This week, my sweet “starter child” Della will marry her high-school sweetheart, Nic, in the church where Brian and I were married nearly 33 years ago. These two “kids” are a perfect match, with complimentary gifts and talents and a powerful commitment to each other. I have every confidence that they can make their union [...]
In the September 24, 2021 Leadership Lunch Chat, Jennifer Wilson and Amy Vetter discuss building a firm that your talent want to manage and own in the future well beyond your retirement. Join us next week for a live discussion of all things leadership -- in the profession and in our communities every Friday at [...]
Last September, I accepted the role of Director of Men’s Ministry at my church conditioned on a “self-imposed” three-year term limit, during which my strategic focus would be to identify, develop and mentor my replacement; hopefully someone half my age! Almost six months into my new role, it feels like a good time to review [...]
Happy New Year, and New Decade! We are looking forward to a fresh start and the opportunity to envision what possibilities the next ten years will deliver. We believe this decade will be pivotal in the way that firms operate their practice, manage their talent and serve clients. It’s understandable to have twinges of overwhelm [...]
In the past three months, I’ve become a grandfather (twice!), celebrated my 61st birthday, and taken on the role of Director of Men’s Ministries at my church. Taking on this new role was included on my “possibilities” list discussed in my June 2018 blog, Keeping seems easy. Stopping is hard. Starting even harder. I accepted [...]
At almost every event I attend with friends, the topic of work always seems to creep in. They share their stories and frustrations about their offices or their bosses and all too often I wish there was some discreet way to anonymously send articles about NextGen talent and clients, creating a better culture, or feedback [...]
Transition is top of mind for most CPA firms today. The topic emerges in almost every conversation we have with clients, at conferences and in our everyday interactions with firm leaders. Whether we’re talking to firm leaders or emerging leaders, client loss is one of the biggest fears commonly shared by BOTH transitioners and their [...]
Firms around the country are struggling to recruit and retain experienced professionals to serve their clients. Partners are nearing retirement, and many don’t have clear successors in place to ensure their firms keep running. Given the need for talent, we should leave no stone unturned in our quest to identify our next generation of leaders. [...]
When facilitating visioning sessions with both current partners and their NextGen leaders, one element consistently emerges as crucial to their becoming a NextGen firm: transparency. Yes, it’s a request of the NextGen leaders, and it is often contrary to Baby Boomers’ and older Gen Xers’ approach of “Just put your head down, don’t ask any [...]
