Meet Chase!

In this episode, Chase Damiano shares his journey from chemical engineer to successful entrepreneur and business consultant. He discusses the importance of leadership, delegation, creating psychological safety, and scaling businesses while maintaining passion and purpose.

Key topics

- Journey from engineering to entrepreneurship

- Importance of leadership and vulnerability

- Strategies for scaling and delegation

- Signs of burnout and how to prevent it

- Building systems for business growth

Sound bites

"Leadership is about giving power, not taking it"

"Creating psychological safety through vulnerability"

"Define responsibility and success clearly"

Resources

The E Myth by Michael Gerber - https://www.amazon.com/E-Myth-Master-Entrepreneur-About/dp/0887307280

Notion - https://www.notion.so/

Commonwealth Joe Coffee - https://commonwealthjoe.com/

Connect with Chase

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedamiano/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/chasedamiano

Business - https://humanatscale.com/

Meet Jennifer!

In this episode, Zane sits down with Jennifer Green, founder and partner at Jade Consulting, to explore what it really takes to build a people-first, scalable accounting firm.

Jennifer shares the story of how she got started in accounting after an unexpected layoff in investment banking, and how that early experience shaped her approach to leadership, flexibility, and business ownership. She explains how Jade Consulting grew from a solo practice into a fully remote team of 15 women across Canada, serving scaling entrepreneurs with bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, sales tax, and financial reporting support.

The conversation also dives into the firm’s merger journey, the importance of systems and processes, and how cloud accounting changed the role of accountants from paper-pushers to trusted advisors. Jennifer and Zane discuss the culture of accountability and care inside Jade Consulting, including open office hours, flexible schedules, charitable giving, and a strong emphasis on authenticity.

They also explore the role of AI and automation in modern accounting, from saving hours on reporting to improving efficiency without losing the human judgment that clients rely on. Jennifer closes by sharing her vision for the future: continuing to scale the business, building toward a “choice point,” and creating a firm that can thrive with or without her at the center.

Key topics include:

- Building a culture-first accounting firm

- Scaling beyond the founder bottleneck

- The shift from desktop to cloud accounting

- Remote team leadership and flexibility

- AI, automation, and the future of bookkeeping

- Preparing a business to be sell-ready

If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love Jennifer’s practical wisdom on leadership, growth, and creating a business that supports both people and profit.

Connect with Jennifer:

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

Jade Consulting - https://www.jadeconsulting.ca/

Protea Conversations is the podcast for accountants and service-firm leaders.

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Meet Seth!

Join us as Seth Fineberg, a seasoned journalist and analyst with nearly 30 years at the forefront of accounting technology and culture, shares his unique perspective on the evolving profession. Discover strategies for navigating digital transformation, fostering innovation, and building resilient firms for the future.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Seth's non-traditional path into the accounting world and his superpower of perspective

- The impact of community and culture in New York, including notable celebrity encounters

- Seth's musical journey with the band Blackout Shoppers and the importance of outside passions

- How his journalism career shaped his understanding of trends like AI and cloud technology

- Practical advice for accountants feeling overwhelmed by change and innovation

- The importance of authentic content and meaningful relationships in building trust

- Personal favorites: NYC's best restaurants and unforgettable shows

Timestamps:

02:19 - Seth's perspective as a superpower in the industry

03:18 - Parenting experiences in NYC and suburban lessons

04:39 - Diversity, culture, and the NYC lifestyle's influence on family

07:36 - Seth’s involvement in the local music scene and band Blackout Shoppers

08:53 - Parenting passions—sports, activities, and balancing work-life

10:19 - Celebrity sightings and memorable NYC encounters

17:14 - The importance of passions outside work for a fulfilling life

20:46 - Seth's love for baseball and thoughts on the game’s modernization

23:16 - Evaluating changes in the sport's pace and competitive nature

25:10 - Seth’s journalism career: From college to interviewing Jeff Bezos

32:32 - Recognizing gaps in the accounting profession and mindset shifts

33:01 - The role of trust and content in client relationships

34:24 - Seth’s work with Accountants Forward and content marketing strategies

46:36 - A day in Seth’s life: routines, work blocks, and personal time

54:55 - Navigating the profession's biggest inflection points and future trends

57:42 - Final advice: prioritize self-care, embrace technology, and start small

58:09 - Rapid Fire Questions: Dream vacations, NYC shows, favorite restaurants, and more

Connect with Seth:

Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fineberg-86aa8663/

Website - https://accountantsforward.com This is episode 60