Today, we’re tackling a question that every leader and manager is asking: how do you make AI practical and usable for the people actually running your operations — the leaders who aren’t coders and the teams on the shop floor? Hoping to help us tackle this question is today’s guest, Derek Crager. Derek is the founder of Practical AI and creator of Pocket Mentor which happens to be the world’s first voice-accessible, industry 4.0 - customer support system. In this episode, we’ll explore how voice-first AI is reshaping industrial support, transforming knowledge transfer, and making AI a tool everyone can actually use.
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When it comes to selling a business, most founders obsess over top line revenue — but buyers are looking at much more than just the numbers. There are hidden drivers of enterprise value that can dramatically change an exit price, and they’re often overlooked until it’s too late. In this episode, we dig into those invisible levers that can make or break a deal.
And to dive into the details, we speak to Mark Osborne, the Founder of Modern Revenue Strategies. Mark has more than 25 years of experience delivering hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue for B2B SaaS, Tech and Professional Services Firms leading to successful acquisitions and exits. He’s also a bestselling author and host of “The B2B Growth Blueprint Podcast”.
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What’s one piece of software that you can’t live without?
ChatGPT
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
The Science of Scaling by Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson
What trends in B2B marketing and sales do you think will have the biggest impact on enterprise value in the next 5 years?
Your ability to build the processes and systems so that you can then layer in the tools, like AI and automation. Companies often fail to take advantage of technology innovations because they don’t think about creating the systems and processes, capturing the data and structuring the data in a way that they can then take advantage of the technology innovation and solutions. There’s a revolution happening in the AI and automation space right now, and only the companies that have taken the time to build those systems and processes will be able to take advantage of it.
If there’s one thing you want listeners to take away from today’s episode, what would it be?
Systems set you free. They aren't restrictive; rather, they provide a foundation upon which you can build.
Download Mark’s book at: modernrevenuestrategies.com/freedownload
One of the biggest topics of discussion for accountants at the moment is making the move from traditional compliance services to more value-added services such as advisory work.
In this episode, we chat with Jason Robinson, the Director of Future Advisory and co-host of The Numbers Game Podcast, to discuss this important topic. We chat about how Jason made the transition to offering advisory services, along with what worked well and what didn’t, so that you can take this next step in your practice.
This episode covers something that's on the mind of every business leader and IT professional: application modernization. From the 'why' to the 'how,' we get an insider’s perspective on the journey to the cloud and what it takes to build a truly modern enterprise.
Our guest is Jonathan Davidson, a Cloud Solutions Architect and Customer Engineer from Google. Jonathan helps companies move from the old to the new, transforming their legacy systems into nimble, powerful, and secure applications.
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In today's episode, we're stepping out of the traditional boardroom and into the legal landscape. We know that as a business scales, managing legal risk is no longer just a "nice-to-have" – it's a critical component of growth.
That's why we're joined today by Gifty Okonkwo, Senior Legal Counsel at Xero UK and the winner of In-House Rising Star 2023 at the British Legal Awards. We'll be talking about how a company in the accounting tech space effectively manages legal risk, from protecting intellectual property to navigating data privacy regulations.
And for those of you considering a career in law, we'll also be getting a unique look at a part of the legal profession that many young entrants may not consider – the crucial role of in-house counsel in the tech world.
So whether you’re a business owner, an accountant or a future lawyer, get ready to gain a new perspective on the intersection of law, business, and technology.
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Today, we’ll be diving into what it takes to be a good leader, and why not everyone is necessarily cut out for the job. To help us in our discussion, we have Sam Ducker, the People Experience Director at Xero, for the UK and EMEA regions.
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In this episode, we’ll unpack how to build a productive, strategic relationship with your account manager so you're not just getting answers to your questions, but unlocking real value, insights, and opportunities.
From communication tips to goal alignment and everything in between, we’re covering what it really means to get the most out of this key partnership.
Today we are speaking to Junaid Steele. Junaid is a Senior Account Manager at Xero, South Africa, with expertise in cloud-based business management.
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September is upon us. In South Africa, that means spring time and the association of new beginnings, rebirth, flowering. In the Northern Hemisphere, where many of our customers are based, this means autumn and the start of the new school year. So, we thought this was a good time to think about the start of something new.
In this special episode, we sit down with several members of the Syft Analytics team to discuss new chapters - whether that be starting a new job or going to university. We also consider books that have influenced the way we think and made an impact on our lives. From senior engineers to designers, product engineers, and members of our customer-facing teams, we dive into a variety of insights on business and life for you to enjoy.
Most business advice follows a familiar script — play it safe, scale slowly, stick to the numbers. But what if some of the best growth strategies for SMEs go against conventional wisdom? Today’s guest, Kate Hayward, the UK Managing Director at Xero, shares the bold bets, overlooked insights, and counterintuitive lessons that have helped businesses punch above their weight.
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Software: Cozi & Notion
Book: The Women by Kristin Hannah
Key takeaway: Tough on problems, nice on people
In an industry being reshaped by automation and AI, the real competitive edge isn’t just technical expertise — it’s communication. How well can you explain the ‘why’ behind the numbers? How closely are you aligned with your client’s goals? And how do you stay relevant in a world that’s changing fast?
