Meet Serena!

Episode Summary

In this episode of Protea Conversations, Zane sits down with Serena Shoup, CPA, founder of Of Course Financial and The Ambitious Bookkeeper®. Serena shares her journey from a small-town girl in New Mexico to building a thriving accounting firm and launching a mentorship and education platform for bookkeepers worldwide. She opens up about entrepreneurship, balancing two businesses, parenting, creativity, and why embracing imperfection has been her greatest lesson.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Serena transitioned from corporate accounting to launching her own virtual firm.

- The story behind The Ambitious Bookkeeper®

— from a simple blog to a thriving community, coaching program, and podcast.

- Why choosing a niche and aligning technology (like Xero) with client needs has been key to her firm’s success.

- Serena’s approach to balancing her firm, mentorship, family, and creative passions like music.

- Honest reflections on using (and pulling back from) AI in content creation and the importance of keeping things authentic.

- The mantra that changed her entrepreneurial journey: “Done is better than perfect.”

Connect with Serena

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenashoup/

The Ambitious Bookkeeper® - https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/

Meet Joe!

In this conversation, Joe Manganelli shares his journey from working at Goldman Sachs to founding and scaling Calculate, an outsourced accounting firm, and now leading Amalgam, a data aggregation and automation platform for the accounting industry.

He discusses the importance of building relationships in business, the value of smaller conferences, and the role of automation in enhancing efficiency within accounting practices. Joe emphasizes the need for persistence and trust in business, and he provides insights into the challenges and successes he faced while growing his ventures.

Takeaways

- Joe emphasizes the importance of building relationships in business.

- Conferences can be valuable for networking and relationship building.

- Trust is the cornerstone of successful sales in accounting.

- Automation can significantly reduce manual work in accounting.

- Persistence and time are crucial for business growth.

- Joe's experience at Goldman Sachs shaped his approach to business.

- Launching Calculate was a pivotal moment in Joe's career.

- The growth of Calculate was driven by quality work and client referrals.

- Amalgam aims to streamline data processes for accountants.

- Joe believes in the value of continuous learning and adaptation.

Sound Bites

"Give it time and persistence."

"Automation is the way forward."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Joe Manganielli and Amalgam

02:49 The Value of Conferences in Building Relationships

05:41 Journey from Engineering to Accounting

08:30 Experiences at Goldman Sachs

11:13 Launching Calculate: The Early Days

14:04 Growth and Success of Calculate

17:01 Recruitment Strategies for Rapid Growth

19:47 Niche Hiring and Employee Integration

22:42 Deciding to Sell Calculate

25:21 Reflections on the Sale and Future Plans

27:20 Navigating the M&A Process

30:40 Lessons from Selling a Business

31:33 Introducing Amalgam: A New Venture

36:58 The Role of Automation in Accounting

41:40 Future Goals and Entrepreneurial Spirit

42:45 Advice for New Accountants

46:29 Personal Insights and Rapid Fire Questions

Connect with Joe:

LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemanganelli/

Amalgam - http://www.amalgam.me

Meet Chad!

In this conversation, Zane interviews Chad Davis, co-founder of LiveCA, a pioneering virtual CPA firm in Canada. They discuss Chad's unique lifestyle of living in an RV while running a successful accounting firm, the evolution of accounting conferences, and the importance of embracing technology and AI in the accounting profession.

Chad shares insights on building a remote work culture, the challenges of selling accounting services, and the significance of community in professional growth. The conversation emphasizes the need for accountants to adapt to technological advancements while maintaining a focus on client relationships and work-life balance.

Takeaways

- Chad Davis is a co-founder of LiveCA, a virtual CPA firm in Canada.

- Living in an RV has allowed Chad to balance work and family life.

- Conferences are evolving to be more intimate and focused on specific topics.

- Embracing technology and automation is crucial for modern accounting firms.

- Building a remote work culture can enhance employee satisfaction.

- Accountants should be cautious about who has access to their AI tools.

- Community and networking are essential for professional growth.

- Accountants can learn a lot from sharing experiences with peers.

- It's important to take time to double-check work before finalizing it.

- Finding a niche and focusing on what you enjoy can lead to a successful business.

Sound bites

"We will not have an office."

"You can learn anything right now."

"Find your community, show up."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Chad Davis and LiveCA

05:41 The Evolution of Conferences in Accounting

11:26 Chad's RV Lifestyle and Its Impact on Work

16:59 The Journey into Accounting and Entrepreneurship

24:53 Navigating the Sales Landscape

28:42 Building a Supportive Work Environment

34:06 Growth Strategies and Business Models

37:54 Embracing AI in Accounting

49:09 Community and Collaboration in Accounting

52:44 Final Thoughts and Rapid Fire Questions

Connect with Chad:

LinkedIn personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaddavis1/

Find your community with Automation Town - https://automationtown.io/