"Protea Conversations" is an enlightening leadership podcast that delves into the dynamic world of business and accounting. In each episode, we engage with seasoned leaders to unravel their unique stories, uncovering pivotal advice that has shaped their success. Our guests generously share insights and practical guidance, offering listeners valuable lessons to propel their own career trajectories.
Meet Roman! Roman Villard is the founder of Full-Send Finance. He shares his journey in the world of finance, from accounting to his transition into business development and eventually starting his own firm. Roman also discusses the inception of Full-Send Finance and its growth over the years. He emphasizes the importance of balancing work and personal life. He shares his journey of starting an accounting firm and the importance of having a strong support system. He emphasizes the importance of professionalism and positivity when terminating client relationships. He also discusses his content creation efforts and advocacy for positive change in the accounting industry. Roman shares advice for new accountants and aspiring leaders. Takeaways - Accounting can open up doors to various opportunities - The dynamics and culture of a small firm can provide a more fulfilling experience. - Starting a firm requires dedication, hard work, and the ability to balance personal and professional life. - Building relationships and a network is essential for success in the accounting industry. - Content creation and advocacy can drive positive change in the accounting industry. - Balancing personal and professional life is important for overall well-being. - Improving internal processes and operations is crucial for the growth and success of a firm. Chapters 00:31 Introduction to Roman Villard 01:27 Roman's Journey to Full-Send Finance 10:48 The Importance of Small Firm Dynamics 14:37 Starting Full-Send Finance 25:36 Building a Team and Increasing Scalability 25:58 Balancing Work and Personal Life 26:28 The importance of a support system 44:42 Advice for new accountants 46:39 Leadership advice Connect with Roman: LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdvcpa/ LinkedIn company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/gofullsend/
Meet Josh! Zane Stevens interviews Josh Sterling, a wealth strategist at Camas Advice. Josh shares his journey from being a soccer coach to entering the financial industry. He discusses the importance of education and mentorship in his success. Josh emphasizes the value of helping others and building genuine relationships. He also talks about his focus on educating clients and professionals about advanced planning strategies. Throughout the conversation, Josh highlights the challenges he faced in transitioning careers and the importance of staying focused. In this conversation, Josh Sterling shares insights and advice on various topics, including balancing work and family life, setting short-term goals, starting a career, leadership, and being yourself as a leader. He also discusses his passion for sports and coaching. Takeaways - Education and mentorship are crucial for success in any industry. - Building genuine relationships and helping others are key to long-term success. - Focus on providing value and educating clients about their options. - Challenges are opportunities for growth and learning. Balancing work and family life is a challenge that many people face in their careers. It requires staying focused and allocating time in the right areas. - Setting short-term goals is important for personal and professional growth. Creating an education platform and achieving revenue goals are examples of short-term goals. - One piece of advice for those starting their career is to not feel the pressure of having all the answers. It's okay to not know everything and to seek help and learn from others. - Being yourself as a leader is crucial. Authenticity and taking care of the people around you are key qualities of effective leadership. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Protea Conversations 01:01 Introduction to Josh Sterling 03:48 Transition from Soccer Coach to Wealth Strategist 10:26 Transition from Coach to Director 18:18 Formation of Canvas Advice 23:22 Value of Helping Others 29:58 Day-to-Day Activities 33:37 Focus on Education 37:29 Challenges and Focus 39:33 Balancing Work and Family Life 41:03 Short-Term Goals 42:34 Advice for Those Starting Their Career 45:08 Leadership 47:17 Being Yourself as a Leader 49:23 Personal Life and Coaching 49:38 Rapid Fire Questions Connect with Josh: LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshsterlinginsurance/ LinkedIn company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/camas-advice/
Hannah Smolinski, founder of Clara CFO Group, shares her journey from working at a large accounting firm to starting her own virtual CFO agency. She discusses the benefits of starting in a big accounting firm and the experience she gained. Hannah also talks about the transition to entrepreneurship and the challenges she faced. She explains how she started a YouTube channel to provide financial guidance to small businesses and the unexpected success it brought. Hannah emphasizes the importance of building a team and empowering team members. She shares her lessons in leadership and the growth of Clara CFO Group. In this conversation, Hannah Smolinski discusses her approach to leadership, her short-term goals for Clara CFO, the vision for her YouTube channel, her personal goals, the best piece of advice she's received, advice for new accountants, and shares insights into her personal life. Takeaways - Starting in a big accounting firm provides valuable training, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development. - Transitioning from a corporate job to entrepreneurship requires taking risks and finding your unique value proposition. - Creating content on platforms like YouTube can help establish expertise and attract clients. - Building a team is essential for business growth and success, and empowering team members is crucial for a positive work environment. - Leadership requires learning to delegate, hiring the right people, and continuously improving as a leader. Leadership involves leading by example and ensuring that you act in a way that you would want your team members to act. - Short-term goals for Clara CFO include transitioning to a visionary role and achieving a 30-hour work week. - The vision for the YouTube channel is to educate small business owners and provide them with the confidence and knowledge to make financial decisions. - Hannah's personal goals include playing tennis and creating a comfortable home. - The best piece of advice Hannah received is to not worry about what others think, as people are often focused on themselves. - Advice for new accountants is to explore different opportunities within the accounting profession and pursue the path that aligns with their desired lifestyle. - Hannah enjoys drinking decaf coffee and has a love for pizza. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:29 Experience at EY and Transition to Entrepreneurship 08:14 Benefits of Starting in a Big Accounting Firm 12:02 Transitioning to Clara CFO Group 15:12 Building Confidence as a Fractional CFO 20:01 Working with a Team at Clara CFO Group 25:09 Challenges and Lessons in Leadership 28:32 Leadership and Leading by Example 31:18 Short-Term Goals for Clara CFO 34:18 Vision for the YouTube Channel 39:10 Personal Goals 40:47 Best Piece of Advice 44:41 Advice for New Accountants 46:19 Insight into Hannah the Person 49:06 Rapid Fire Questions Connect with Hannah: LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-smolinski-cpa-16994aa/ YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ClaraCFO
