & CIMA, London, UK) talks to this 20-year analytics industry veteran and experienced thought leader, discussing how finance professionals can combine data, information, insights, action & results to improve businesses. Rich also shares some inside perspectives on how academia is working to train tomorrow's accountants in these new skills today.

GBD63. In this Human Intelligence-focused episode, returning guest Regan Walsh talks to Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, USA) about the professional benefits of one of the shortest words in the English language. Understanding and using 'no' can sound like putting yourself first but actually ends up helping you, your colleagues, your company and your career.

GBD62. Understand it before you put it all together. Waqqas Mahmood leads Advanced Technology & Intelligent Automation at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. He tells Kyle Hannan (AICPA & CIMA, UK) about the basic jargon of RPA and AI, why you should understand the tech before you put it all together, and how to identify the goals of the digital transformation. He also outlines his "3 Fs" process for fighting the factors of failure.

Peter Brill is a former Director of NWN Blue Squared, specialist accountants to the music and creative industries. He talks to Kyle Hannan (AICPA & CIMA, London) about using context to power a business' social media content, outlining practical new ways that today’s professionals can raise their own profiles, promote their expertise in new ways, and help boost the visibility of the accounting profession in non-traditional niches.

GBD60. Kate Watson, CEO of CMLW Consulting, joins us from Northeastern England. She talks to Kymberley McAdam (AICPA & CIMA, London, UK) about tech perspectives on GDPR and wider data privacy, cloud accounting, and the importance of effective communication in an increasingly automated profession. She shares some useful and practical suggestions about how finance and accounting professionals can up-skill themselves as things change.

GBD59. Elaine McVey directs the decision science function at TransLoc, a rapidly growing mobility technology company based in the Eastern USA. She tells Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA, Durham, USA) how business and finance leaders can partner with data scientists to solve real-world business problems. They explore some best practices any large business can adopt when using data science to reveal actionable insights that transform their decision-making.

GBD58  Julie Holunga is a leadership trainer, speaker and coach who works with CPAs, attorneys and other professional women. She tells Jennifer Gardner (AICPA & CIMA in Durham, USA) about how the words we use can influence the way we're perceived by others. This is a practical and actionable conversation about communication: how it's more than simply the way we speak but the way we 'show up'. It's time to change how we present ourselves at meetings and in our interactions with others.

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.

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. 

GBD55 As the AICPA & CIMA CFO Conference begins today 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 and is a member of the African Leadership Network (ALN). We discuss the maths of accumulated impact and the 5 truths that create better leaders, colleagues, role models, and business-people.

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 it such profound opportunities, and outlines the digital mindsets that will help our profession move forward.  

GBD53 Do we need to become more creative to protect ourselves from automation? In a fast-evolving cyber tech landscape, 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, cybersecurity and RPA (robotic process automation) through Excel & Automated Solutions. Pratish shares what he's learned from years specialising in IT infrastructure, helping corporates improve their IT security.

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.

GBD51 Going from 'or' to 'and', self-compassion, and what we can learn from Rosie the Riveter. This concludes our March focus on women who've become movers and shakers in the accounting, finance and business spheres. 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.

GBD50 How a California-based public health-technology company uses blockchain to empower community-building and empowerment for collective health and sustainability. Daisy Ozim 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. She also discusses her work with the Blockchain for Social Justice collective, a platform designed to promote education and access of blockchain technology.