Intuit Connect 2024: 20 must-see sessions

It’s that time of year: Intuit Connect is around the corner 🎉

On October 28-30, thousands of accounting professionals will come together in Las Vegas to make the most of:

• 140+ sessions

• 127+ speakers

• 6 session tracks

• 1 x fireside chat with Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson

With so many exciting sessions and speakers to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. To help with that, here’s a curated list of 20 essential sessions that will give you the insights, advice, and motivation to succeed in 2025 and beyond.

Monday, October 28

Automation strategies: 4 ways to elevate your firm

Presenters:

• Korey Cournoyer, STRMS

• Dan Luthi, Ignite Spot Accounting

Time: 10am

Explore real-world ways to apply automation to enhance your firm’s efficiency, scalability, and productivity. You’ll learn how to evaluate, select, implement, and measure the success of appropriate automation tools and solutions.

Concierge client experience: Integrating AI to elevate service

Presenter: Keila Hill-Trawick, Little Fish Accounting

Time: 1.30pm

Keila Hill-Trawick will share strategies to transform client interactions into memorable experiences that foster loyalty. You’ll learn best practices for using tools like Mailchimp and AI solutions, including an OOO vacation bot.

Lessons learned from growing a firm from 1 to 50 employees in 5 years

Presenter: Tosha Anderson, The Charity CFO, LLC

Time: 1.30pm

Explore how you can craft a scalable growth strategy for your firm. Tosha will share key insights into effective team building and talent management, and the role of technology in scaling operations and enhancing client experiences.

Where are the women: Understanding gender disparity in accounting

Presenters:

• Amy Horner, True Nine

• Sabrina Parris, Honeycomb State Tax Strategies

Time: 1.30pm

This session will explore the reasons behind the attrition of women in accounting, the barriers they face in advancing to leadership positions, and why the profession is ripe for entrepreneurship. 

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify systemic barriers and cultural factors contributing to gender disparity

• Address minority challenges that uniquely and disproportionately affect women

• Develop and implement inclusive strategies for a more supportive work environment

HR best practices for accounting firms

Presenters:

• Michael Ly, Reconciled

• Laura Pillsbury, Humnly

• Stephanie Stewart, Humnly

Time: 3pm

In this interactive session, firm leaders will share success stories, lessons, and best practices for HR, people ops, and employee engagement. Topics include pay transparency laws, new non-compete rulings, and staying competitive in the job market when margins are slim.

If GenAI is the answer, what is the question?

Presenter: Ashley Francis, The Francis Group, PLLC

Time: 3pm

This session is for the decision makers in any stage of the generative AI adoption journey. You’ll chat about what GenAI is—but most importantly, why it's exciting. Ashley will cover the basics, best practices for firms, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The role of private equity in today's accounting environment

Presenters:

• Kenji Kuramoto, Acuity

• Jerilyn Dressler, Your Part-Time Controller, LLC

• Chris Williams, System Six

• Chad Davis, LiveCA & AutomationTown

Time: 3pm

This session will explore how private equity (PE) investments have reshaped accounting firms' operations, growth strategies, and service offerings. The expert panelists will share their own insights into the benefits and challenges of PE, including advice for navigating this evolving landscape.

Tuesday, October 29

Accountant's automation toolkit: Harnessing AI, Zapier, and workflow software

Presenter: Blake Oliver, Earmark

Time: 9am

In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to integrate ChatGPT, Process Street, and QuickBooks with Zapier to streamline accounting workflows. Blake will also demonstrate how you can offer valuable AI consulting services to clients that position you as a tech-savvy advisor.

Recommended reading: How to know if Zapier will be useful for your accounting firm in 5 steps

Be bold, not boring: Building a brand identity for growth

Presenter: Roman Villard, Full Send Finance

Time: 9am

Roman Villard will share how to craft a distinctive brand identity that sets your firm apart, resonates with clients, captures attention, and fosters loyalty.