Meet Jeremy! The teacher turned attorney. An incredible journey from helping troubled teens to keeping business owners out of trouble. A specialist in dirt, food and booze. Jeremy Little, a partner at CMPR Attorneys, shares his career journey from being a teacher to becoming a lawyer. He discusses the challenges he faced along the way and the importance of networking and learning from others. Jeremy also talks about his role as a leader and the advice he received that helped him in his career. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, exploring Maine, and supporting Boston sports teams. In this episode of Protea Conversations, the host and guest discuss their favorite piece of technology and favorite childhood meal. They explore the impact of technology on their lives and how it can both simplify and complicate things. The conversation also delves into the nostalgia and memories associated with favorite childhood meals. Takeaways - Networking and learning from others are crucial for career growth. - Being true to yourself and being present and engaged with others are important qualities of a leader. - Balancing work and personal life can be challenging, but finding a groove and prioritizing is key. - Exploring different opportunities and being open to new experiences can lead to unexpected career paths. - Having a strong foundation in business knowledge is essential for success as a lawyer. Technology can have both positive and negative effects on our lives. - Favorite childhood meals hold a special place in our hearts and can evoke nostalgia. - Engaging in conversations about personal preferences can help build connections and understanding. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Jeremy's Career Path 06:17 Transitioning to Law School 08:27 Working at Different Firms 12:46 Becoming a Partner 19:46 Day-to-Day as a Partner 23:24 Navigating Alcohol Beverage Law 26:06 Challenges in Jeremy's Career 30:50 Short-Term Goals 34:29 Best Piece of Advice 41:08 Leadership Advice 44:15 Jeremy's Personal Life 45:49 Rapid Fire Questions 47:03 Favorite Piece of Technology 48:00 Favorite Childhood Meal Connect with Jeremy: LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-little-7213321/ CMPR - https://cmprlaw.com/ Protea Conversations is an enlightening leadership podcast that delves into the dynamic world of business and accounting. In each episode, we engage with seasoned leaders to unravel their unique stories, uncovering pivotal advice that has shaped their success. Our guests generously share insights and practical guidance, offering listeners valuable lessons to propel their own career trajectories. Our dialogues aim to spark ongoing discussions about the varied experiences, opportunities, and challenges confronting today's leaders. Through these conversations, we aspire to cultivate a forum where ideas on building a more diverse, inclusive, and successful professional landscape can flourish. Whether you're an aspiring leader or an established executive, our podcast offers simple yet powerful advice to accelerate your growth and broaden your understanding of leadership in today's ever-evolving global environment. Join us on Protea Conversations to be a part of this journey.
Meet Lukas Sundahl! The creative accountant is changing the image of the industry. The TikTok star brings a new light to the term boring accountant. Lukas is the visionary behind Accounting Couture. Lukas shares his journey from physical fitness to accounting and how he found his passion in accounting. He discusses the impact of Accounting Couture and how he uses TikTok to promote the accounting profession in a fun and engaging way. He emphasizes the importance of increasing interest in accounting and providing alternative pathways for aspiring accountants. Heshares insights on the value of apprenticeships, networking, and mentorship in accounting. He emphasizes the importance of building symbiotic relationships, avoiding burning bridges, and imparting knowledge to younger professionals. Lukas also highlights the role of creativity and sharing in his life and the significance of embracing leadership and mentorship. The conversation concludes with rapid-fire questions and closing remarks. Takeaways - Apprenticeships and hands-on experience can be valuable in learning and applying accounting concepts. - Networking should be a two-way street, where you provide value to others in your network. - Avoid burning bridges in your career as you never know when you may encounter someone again. - Mentorship is important for both personal and professional growth - Sharing knowledge and being open to learning from others can lead to personal and professional development. - Embrace creativity and find ways to incorporate it into your work and personal life. - Leadership involves mentoring others and helping them grow. Closing remarks: Strive for excellence, embrace growth, and be kind. Connect with Lukas: LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukasnsundahl/ Accounting Couture - https://www.accountingcouture.com/shopping Protea Conversations is an enlightening leadership podcast that delves into the dynamic world of business and accounting. In each episode, we engage with seasoned leaders to unravel their unique stories, uncovering pivotal advice that has shaped their success. Our guests generously share insights and practical guidance, offering listeners valuable lessons to propel their own career trajectories. Our dialogues aim to spark ongoing discussions about the varied experiences, opportunities, and challenges confronting today's leaders. Through these conversations, we aspire to cultivate a forum where ideas on building a more diverse, inclusive, and successful professional landscape can flourish. Whether you're an aspiring leader or an established executive, our podcast offers simple yet powerful advice to accelerate your growth and broaden your understanding of leadership in today's ever-evolving global environment. Join us on Protea Conversations to be a part of this journey. Follow Protea: Website - https://proteafinancial.com/blog/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/proteafinancial LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/10833176 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/protea_financial/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/FinancialProtea