VSCPA Leading Forward

In this podcast, VSCPA Chief Operating Officer Maureen Dingus, CAE (@MaureenDingus), talks with leaders in and out of the accounting profession about topics such as leadership, innovation, corporate culture and technology. Theme song by The Green Hearts.

Episodes

• December 2021: Making Mental Health Part of Your Company Culture with Jenny Harris, CPA
  In our latest Leading Forward podcast episode, Maureen talks with Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance Well-being Leader, Jennifer Harris, CPA, about incorporating a focus on mental health into your company culture. She also shares a few tips that anyone can use to empower their own well-being.
   
• November 2021:The Power of Social Media and Building Your Brand With David Peters, CPA
  In our latest Leading Forward podcast episode, Maureen talks with David Peters, CPA, CFP, owner of David Peters Financial Group, about harnessing the power of social media, building community and growing your personal brand. Watch the full podcast here. 
   
• October 2021: Innovation Beyond Technology With Ed Kless
  In our latest Leading Forward podcast episode, Maureen talks with Ed Kless, senior director at Sage, about innovation beyond technology and what it means to innovate. Ed shares a few great examples of ways we can innovate daily tasks to better serve our customers. Read the full transcript here, and now you can watch the podcast recording here.
   
• September 2021: Leading Through a Pandemic With Anne Hagen, CPA
  In our latest Leading Forward podcast episode, Maureen gets personal with Anne Hagen, CPA, VSCPA board chair and CEO of the Masonic Home of Virginia. They discuss life and death, running a retirement community during a pandemic and leading a $100,000 centennial campaign honoring the first Black CPA in the United States. Read the full transcript here, and now you can watch the podcast recording here. 
   
• August 2021: Re-emerging From a Pandemic
  In our latest Leading Forward podcast episode, Maureen talks with Ace Callwood, facilitator and director at Envoy, about finding our place in a post-pandemic world, leading with your head, heart and hands and getting reacquainted with ourselves and our colleagues. Read the full transcript here, and now you can watch the podcast recording here. 
   
• June 2021: Succession Planning and Developing Talent Early With Ira Rosenbloom, CPA
  In our latest Leading Forward podcast episode, Maureen talks with Ira Rosenbloom, CPA, CEO of Optimum Strategies, about developing your talent and the need to start early with succession planning. Read the full transcript here, and now you can watch the podcast recording here. 
   
• May 2021: CEO Action Pledge, Transparency, Diversity and Inclusion With Wes Bricker, CPA
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Wes Bricker, CPA, vice chair and assurance leader at PWC, about the CEO Action Pledge, creating transparency and PWC's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Read the full transcript here, and now you can watch the podcast recording here. 
   
• April 2021: Implementing New Technologies & RPA With Samantha Mansfield 
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Samantha Mansfield, nationally recognized speaker and recipient of the 2019 AICPA Most Powerful Women in Accounting award, about implementing new technologies, robotic process automation (RPA), disruption mapping and more. Read the full transcript here, and now you can watch the podcast recording here. 
   
• March 2021: CPA Perspective Panel: Wellness, Stress and Looking Forward
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Penelope Bustamante, Scott Garka, CPA, Monica Dalwadi, CPA and Dylan Hendrickson from our Mental Health Exploration Kickoff about wellness, stress and looking forward. Read the full transcript here.
   
• February 2021: Mental Health and the CPA Profession With Mark Cowan, CPA 
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Mark Cowan, CPA, professor at Boise State University, about how we can lift the stigma on mental health and shifting our culture to be more supportive. Read the full transcript here. 
   
• January 2021: Reaching Your Peak Performance With Sarah Elliott, CPA
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Sarah Elliott, CPA, co-founder of Intend2Lead, about refocusing our mindset and creating habits that support our mental well-being. This uplifting conversation shows how daily habits and managing our energy can help us reach our peak performance. Read the full transcript here. 
   
