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How to Be a Boss (and Not Be "That" Kind of Leader)
Leaders in accounting don’t have to choose between being “nice” and being effective. In this Accounting ARC episode, Donny Shimamoto, Byron Patrick, and Liz Mason unpack a tougher, more useful standard: kindness with clarity.
Starting with the familiar anxiety of drafting a difficult message, the conversation explores why avoiding hard conversations erodes trust—and how direct feedback, delivered with empathy, actually strengthens teams. Drawing on Mason’s experience as founder and CEO of High Rock Accounting, the hosts discuss holding the line without personal attacks, assuming positive intent, and separating behavior from identity.
From tone and timing to remote-work realities and career-path rethinkings, this episode offers practical language and leadership shifts accounting professionals can use immediately to set expectations, give better feedback, and build healthier firm cultures—without burning people out.
Guests:
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More Podcasts From Our Accounting ARC Series
Episode: 16
When They're The Problem & When You're The Problem (Bad Boss Stories)
Own your growth: learn from bad bosses, fix miscommunication, take accountability, and turn tough moments into stronger leadership.
Episode: 15
Why Relationships Still Drive Career Success
In the accounting profession, technical excellence is expected. However, according to the latest episode of Accounting ARC, relationships — not just work product — often determine who grows, who leads, and who thrives.
In a candid and deeply personal conversation, Liz Mason, CPA, and Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, explore how relationship-building shapes careers, creates opportunity, and provides stability in an unpredictable profession.
Episode: 14
The Real Problem with AI in Accounting
Push the profession forward: rethink workflows, embrace non‑linear career paths, and lead with tech‑driven judgment as accounting rapidly evolves.
Episode: 13
AI Can Fix Your Workflow—or Break It in Seconds
Take control of AI in accounting: test in sandboxes, set safeguards, manage permissions, and design workflows that use automation without losing oversight.
Episode: 12
AI Isn't Just for Big Firms
Uncover how small and mid-sized firms can lead in AI by prioritizing value, quality, experimentation, and client impact over efficiency, redefining success through adaptability and meaningful outcomes.
Episode: 11
The Sandwich Generation at Work
Examine how caregiving pressures—especially for the sandwich generation—are reshaping expectations around productivity, flexibility, and talent retention in the accounting profession.
Episode: 10
Built Fast. Sold Faster. Broken Later? The Truth About Accounting Tech
Explore how market forces shape accounting tech, from VC and MVP culture to legacy dominance, startup hurdles, slow adoption, and how emerging AI may push firms toward building their own tools.
Episode: 09
Continuity Planning - When “What If” Becomes Reality
Explore the vital importance of business continuity planning. Discover strategies to safeguard firms against unexpected challenges and harness continuity for new advisory opportunities!
Episode: 08
Recognize When You Need to Recharge Before You Burn Out
A fresh look at real recovery in accounting—spotting stress signals, restoring energy, and using both rest and activity to prevent burnout and sustain long‑term performance.
Episode: 07
Pricing the Story of a Business
Discover what truly drives business value. Baria Jaroudi reveals how expert judgment, real-world insight, and human perspective elevate valuations beyond the numbers. Tune in for a standout episode.
Episode: 06
Small Markets, Big Impact
Small‑town accounting takes the spotlight as this episode shows how rural communities create space for purpose‑driven careers, relationship‑centered service, and modern innovation—reframing small markets as places where impact and fulfillment thrive.
Episode: 05
Why High Achievers Need Stoicism
Stoic thinking meets busy‑season pressure in a conversation that unpacks how fear of failure, harsh self‑talk, and perfectionism shape well‑being—and how clearer thinking helps professionals stay resilient when the stakes rise.
Stay Updated with our Latest Podcasts
Four unique podcast series. One mission: to inspire, challenge, and empower the accounting profession. Each show brings fresh perspectives and powerful stories you won’t hear anywhere else—new episodes drop regularly, so don’t miss a moment.
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Insightful, unexpected, and always worth the listen these are hand-picked episodes you don't want to miss:
Student-led Conversations
Trust but Verify: AI, Innovation & Accounting’s Next Generation
Accounting is rapidly transforming through AI, shifting from “trust but verify” to smarter guardrails, redefining innovation, and positioning the next generation as the profession’s strongest competitive edge.
March 2, 2026
Season 02
Episode 01
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Transformation Talks
Navigating Political Differences in Accounting
Can you talk politics without it blowing up? Top accounting leaders reveal how to have real, respectful conversations—even when you disagree—and why it actually strengthens teams and clients.
March 31, 2025
Season 01
Episode 11
Play Episode
