Count Me In®

Step into a candid conversation at IMA26 with Kristie Stocker, whose 20 years of experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to transform company culture—beyond lip service and buzzwords. Kristie shares practical insights into the real obstacles leaders and teams face when trying to build a positive workplace, from the myth that only big budgets or small teams can make culture w...

Join Jill Eubank, Executive Vice President at Randstad, as she shares her journey from finance grad to leading teams that support businesses across multiple industries. In this engaging conversation, Jill opens up about discovering her passion for people, balancing technical skills with human connection, and why mastering the art of storytelling is a must for today’s accounting and finance professionals.

Whether you want to bo...

Join us live from IMA26 for an engaging conversation with executive coach Rachel Kourakos! With her impressive background at Morgan Stanley and Google, Rachel brings fresh insights on what it really means to lead—not just from the head, but from the heart. She shares how understanding yourself and your emotions is the real superpower that transforms workplaces and builds stronger teams, especially as AI and new tech shake thi...

Carla Aranda is a global finance executive with more than 25 years of experience building a finance career across continents, industries, and company sizes, from a small shop in Argentina to global fashion and beauty brands like L’Oreal and Revlon. In this episode, she joins host Adam Larson to talk about simplicity, not as a mindset, but as a discipline you practice again and again.

You will hear how Carla built her "subtract...

Live from IMA26, this episode of Count Me In features an eye-opening conversation with Bret Hood, a former FBI special agent who brings a fresh approach to ethics in accounting and finance. Bret shares fascinating real-world stories, like how small, seemingly harmless decisions can snowball into major ethical failures—sometimes without anyone realizing it’s happening. Drawing on his 25 years of experience with the FBI, ...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to serve on a nonprofit board—especially as an accounting or finance professional? Join Barbara Uggen-Davis, an experienced board member, and Tala Khalifeh, operations manager for PHG Advisory, for an honest conversation about the challenges, the must-have skills, and the ethical dilemmas that come with board service.

Hear firsthand advice on spotting red flags, managing board oversigh...

Join Adam Larson as he sits down with Kapil Arora, a leader at Grant Thornton with deep experience in global finance and accounting. Kapil Arora shares his unique journey from studying ACCA in the UK to making an impact back home in India. You'll hear firsthand insights on how the finance and accounting profession is shifting—what skills today's graduates and seasoned pros need to stay ahead, the real story behind the growing...

Get inspired by Ted Bozarth, founder of the SetFire Foundation, as he shares his journey from IT whiz kid and supply chain veteran to retirement, where his passion turns towards helping the next generation of professionals. In this episode, Ted opens up about what led him to launch a mentorship organization for college students, the story behind the SetFire name, and why meaningful guidance can be life-changing for young adults nav...

Join us for a lively conversation with James Vanreusel, founder of Vanreusel Ventures, as he shares his unique journey from stock market enthusiast to math major to Wall Street and microfinance leader. James opens up about helping organizations from startups to global nonprofits build strong financial foundations, and he doesn’t hold back on the hard-learned lessons of managing his own firm’s books.

Get insider advice on...

Join Adam Larson for an energizing and thoughtful conversation with Cassandra Worthy, founder of Change Enthusiasm Global and author of the book “Change Enthusiasm.” In this episode, Cassandra gets real about how most change management strategies overlook one key ingredient: our emotions.

Drawing from her personal experience and signature framework, Cassandra Worthy shares how professionals can embrace all their feelings...

Join us for a candid, inspiring chat with Laura Nespoli, brand strategist and author of Threads of Me and You, who knows what it’s like to chase meaning, connection, and authenticity both at work and in life. Laura opens up about her winding career path, what it felt like to pull on life’s “loose threads,” and the power of embracing vulnerability and wonderlust—her own term for the urge to look inside ...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Pete Leibman, speaker and author of Stronger Advisor: High-Performance Habits for Consultants, Lawyers, and Advisors. Pete shares his journey from competitive basketball player to NBA front office staff and top executive search recruiter, revealing how peak performance habits from pro sports translate to the business world. Discover why a strong pregame routine matters just as much in the o...

Join us for a must-hear conversation with Clyde Calhoun, Founder & CEO of Root Idea, an AI advisory firm. With a career that’s taken him from nuclear weapons R&D to AI governance, Clyde shares how his curiosity led him to tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges in AI adoption. He breaks down the real difference between governing AI tools and the decisions they influence, explores how guardrails can prote...

In this special edition of Count Me In, Adam Larson sits down with Dr. Brigitte de Graaff, IMA's new Board Chair and Assistant Professor at Vrije University in the Netherlands. Brigitte shares how a student job with IMA's CMA program launched a career that never followed a straight line, and why she believes that is a strength, not a detour. She talks about her vision for a more connected IMA community, one that bridges the gap bet...

Soufyan Hamid, founder of The Finance Circle, returns to Count Me In to share fresh insights on the evolving role of finance teams. His company specializes in training FP&A leaders and finance professionals to master financial storytelling, deliver impactful presentations, and build strong business partner relationships. Since Soufyan's last appeared in 2024, AI has swept through the finance world, initially shifting focus away...

Join us for a lively conversation with Marina Ter Sargsyan, Founder and CFO of Crystal Books Consulting, whose 25-year journey spans Armenia to the U.S., banking to nonprofits, and tech transformations to teaching. Marina shares how her love for numbers and problem-solving fueled her passion for helping small businesses and nonprofits tackle complex challenges. You'll hear honest insights on the realities of adopting AI and automat...

What does it really take to keep ethics at the forefront as AI changes the game in accounting? In this episode, Tala Khalifeh, Chief of Staff at STAXX and a leader for IMA Shared Interest Groups, joins Adam Larson for an honest, insightful chat about her journey from internal audit to championing ethics in finance. Listen as Tala shares real stories about walking away from unethical workplaces, why human judgment still matters in t...

Join Adam Larson as he sits down with Ali Hussain, founder and CEO of Tabs, for a candid conversation about redefining the landscape of accounting and finance through AI-powered technology. Ali shares his journey from COO to entrepreneur, the real struggles finance teams face with outdated tools, and why party tricks in AI aren’t enough for meaningful change. Get an inside look at what it means to build agents that work along...

Ever wondered how an electrical engineer ends up as the CFO of a major company in Brazil? Join us for a candid conversation with Rafael Pinho, Co-Founder and CFO at TD Pine Advisors, as he shares his unconventional career journey from engineering to investment banking, and onward to leading large finance teams. Rafael opens up about learning on the job, the challenges of managing through crisis, and how to truly transform accountin...