Randy Crabtree connects with business development specialist Chris Cocca on Episode 210 of The Unique CPA. The President of Strategic Sales and former actively practicing CPA, Chris now specializes in helping accounting firms grow and scale by identifying and leveraging their rainmakers, implementing effective business development processes, and formalizing sales methodologies. Focusing on efficiency in business development and highlighting the importance of having a sales leader within the firm, Chris emphasizes the need for a tailored approach to coaching salespeople and aligning business development with firm growth goals on a person-to-person level.

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Randy Crabtree welcomes Geni Whitehouse, an influential figure in the accounting profession known for her diverse roles including founder of The Impactful Advisor, ITA president, and winery consultant, on Episode 209 of The Unique CPA. Geni talks about things that made a difference in her career trajectory, highlighting her transition from an uninspired CPA to a passionate advocate for enhancing the accounting profession and the experiences of everyone involved. She stresses effective communication, the power of humor in public speaking, and the need to connect and make an impact. Geni’s commitment to training and mentorship—and her experiences in stand-up comedy and TED Talks—underscore her mission to make accounting a better profession.

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Questian Telka and Nancy McClelland join Randy on Episode 208 of The Unique CPA to discuss their new podcast, She Counts, aimed at addressing the unique experiences of women in the accounting profession. The podcast will focus on authentic conversations with subject matter experts and leaders in the profession, with discussions about breaking through isolation, challenging industry norms, both providing and receiving support and practical advice, #MeToo, mentorship, vulnerability, the importance of DEI, and more. Launching She Counts in mid-May, Questian and Nancy understand the need for intentional change in hiring and promotion practices and invite both women and men to join these important conversations through the podcast.

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Randy hosts a very special Episode 207 of The Unique CPA, with now three-time guest Dawn Brolin. Dawn, the “Designated Motivator,” discusses her latest book, The Elevation of Empathy: Leading for the W.I.N., and she delves into how empathy transforms leadership, organizational culture, and mental health. Dawn’s impactful personal stories about dealing with leaders who lack empathy highlights the importance of vulnerability, transparency, and intentionality if you want to be the kind of leader that people look up to and remember for the right reasons. Emphasizing the detrimental impact of poor leadership on mental well-being, the significance of positive mentorship, and the need for genuine care in professional relationships, Dawn’s practical advice on practicing empathy is valuable currency when it comes to humanizing the accounting profession and the experiences of those who are in it.

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Randy Crabtree is joined by Annette Wehrli of Effectivity Consulting on Episode 206 of The Unique CPA to talk about aligning business strategy with people strategy. They discuss the significant challenge many accounting firms face: transitioning professionals from technical experts to effective leaders, the importance of identifying the right leadership types and styles, and the need for a balance of technical, visionary, thought, and people leadership within firms. Annette highlights storytelling, culture, and customized leadership training programs as ways to enhance individuals’ innate leadership potential, seeing it as a path forward for the profession and aiding in its continued positive transformation as it addresses its talent attraction and retention challenges.

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Randy Crabtree concludes his conversation on community with Nancy McClelland, The Dancing Accountant, on Episode 205 of The Unique CPA. They focus particularly on the vital role bookkeepers play in the accounting world, and the importance of collaboration between them and tax professionals. This, along with creating effective systems, are keys to building a culture of shared resources, proper communication, and continuous learning—essentially, forming stronger bonds within the community will lead to better results for service provider and client alike. Nancy highlights practical steps to educate small business owners, bookkeepers, and tax pros to foster better working relationships, underscoring the need to transform accounting’s landscape through enhanced cooperation and training.

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Randy Crabtree kicks off a two part conversation with Nancy McClelland, the Dancing Accountant, on Episode 204 of The Unique CPA. Their discussion will conclude the series on the impact of community in the accounting profession, where they delve into Nancy's journey from bookkeeping to becoming a CPA and the evolution of her business and identity. Nancy shares her insights on how pivotal relationships are to everything she does as owner of a “hyperlocal” firm, and the inspiration behind her initiative, “Ask a CPA,” which aims to foster collaboration between bookkeepers and tax professionals. The discussion highlights how better connections within the profession can lead to a more efficient and more mentally healthy work environment, which increases productivity and satisfaction, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.

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Randy continues his focus on community in accounting with Yuri Kapilovich on Episode 203 of The Unique CPA. Also known as #TheFunCPA, Yuri shares his mission to redefine accounting, making it more dynamic and engaging through his social media content, networking events, and YouTube series. Discussing his journey of building a full-service accounting firm with a focus on work-life balance, Yuri explains how he maintains a limited work schedule while providing high-value services to his clients. Yuri’s continuing efforts to create unique and enjoyable networking events are just one of the many ways that he contributes to the accounting community.

Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com