• December 2020: Making Connections and What's Your And? With John Garrett
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with John Garrett, author of What's Your 'And'? about his latest book and how you don't have to conform to a specific stereotype to be successful at work. This engaging conversation shows how sharing your personal passions improves work performances and enhances work relationships. Read the full transcript here.
   
• November 2020: Virtual Networking and Fueling Your Career With Courtney Arrington, CPA
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Courtney Arrington, CPA, investment accountant at Genworth and blogger for The Accounting Struggle, about virtual networking and fueling your career through mentorship. Read the full transcript here.
   
• October 2020: Values Based Leadership With Tom Epperson
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Tom Epperson, president of InnerWill, a Center for Innovation partner, about values-based leadership and how to become more effective in how you lead. Read the full transcript here.
   
• September 2020: Becoming Antifragile With Ed Kless
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Ed Kless, senior director of partner development and strategy at Sage, a Center for Innovation Partner, about antifragility and how companies and CPAs can become antifragile during this time of disruption. Read the full transcript here.
   
• August. 2020: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion With Tracie Daniels
  In our latest podcast episode, Maureen talks with Tracie Daniels, president of Synergy Consulting, a human capital management consulting firm, about diversity, equity and inclusion — why these should be a focus for businesses and how to get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Read the full transcript here.
   
• July 2020: Practicing Self-Care With Brian Kush, CPA, PCC
  In our latest episode, Maureen talks with Brian Kush, CPA, PCC, executive leadership coach at Intend2Lead, about self-care and how to be intentional with your habits. Brian shares one habit he practices daily that has helped him during COVID. Read the full transcript here.
   
• June 2020: Virtual Learning With Jill Mitchell
  In our latest episode, Maureen talks with Jill Mitchell, professor at Northern Virginia Community College and adjunct professor at George Mason University, about designing an engaging virtual learning environment and using a student-first approach to teaching. Read the full transcript here.
   
• June 2020: Story-Based Learning in Higher Education With Kelly Richmond Pope, Ph.D., CPA
  In our latest episode, Maureen talks with Kelly Richmond Pope, Ph.D., CPA, an award-winning film director and associate professor of accounting at Depaul University, about using story-based learning in lieu of the traditional case-based approach. Kelly shares a digital platform and techniques to help increase student engagement in the classroom. Read the full transcript here.
   
• May 2020: COVID-19 Series With Jason Navon, CPA
  Maureen talks with Jason Navon, CPA, chief financial officer of Rossen Landscape about owning a landscaping business during the pandemic, shifts they've had to make and building community with clients and employees. Read the full transcript here.
   
• May 2020: COVID-19 Series With Ann Deaton, Ph.D, PCC
  This episode is part of our weekly series on how VSCPA members and partners are managing and even thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maureen talks with Ann Deaton, Ph.D., PCC, a leadership and team coach with The Bounce Collective, about mentoring versus coaching, thriving in today's world and how you can use the concept of VUCA with your teams. Read the full transcript here.
   
• May 2020: COVID-19 Series With Brandon Pope, CPA
  This episode is part of our weekly series on how VSCPA members and partners are managing and even thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maureen talks with Brandon Pope, CPA, associate director, accounting and finance at VACO, about the current job market, challenges his clients are facing, and talent retention and acquisition. Brandon shares a helpful tip that will ensure teams are successful during this time. Listen to find out what it is. Read the full transcript here.
   
• April 2020: COVID-19 Series With Kathy Greenier
  This episode is part of our weekly series on how VSCPA members and partners are managing and even thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maureen talks with Kathy Greenier from Floricane, a VSCPA Center for Innovation partner, about adopting a coaching mindset and practicing self-awareness. Kathy shares an insightful skill that can have a big impact on our professional relationships. Listen and find out what it is.
   
• April 2020: COVID-19 Series With Aaron Peters, CPA
  This episode is part of our weekly series on how VSCPA members are managing and even thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Maureen talks with Aaron Peters, CPA, owner of Peters & Associates, P.C. about working from home, communicating with clients and shifts they've made. Our fourth episode of the series will be released next Friday. Read the full transcript here.
   
