HR Huddle: Rebranding the Profession: Strengthening the Early-Stage Accounting Pipeline
Release Date: 02/23/2026
Leadership Lunch Chat: Optimizing Talent and Tech After Peak Season
Inspired Ideas
In the May 1, 2026 Leadership Lunch Chat, Jennifer Wilson and Amy Vetter focus on talent management and operational innovation as firms emerge from the busy season. They emphasize the importance of conducting healthy "post-mortems" to gather structured, actionable feedback on how AI and technology platforms performed during the crunch, warning leaders not to dismiss staff frustrations. Rather than authoritative mandates, they encourage collaborative "how we work" conversations to align expectations around mindset and the strategic use of downtime—urging staff to shift from automated...
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HR Huddle: Building a Sustainable Legacy: The Strategic Advantage of ESOPs
Inspired Ideas
On the April 27, 2026 HR Huddle, Tamera Loerzel and Jennifer Wilson welcome Michael Bannon of CSG Partners to discuss Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) as a powerful alternative for firms seeking an exit strategy that preserves their independence. They explore how an ESOP acts as a broad-based "ownership strategy" that empowers all talent, not just partners, providing a distinct competitive advantage in recruiting and fostering retention rates that are 50% higher than non-ESOP firms. With an ESOP strategy firms can create a sustainable legacy while accessing incredible tax benefits which...
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HR Huddle: Cultivating Hope: Mastering the Post-Peak Season Debrief
Inspired Ideas
On the April 20, 2026 HR Huddle, Jennifer Wilson and Samantha Mansfield discuss the importance of conducting post-peak season debriefs that generate hope and future possibilities rather than becoming sessions for unproductive complaining. They introduce a reframed KSS outline focusing on the "Three W’s" - Wonders/Wows (celebrating what worked), Whoopses (identifying things that didn’t work), and What’s Next (actionable solutions) - to ensure conversations remain balanced and constructive. By encouraging team members to take 100% responsibility for mistakes and avoiding "barfing"...
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Leadership Lunch Chat: Reclaiming Value through Transformational Relationships
Inspired Ideas
In the April 17, 2026, Leadership Lunch Chat, Jennifer Wilson and Amy Vetter discuss how AI provides a unique opportunity for accounting leaders to return to the profession's roots of making deep human connections and providing transformational advice. They warn that as AI commoditizes deliverables, firms must move beyond being transactional and instead integrate curiosity and specialized team strengths to provide the insights and peace of mind that technology alone cannot offer. By shifting the focus from simply "punching out" deliverables to truly knowing and anticipating client needs,...
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HR Huddle: The Peak Season Pivot: Leveraging Gratitude and Recovery to Fuel Proactivity
Inspired Ideas
On the April 6, 2026 HR Huddle, Jennifer Wilson and Samantha Mansfield discuss the essential transition from peak season into a "period of proactivity". Jennifer and Samantha outline a strategic communication framework comprised of three buckets designed to maximize the summer months—gratitude, recovery, and proactivity. By adopting a "one-size-fits-one" approach to gratitude, firms can ensure that all service lines and remote team members feel seen, regardless of when their specific "finish line" occurs. Leaders must actively support recovery by encouraging "classic offenders" to plan...
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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...
info_outlineOn 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 schools to provide early exposure and erase dated stereotypes, practitioners can showcase the purpose-driven nature of the profession and inspire the next generation. Join us live every Monday at 4:15pm CT/5:15pm ET to explore the latest trends in talent management and HR!