Rethinking the ROI of organizational learning
Accounting for the Future
Learning and development (L&D)—is it just a cost centre, or is it a performance lever, retention strategy, and competitive advantage for your organization? Join host Anne-Marie Henson on Accounting for the Future as of L&D with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada. If people are your greatest asset, this episode is your blueprint for turning learning into a strategic engine for growth. What you’ll hear in this episode: [01:38] Keith’s journey: What sparked a passion for learning [05:34] Reframing L&D: From cost centre to...
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Breaking barriers: What CFOs need to know about Canada’s interprovincial trade landscape
Accounting for the Future
What do interprovincial trade barriers mean for Canadian businesses and what’s changing? In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson sits down with Jonathan (Jono) Kalles, Vice President of McMillan Vantage and former advisor to the Prime Minister, to unpack the implications of Bill C-5 and how the interprovincial trade landscape is evolving in Canada. From the removal of federal exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement to the complexities of provincial cooperation, they explore the economic, regulatory, and strategic shifts underway. Hear practical...
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Working with your board
Accounting for the Future
How can you communicate effectively with your board and turn them into one of your most valuable strategic assets? In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Anthony Marinelli, Board Chair and Partner, Assurance-East Leader at BDO Canada, and Janet Boyle, Independent Board Member at BDO Canada and Senior Vice President at RBC. Together, they unpack how CEOs and senior leaders can foster trust, transparency, and strategic alignment with their boards. Tune in to hear practical advice on the role and value of independent board members, leveraging your...
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Going private: Why companies are exiting capital markets and who’s buying them
Accounting for the Future
In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by , to unpack what's fueling the rise in companies going private. They discuss how current market conditions, including interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, and undervalued assets, are influencing M&A activity in 2025. The conversation also covers why private equity is eyeing public markets, what makes a company an attractive target, and the ongoing valuation gap between buyers and sellers. What you’ll hear in this episode: [1:38] Market comparisons between 2022 and 2025, and what they mean for...
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Unlocking value in the finance function
Accounting for the Future
In today’s evolving market, finance leaders are moving beyond traditional back-office functions to become strategic leaders and value creators. Anne-Marie sits down with Jesus Ballesteros and Charlotte Zhen of BDO’s value creation team, to explore how the modern CFO is transforming into a chief value creation officer—aligning finance, operations, and strategy while leading digital transformation to boost efficiency and long-term growth. What you’ll hear in this episode [4:07] The role of historical and current market fluctuations when analyzing and creating effective margin...
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Scaling AI in the manufacturing industry
Accounting for the Future
Host Anne-Marie Henson sits down with Paul Dostaler, BDO’s Partner and National Manufacturing and Distribution Leader, to unpack how manufacturers can move beyond pilots and start scaling AI effectively. They explore the current pace of AI adoption in Canada, the roadblocks many businesses face, and what’s needed to realize long-term ROI. The episode features data from Momentum: BDO's Manufacturing and Distribution Leadership Report. . What you’ll hear in this episode: [1:33] AI overview: Rate of adoption and key trends. [5:08] Challenges in AI adoption. [9:30] Considerations...
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The evolving impact of women in leadership roles
Accounting for the Future
Host Anne-Marie Henson welcomes two of WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada: Shilpa Mishra, Managing Director and National Leader of Capital Advisory at BDO, and Alyssa Barry, co-founder of irlabs and President at Alliance Advisors. They discuss navigating male-dominated industries, the power of authenticity and allyship, and how economic uncertainty impacts their roles. The conversation explores strategies for success, the future of women in leadership, and the importance of mentorship in driving gender equality. What you’ll hear in this episode: [1:54] Career paths of...
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Navigating political uncertainty: Cash flow forecasting and scenario planning for Canadian businesses
Accounting for the Future
In this episode of Accounting for the Future, host Anne-Marie Henson, Eastern Canada Markets Leader, sits down with Daniel Ma, Partner, Valuations & Modeling, to discuss the challenges of navigating political uncertainty following recent tariff announcements by the Trump administration. They explore the potential impact on Canadian businesses and share proactive strategies for managing risk through scenario planning and financial modeling—essential tools for anticipating unexpected economic or political shifts, from global pandemics to trade policy changes. What you’ll hear in...
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The importance of standard setting - Part 2
Accounting for the Future
In part two of this two-part mini-series, host Anne-Marie Henson welcomes back Armand Capisciolto, Chair of Canada’s Accounting Standards Board, BDO alumnus, and former host of the Accounting for the Future podcast. In this episode, they delve into the significant changes that have occurred among different standards, the importance of optionality in standard setting, as well as the impacts of cryptocurrency and ESG on the current standards. . This episode also explores [1:52] Guidance and actionable steps for navigating various compliance standards applicable to...
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The importance of standard setting - Part 1
Accounting for the Future
Host Anne-Marie Henson is joined by Armand Capisciolto, chair of Canada's Accounting Standards Board, BDO alumni, and former host of the Accounting for the Future podcast. They discuss the importance of accounting standards, the process of setting them, and Canada's influence on international standards. The episode also highlights how standards improve financial information and the role of stakeholders in the process. For more on accounting standard setting, subscribe to Armand’s LinkedIn newsletter: This episode is part 1 of 2. What you’ll hear in this episode: [2:29] The...
info_outlineLearning and development (L&D)—is it just a cost centre, or is it a performance lever, retention strategy, and competitive advantage for your organization? Join host Anne-Marie Henson on Accounting for the Future as she explores the value of L&D with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada.
If people are your greatest asset, this episode is your blueprint for turning learning into a strategic engine for growth.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
[00:00] Introducing Dr. Keith Keating
[01:38] Keith’s journey: What sparked a passion for learning
[05:34] Reframing L&D: From cost centre to catalyst
[10:27] The evolving relationship of CFOs and L&D
[17:53] The CFO as a Chief Value Officer
[20:25] Ensuring L&D is central to business strategy
[24:13] Balancing innovation with compliance
[26:50] The power of “FAIL”
[30:59] Strategic partnerships for future-ready learning
[37:19] Advice for leaders: Model what you want to multiply
[39:33] Closing thoughts and where to learn more
Anne-Marie Henson: https://www.bdo.ca/our-people/anne-marie-henson
Keith Keating: https://www.bdo.ca/our-people/keith-keating
BDO Canada: https://www.bdo.ca/
Quotes:
“Leaders are starting to recognize in general that learning isn't just a perk. It's a performance lever. It's a retention strategy.”
“Involve L&D early and often. Invite your learning leaders into the room where strategy is being shaped; not just when it's time to roll it out. Because when L&D can understand what the business is solving for, then it can align those efforts from the start.”
“If people are your competitive advantage—and most organizations say that they are—then L&D isn't optional. It's an infrastructure. It's the operating system for growth, agility, performance. But it only works when it's embedded into the strategy, not bolted on as an afterthought.”
“Shift the mindset from deliverables to value. I want to encourage leaders to move away from asking, ‘What training can we create?’ to, ‘What problem are we solving, and how can learning be part of that solution?’”
“Hold learning accountable to business outcomes. What I mean by that is learning shouldn't be measured by butts in seats or satisfaction scores. It should be measured by the outcome that it enables: employee retention, productivity, engagement, capability, client impact, client experience.”
“For us, compliance isn’t a blocker; it’s a boundary, yes, but great design can thrive within those boundaries”
“We let our teams know that failure isn’t fatal, it’s feedback.”
“If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: model what you want to multiply. You can’t mandate a growth mindset; you have to live it.”