• April 2020: COVID-19 Series With Penelope Bustamante
  This episode is part of our weekly series on how VSCPA members are managing and even thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Maureen talks with Penelope Bustamante, chief operating officer, at Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer about how her firm is dealing with the pandemic and the shifts they've made. Our third episode of the series will be released next Friday. Read the full transcript here.
   
• April 2020: COVID-19 Series With George Forsythe, CPA
  This episode is part of our weekly series on how VSCPA members are managing and even thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Maureen talks with George Forsythe, CPA, managing partner of Wells Coleman about how his firm is adjusting and the steps they've taken to move forward. Our second episode of the series will be released next Friday. Read the full transcript here.
   
• February 2020: Risk Management With Ric Rosario, CPA 
  This month, Maureen talks with Ric Rosario, CPA, CEO of CAMICO, about his focus on risk management, why it's important and what you can do.
   
• January 2020: (Replay)  A Conversation on Global Accounting With Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA
  VSCPA Leading Forward host Maureen Dingus, CAE, goes in-depth with the past Chair of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA of Oracle about her focus on global accounting.
   
• October 2019: Crucial CPA Technology With Donny Shimamoto, CPA
  A longtime friend of the VSCPA finally appears on Leading Forward! Donny Shimamoto, CPA (@donnyitk), joined us for a presentation at Leaders' Summit and sat down with Maureen afterward. Listen for great insights on technology and how you can help your practice stand out in a crowded marketplace. Read the full transcript here.
   
• September 2019: The Entrepreneurial CPA With Garrett Wagner, CPA
  Another great discussion from our Leaders' Summit! Garrett Wagner, CPA (@garrettwagner37) of C3 Evolution Group joined us to talk about the future of the profession and how CPAs need to be entrepreneurs to compete in the economy of the future. Listen to learn the skills Garrett identifies as most important to the entrepreneurial CPA. View the show transcript here.
   
• August 2019: Leadership Character With Alanna McKee
  Alanna McKee, a senior consultant with McKinley Advisors (@McKinleyAdvisor), joined us at our annual Leaders' Summit conference in May, and she was gracious enough to sit down with Maureen to discuss how our character traits impact our organizations and how leaders can leverage character to lead more effectively. View the show transcript and links here.
   
• July 2019: The Social Contract With J.J. White
  It's a Leading Forward field trip! We ventured out into the wilds of Goochland to visit JJ White (@jj_white), host of the Great People Show (@greatpeopleshow) and chief engagement officer at Dale Carnegie of Virginia (@DaleCarnegieVA). Listen to a great conversation about corporate culture, the employer-employee relationship and the value of the mindset of constant growth. View the show transcript and links here.
   
• June 2019: Your Post-Tax Season Checklist With Sherrill Hebert
  Sherrill Hebert, national sales director at VSCPA technology partner Cetrom (@Cetrom), is our guest on this month's VSCPA Leading Forward. He and Maureen go through how CPA firms should include a technology debrief in their post-tax season review. View the show transcript here.

• May 2019: Learning How to Learn With Saundra McGuire, Ph.D., and Vivian Paige, CPA
  Saundra McGuire, Ph.D., director emerita of the Center for Academic Success at Louisiana State University, and VSCPA member Vivian Paige, CPA (@vpaige), senior lecturer of accounting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, joins guest host Chip Knighton to talk about McGuire's research into how students learn and how that's applicable to accounting education, the CPA pipeline and lifelong learning. If you like what you heard, visit vscpa.com/EducatorsExchange to sign up for our free Accounting Educators' Exchange, where Saundra is the opening speaker! View the show transcript and links here.

• April 2019: The Leadership Journey With John Sarvay
  This month, Maureen talks to an old friend: Floricane founder John Sarvay (@sarvay), whose company "helps organizations figure out what's next and how to get there." They discuss John's leadership journey and how it has helped him prepare other professionals along their own. View the show transcript here.
   
