Introduction

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Date: 01/10/2025

AI is rapidly transforming accounting. So how can firms - and accountants - adapt and prepare?

Thomas S. Phabmixay from Wize Mentoring explains how to embrace AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human expertise. He shares practical tips to remain relevant as the AI boom continues, and explains why now is a good time to focus on relationship-building and clear client communication.

Our next guest explains how those client relationship skills are also essential to increasing your business's bottom line. Greg Nicolle is Group Manager of Client Success at Thryv Australia, a leading SaaS business providing marketing services and data solutions. Greg explains why nurturing existing client relationships is just as important as acquiring new customers – if not more so. And he shares six innovative ways to follow up customers effectively.

Also this month, we talk Trump and US tariffs with Gus Gilkeson, CEO and Founder at Grow Capital. Gus shares how uncertainty caused by those tariffs is disrupting Australian SMEs, and what businesses can do about it.

Then we hear from Anne Nalder, CEO of the Small Business Association of Australia, about whether a new Small Business Charter could be the game-changer Australia's small business sector is needs.

We also hear some key lessons from one of Australia's most important business academics. Professor Darius Pfitzner, Academic Dean at the Australian Institute of Business, shares the insights he's learned throughout his fascinating career, including the value of failure as a learning tool.

Workplace expert Michelle Gibbings says employee disengagement has been rebranded. It's now known as "quiet quitting" – and Michelle shares has some great advice on how leaders can recognise the subtle warning signs, and how to take action.

We end this month by learning about the most common sources of tension in small to medium-sized businesses from Tom Skotidas, psychotherapist and founder of Everpath. He explains why psychotherapy may be worth considering for some high-stakes partnerships.