In this episode, we speak with Stuart Grosvenor, Partner and Director at HB&O, about why good communication might just be the most important skill for the modern accountant — and how it opens the door to deeper client relationships, better advisory work, and long-term success.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, data is everywhere – but turning that data into actionable insights is where the real value lies. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), being able to see their business clearly through well-designed visualizations and reports isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a powerful driver of growth. It’s not about pretty charts; it’s about making smarter, faster decisions that lead to long-term success.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur trying to understand your cash flow at a glance, or an accountant helping clients move beyond static spreadsheets, visual reporting helps bridge the gap between raw data and real strategy.
To unpack how SMEs – and the advisors who support them – can harness the power of visual tools to unlock opportunities and enhance performance, we’re joined by Keith Barrett, an accounting and technology specialist with over 25 years of experience in financial management and software support.
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In this episode, we discuss the importance of analyzing KPIs for your business. KPIs are Key Performance Indicators - quantifiable measures of performance over time for a specific objective. They help provide targets for teams to aim for, milestones to measure progress, and insights to assist members of the organization in making better decisions. So, what KPIs should you be considering for your business and why?
To assist us in considering this topic, we are speaking with Laurika Steenekamp, a CA(SA) and our Head of Customer Experience at Syft. Laurika is our resident expert on creating KPI Scorecards on Syft, tools that help you to analyse and interpret your KPIs, and she’s helped many Syft users with this process.
What's the deal with cloud technology? How does it actually work, what do people get wrong about cloud strategy and optimization, and why should we be treating cloud as a business model, rather than a technology project?
In this episode, we break down the costs, consider optimization in practice, chat about the role of culture and accountability, and look towards the future.
We are joined by Karind Ori, a tech entrepreneur and cloud strategist who believes cloud isn’t just tech – it’s a business model.
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What really drives revenue? How can you improve your sales, no matter what industry you're in? That's what we cover in this episode with our guest, Doug C. Brown, the CEO of CEO Sales Strategies.
In this episode, we discuss:
The common sales problem that most companies experience - unpredictable revenue - and how to solve this.
How to overcome the idea of sales as an undesirable profession and why we should change our perspective.
The importance of understanding the business of client acquisition, rather than simply considering your product or service deliverables.
The key ingredients for creating a predictable and scalable sales system.
What top performers do differently from the rest of us.
When to put together a sales team for your organization.
The importance of measuring the metrics.
The importance of perspective in sales - looking from the outside in vs. inside out.
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Book: The Laws of Success by Napoleon Hill
Piece of advice: When you improve yourself, you improve your business.
Key takeaways:
In this episode, we discuss a topic that's on every business leader's mind: creating high-performing revenue teams. We don't just talking about hitting targets, but about building sustainable, thriving teams that deliver consistent results without burning out. Some of the topics we cover include:Building a successful teamTreating your revenue team like a sports teamThe importance of attitudeAnd to help us in this discussion, we have Matt Lowry, the Chief Revenue Officer at ApprovalMax.
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We've all felt the pervasive hype around AI. Now that the initial excitement has settled, it's time to tackle more critical questions, such as AI's exponential growth means for us as individuals, communities, and society? In this episode, we’ll investigate some of these questions alongside an expert in AI and machine learning - Prof. Benjamin Rosman from the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand.
In this episode we consider the following topics:
• The evolution of AI
• How we can make the most of AI from a business perspective
• The broader implications of AI
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• Authors: Yuval Noah Harari & Terry Pratchett
• Software: ChatGPT for general purposeness
• Key takeaway: There are a few values that are more important now than they have ever been - Curiosity & Who you want to be as a person that is not tied to your work
In this episode, we explore a critical shift in the business world. While data is abundant, the real power lies in transforming raw numbers into compelling narratives and clear strategic direction. We're witnessing the rise of a new kind of leader: the 'Data Whisperer.' These are the individuals who can take complex financial figures and make them speak, guiding businesses toward smarter decisions and sustained growth.
Join us as we chat with Gavin Simpson, CEO and Founder of Cloud Finance & Accounting in Edinburgh, UK. We'll delve into how forward-thinking finance leaders are becoming "data whisperers," equipped with the tools and mindset to understand complex financial information and communicate its story clearly across the organization.
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Software: Fireflies Notetaker
Book: The Almanac of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
Podcast: The Tim Ferriss Show
Key takeaway: How can I get the numbers of my business to tell me a story of the past, but, more importantly, of the future?
Today we are joined by Michele Hili, the Finance Solutions Team Lead at Scope Solutions, to discuss how accountants and business owners can find powerful technological solutions to their business challenges.
We consider the role of app stacks and how apps work together, the potential of AI and how it's changing the space, and why it's important to remain open to change and innovation as an accountant or business leader.
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Book: Ikigai by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia
Key takeaway: Watch Light & Magic on Disney+ to learn about implementing technological innovations.
Our guest today is Mkuzo Kuwani, the co-founder of ComGrow, a Zambian fintech startup that’s digitizing Africa’s most trusted community finance systems, namely savings groups, village banks, tontines, and chamas. ComGrow’s argument is that these groups have always worked; they’re just making them better.
We discuss:
Jo Wood and Zoe Whitman are the powerhouse duo behind The 6 Figure Bookkeeper. As international speakers, best-selling authors, and hosts of an industry-leading podcast, they’re on a mission to transform the way bookkeepers grow their businesses.
They also co-founded Hey Monika, an AI-powered software that gives aspiring bookkeepers practical, confidence-boosting experience with real tools and real-world tasks - bridging the gap between training and doing.
In this episode, we discuss some of the ways in which bookkeepers can grow their practices by offering value-added services, aided by the right tech.
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