• March 2019: Working Anytime, Anywhere With Tamera Loerzel
  The impossibly patient Tamera Loerzel (@tameraloerzel) of ConvergenceCoaching joins Maureen to discuss the results of Convergence's Anytime, Anywhere Work Survey. She's got great insights on leadership, remote working and her own professional journey. View the show transcript and links here.
   
• February 2019: Effective Communication With Merikay Hunt
  Fresh from this morning's call to your ears, we've got Merikay Hunt, founder and CEO of COACH MKay Companies. Merikay spoke at our Leadership Academy last November and offered her great insights on communication, leadership and work-life balance. Find her at coachmkay.com.

• January 2019: Remote Working With Tina Bates, CAE
  It's a new year, so we've got...an old podcast! We recorded this episode last year with VSCPA Vice President, Advocacy Tina Bates, CAE, as a proof of concept, back when we were still discussing the form VSCPA Leading Forward would take. (Sharp-eared listeners will notice the podcast didn't even have a name yet.) But the content was so good (and dovetailed so nicely with December's episode with Byron Patrick) that we wanted to make it available to you. Enjoy as Tina and Maureen discuss Tina's experiences working remotely from South Carolina!

• December 2018: Managing Change With Byron Patrick, CPA
  VSCPA member Byron Patrick, CPA, managing director of the CPA practice area for Network Alliance, joins us this month. Byron is a member of the VSCPA's Center for Innovation Advisory Council, and he and Maureen had a great conversation about innovation, technology and leading and managing through change.
   
• November 2018: Inside Blockchain with Louise Reed, CPA
  Fresh off her presentation at the VSCPA's Tech-Know Summit, VSCPA member Louise Reed, CPA, discusses her own "A-ha!" moments that led to the creation of her new business, Afloat, which uses blockchain technology to facilitate the sale and transfer of transferable tax credits. View the show transcript here.
   
• October 2018: Being Intentional About Culture With Shawn Boyer
  VSCPA Leading Forward host Maureen Dingus, CAE, goes in-depth with Shawn Boyer, CEO of Snagajob and GoHappy, about his focus on innovation and why it's important to be intentional about corporate culture.
   
• September 2018: Creating a Culture of Innovation With Mark Sedgley
  VSCPA Leading Forward host Maureen Dingus, CAE, sits down with Mark Sedgley, president of CEO of association software company MemberClicks, to talk about the culture at his company and how he tries to be intentional about the process of innovation.
   
• August 2018: Navigating Change With Bill Reeb, CPA
  VSCPA Leading Forward host Maureen Dingus, CAE, sits down with Bill Reeb, CPA, vice chair of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)and CEO of Succession Institute, to discuss the disruptive change CPAs face and how the profession can use it as an opportunity to redefine its core services and value proposition.
   
• July 2018: The Firm of the Future With Richard Groover, CPA, and Gary Thomson, CPA
  We've got a live episode of VSCPA Leading Forward, recorded at our Firm of the Future session at last month's VSCPA Educators' Symposium. Host Maureen Dingus, CAE, chats with VSCPA Board of Directors Chair Richard Groover, CPA, shareholder at Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer in Norfolk, and Chair-Elect Gary Thomson, CPA, regional managing partner at Dixon Hughes Goodman in Richmond. Listen for their great insights on where their firms are headed!
   
• June 2018: Engaging Millennials With America's Millennial Expert, Gabrielle Bosché
  VSCPA Leading Forward host Maureen Dingus, CAE, sits down with Gabrielle Bosché, "America's Millennial Expert," to discuss what makes millennials unique and how savvy managers can unlock their potential.
   
• May 2018: A Conversation on Global Accounting With AICPA Chair Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA
  Welcome to VSCPA Leading Forward, the VSCPA's podcast on leadership and innovation in the CPA profession! Our inaugural guest is a great one: Outgoing American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Chair Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA, global accounting strategy leader at Oracle.