Karim Ellis is the keynote speaker at the AICPA Governmental and Not-for-Profit Conference in October in Las Vegas. The early-bird registration deadline for the event is Friday.

For Ellis, the qualities of a strong speaker are similar to the ones needed in a strong leader:

empathy, preparedness, adaptability, and excellent storytelling skills.

In this conversation, Ellis shares how he prepares for speaking, some of the rookie mistakes he made decades ago, and why the experience of taking some foul-tasting cough syrup has stuck with him.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• · The meaning for Ellis of the phrase “iron sharpens iron; rust sharpens rust.”
• · Why a speaker’s preparation is like baking a cake.
• · How Ellis adapts if he senses his message is failing to resonate with an audience.
• · An example from his childhood that illustrates the power of good storytelling.
• · His advice for conference attendees’ choice of seats for his session.

Sentiment about the U.S. economy improved slightly — but not nearly enough to be considered a positive outlook — in the latest quarterly Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey by the AICPA and CIMA.

For a breakdown of the results, the JofA podcast welcomed back Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, associate director–Management Accounting Research & Development.

He discusses finance decision-makers’ views on tariffs and inflation and the 12-month projections for revenue and profit.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· The “softening” related to domestic economic conditions — and why that’s not enough to overcome mainly negative sentiment.

· The percentage of executives who foresee a recession this year or next.

· Finance leaders’ approaches in response to tariffs.

· The top challenges beyond inflation facing survey respondents.

· How respondents feel about the state of the global economy.

“Maybe I never will change the whole world. But every day, I can change my world.”

Those are the words of profession leader Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA. She’s back on the JofA podcast, this time in person from her house in South Dakota. Stevenson discussed technology adoption, how her firm approaches remote work, and why keeping a journal at least for part of the year is important to her.

Stevenson, chief transformation officer at the firm BPM, also addressed how she views fear as it relates to career moves — and how she thought about that differently in a 2019 conversation.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

• The reason her firm has geographical regions and a virtual region.
• Why unplugging is difficult but necessary for Stevenson.
• Why she likes an at-home vacation more than a big trip.
• Her approach to overcoming fear and how that approach has changed in the past six years.
• AI: its danger, its potential, and how she is using it.
• The gratitude-based journaling practice she recommends.

“We’re not short on things to do.”

Those are the words of Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and president and CEO of the AICPA.

He’s been in that role since the start of the year and traveled all over the world hearing from members. Summer’s end seemed like a good time for a progress report on a variety of fronts from Koziel, who at the time of publication was visiting Asia.

This is a special edition of the podcast, published jointly on the Journal of Accountancy and FM channels.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· Koziel’s ideal walkup song, nearly a year after his introduction included Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”

· The skills gap affecting businesses around the world.

· Global influence on accounting and standard setting.

· Advocacy success, specifically in the United States.

· The significance of preserving the passthrough entity tax deduction.

· Examples of the perseverance that helped deliver that advocacy victory.

· An update on CPA licensure efforts.

Jen Wilson admittedly loves her work. As partner and co-founder at ConvergenceCoaching LLC, she’s on the road often, advising accounting firms and profession leaders. Sometimes, that travel and love of work can give her colleagues cause for concern.

“It troubles them if they can't see me unplug,” Wilson said.

This episode of the JofA podcast, the second of a three-episode Midwest series focusing on summer travel, features Wilson talking about the value of time away. It was recorded in person, at her house in Bellevue, Neb.

Wilson discussed the benefits of a two-week, end-of-year closure and why despite understanding the importance of a refresh, she sometimes takes work with her on vacation.

Additionally, as the independent facilitator for the National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG), Wilson is plugged in to the talent issues facing the profession. She provided an update on where things stand with accounting talent with 2026 about four months away.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· Wilson’s background as a longtime resident of Nebraska.

· The reasons she travels often for work in the summer.

· Why Wilson sometimes takes work with her on vacation – and her family’s reaction to that decision.

· The benefits of an extended, full-company closure.

· Her assessment of the accounting talent pipeline.

· The meaning she finds in the quote, “Your direction is more important than your speed.”

For Carrie Kruse, CPA, CGMA, mental clarity is one goal of going on vacation. Also, Kruse likes to be tested while away from her job as economic development administrator for Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines. In Kruse’s words, she loves “to be challenged in ways outside of my professional sphere.” Recently, that challenge was a hike of more than 100 mountainous miles in Europe.

That challenge also meant she unplugged from work for two weeks, which helped to ensure she returned to Iowa refreshed.

This conversation is the first of a three-episode road trip to the Midwest with a theme of summer travel and the importance of taking time away. Episodes with finance leaders in Nebraska and South Dakota are coming later in the summer.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· The particulars of Kruse’s economic development role.

· Why she says that Des Moines punches above its weight.

· The type of vacation Kruse takes depending on the time of year.

· How a recent trip to Europe underscored the importance of unplugging.

· The value of serving on the Government Performance and Accountability Committee.

The podcast is taking a break from full episode posting this week. Listen to previous episodes by visiting the podcast homepage, or find the show on the podcast app of your choice.

Here’s a brief explanation from host Neil Amato about what’s to come on the show later in the summer.

“It feels like we were out at sea. We got washed overboard by a big wave and we’re floating around in life vests, and wave after wave of transformation is washing over us.”

Those were the words of a corporate finance leader a few years back to Tom Hood, CPA/CITP, CGMA, executive vice president–Business Growth & Engagement for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

The feeling of being knocked back by seemingly nonstop changes in the business environment is a common one — so common that it’s a recurring theme for a group of finance leaders Hood formed about five years ago.

In this episode, Hood explains more about the “learn to surf” mantra and the top challenges facing finance leaders today. In a December JofA podcast appearance, he summarized the fourth Future of Finance Summit.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· The best way to handle the “intense” waves of transformation.

· How a philosopher’s words have helped Hood and colleagues work with hundreds of corporate finance teams on transformation.

· Some of Hood’s favorite summer leisure activities.

· The top challenges facing finance leaders.

· His advice for creating more engaging LinkedIn posts.

· A shout-out to a retiring colleague.