HR Huddle: Your Staff (and Clients) are Using AI: Find Out How
Inspired Ideas
On the March 23, 2026 HR Huddle, Jennifer Wilson and Samantha Mansfield discussed the imperative for firms to conduct post-peak season debriefs focused on the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI). They advocate for a "safe space" approach—akin to a "free space" in a game of tag, where team members feel comfortable disclosing "off-road" or unsanctioned AI use cases without fear of reprimand. By moving away from rigid standardization toward flexible departmental innovation committees, firms can identify best use cases and shared experiences to stay ahead of a landscape where...
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HR Huddle: The Human Differentiator: Recruiting and Developing AI-Ready Talent
Inspired Ideas
On the March 9, 2026 HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson discuss the strategic shift required in recruiting and development as AI automates traditional technical tasks. They emphasize moving beyond a focus on technical abilities and instead prioritizing critical thinking, skepticism, and cognitive flexibility. They suggest utilizing scenario-based interviewing to identify essential AI fluency, relational aptitude and "caring curiosity." By attracting and developing these uniquely human attributes, firms can successfully elevate their teams into proactive advisory roles that...
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Leadership Lunch Chat: Deep Relationships as the Antidote to "AI Sameness"
Inspired Ideas
In the March 6, 2026 Leadership Lunch Chat, Jennifer Wilson and Amy Vetter discuss the challenge of differentiating your deliverables and demonstrating your value as AI tools become the norm for both firms and their clients. They warn against falling into "AI sameness" and emphasize that true value now lies in shifting from a transactional focus on deliverables to delivering transformational advice and services that can only be achieved through deeper relationships. By leveraging AI to automate technical work, leaders can reclaim the time needed to act as true advisors, helping clients...
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HR Huddle: One-Size-Fits-One: Designing Flexible and Individualized Career Paths
Inspired Ideas
On the March 2, 2026 HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Samantha Mansfield discuss the critical need for defining clear, individualized career paths to drive employee engagement. They emphasizes a "one-size-fits-one" approach that marries competency models with individual strengths—whether through technical tracks, relational advisory roles, or horizontal "lattice moves"—to ensure team members see a viable future within the firm. By being transparent about these opportunities and expanding them to include consulting and non-CPA operations roles, firms can overcome legacy thinking and prevent...
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HR Huddle: Rebranding the Profession: Strengthening the Early-Stage Accounting Pipeline
Inspired Ideas
On the February 23, 2026 HR Huddle, Jennifer Wilson and special guest Rachel Farris, CPA and 2025 CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 Top Tax and Accounting Professionals, discuss the strategic necessity of attracting and retaining talent through a stronger early-stage pipeline. This conversation emphasizes the personal responsibility we each have to move away from "kitchen table complaining" about our work and instead highlighting the profession’s flexibility, creative problem-solving, and profound impact as the "guardians of the global economy." By engaging with students in middle and high...
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Leadership Lunch Chat: Highlight Your Value and Preserve Your Fees
Inspired Ideas
In the February 20, 2026, Leadership Lunch Chat, Jennifer Wilson and Amy Vetter discuss the critical need for accounting firms to preserve and increase fees as AI increases efficiency, warning that continuing to rely on time-based billing will lead to accidental underbilling and a "race to the bottom." They emphasize that the value of deliverables is not diminished by technology and that firms must pivot to metrics focused on outcomes or deliverables and being anticipatory for clients rather than tracking hours. Join us March 6 for a live discussion of all things leadership – in the...
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HR Huddle: From Frantic to Focused: Strategies for Managing Peak-Period Overwhelm
Inspired Ideas
In the February 16, 2026 HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson discuss practical strategies for acknowledging and managing overwhelm, especially during intense peak periods. They suggested starting by identifying the root causes of stress—such as high work volume or variety—and using tools like resetting expectations, "eating the frog" by tackling the hardest tasks first, and prioritizing proactive "Quadrant 2" activities to manage mental health, improve productivity, and foster a more supportive team environment. Join us live every Monday at 4:15pm CT/5:15pm ET to explore the...
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HR Huddle: AI is Stealing Your Revenue: Strategies to Realize Your Value
Inspired Ideas
On the February 9, 2026 HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson discuss the critical need to re-evaluate pricing philosophies to prevent AI efficiencies from "stealing" firm revenue. This conversation emphasizes moving beyond traditional hourly billing toward pricing based on value, risk, and expertise, ensuring that reduced labor time because of AI and other efficiencies doesn't lead to undervalued services. By creating alignment among leaders and focusing on the unique human element of strategic insight provided to help clients, talent professionals can lead a conversation to help...
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HR Huddle: Interviewing Beyond Technical Skills to Uncover Essential Leadership Behaviors
Inspired Ideas
On the February 2, 2026, HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Samantha Mansfield discuss the importance of uncovering non-technical attributes and mindsets during the recruiting and qualification process. Emphasizing the use of storytelling and active listening, Tamera and Samantha discuss how to uncover critical leadership traits—such as initiative, curiosity, ownership, and adaptability—that are often absent from a resume, and ensure new hires are a strong cultural fit who complement the existing team. Join us for our next HR Huddle live every Monday at 4:15pm CT/5:15pm ET to explore the latest...
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HR Huddle: Strategic Goal Setting for Talent Leaders
Inspired Ideas
On the January 26, 2026, HR Huddle, Samantha Mansfield and Jennifer Wilson discuss the necessity of talent leaders setting strategic “centering commitments” (or goals) to guide their focus throughout the year. This conversation emphasizes the importance of identifying a maximum of three significant goals to serve as a North Star, preventing HR leaders from being “order takers” and ensuring they make a strategic, lasting impact on their firm’s talent. Join us live every Monday at 4:15pm CT/5:15pm ET on YouTube or LinkedIn to explore the latest trends in talent management and HR!
info_outlineIn the September 30, 2024 HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson discuss managing overwhelm and "monkey mind" during peak periods or periods of high stress. Join us live every Monday at 4:15pm CT/5:15pm ET to explore the latest trends in talent management and HR!