Building client confidence through practical security safeguards

Presenter: Brad Messner, Messner & Fox, LLC

Time: 9am

Brad Messner will break down cybersecurity requirements into easy-to-manage components, so you can create a plan to ensure your firm is both compliant and secure.

The hybrid team roadmap: Blending office and cloud for success

Presenter: Sharrin Fuller, Core Financial Pros

Time: 9am

Learn how to transform your accounting practice into a high-performing hybrid operation. You’ll learn how to keep a hybrid team engaged, how to select and implement the right tech, and how to scale operations with minimal disruption.

Blue ocean: Flip from service-led to advisory-led discovery calls

Presenters:

• Kenji Kuramoto, Acuity

• Roman Villard, Full Send Finance

• Bob Wang, Tee Up Advisors

Time: 1.30pm

Understanding your clients’ bigger picture is a key way to open additional revenue streams and foster loyalty. Learn how to tease out their ‘why’ and underlying business issues during discovery calls.

Beyond the numbers: Building a people-first culture for sustainable growth

Presenter: Randy Crabtree, Tri-Merit

Time: 3pm

Randy Crabtree will draw on his extensive experience and real-world examples to outline the key cultural elements that contribute to a thriving and successful accounting firm. You’ll learn how to build a culture that supports and boosts employee well-being, engagement, and retention.

How to get 'no' right: Lessons from hospitality guest experiences

Presenters:

• Kristen Nies Ciraldo, Math for Food

• Chris Macksey, Prix Fixe Accounting

Time: 3pm

Imagine your favorite restaurant was run like an accounting practice. Is that a place you’d want to dine? Restaurants and hotels are the gold standard of getting the client experience right—boundary-setting and raising their prices, yet keeping their customers clambering for a reservation. Sometimes, accounting firms must look beyond their competitors to ensure they're delivering world-class client services.

Prioritizing you: How to create a mental health plan

Presenter: Matthew May, Acuity

Time: 3pm

Matthew May will share the story of his struggles with depression and anxiety to help you create an intentional strategy, plan, and next steps to improve your own mental health. He’ll also share useful books, personality profiles, feedback strategies, and other resources to help you on your journey.

Transforming your firm with AI: From industry trends to implementation

Presenters:

• Korey Cournoyer, STRMS

• Ashley Francis, The Francis Group, PLLC

• Chad Davis, LiveCA & AutomationTown

• Wesley Wahlberg, CLA

Time: 3pm

AI in accounting is your ally—it can automate routine tasks, enhance data accuracy, and improve client interactions for strategic growth. In this essential session for accounting professionals and firm leaders, you’ll explore how AI is transforming the accounting industry.

You'll learn how to:

• Identify key AI trends

• Evaluate AI tools and solutions

• Implement AI strategies

Wednesday, October 30

4 ways to build your ideal advisory tech stack

Presenters:

• Carla Caldwell, Caldwell Consulting & Training

• Melissa Stout, Milestone Business Solutions Inc.

Time: 8.30am

Firm owners Carla Caldwell and Melissa Stout will share how to build the ideal advisory tech stack, including the benefits of using fewer, more strategic apps. You’ll leave with a plan for designing your own, plus key questions to ask vendors in the Exhibit Hall.

Recommended reading: The essential questions to ask when building your accounting firm’s ideal tech stack

Pricing virtual CFO services through a subscription-based billing model

Presenter: Jody Grunden, Summit Virtual CFO by Anders

Time: 8.30am

Jody Grunden will share all there is to know about creating a weekly subscription-based pricing model for virtual CFO services. Designed for those looking to adopt a modern, scalable, and transparent pricing structure, Jody will guide you through developing and implementing a weekly subscription pricing strategy that enables you to productize your service, price services to maintain a 75% margin, and meet the needs of both your firm and clients.

Intentionally authentic, curious, and empathetic: Soft skills for growth

Presenter: Chris Lazzuri, CML Consulting

Time: 10am

Chris Lazzuri will explore the business acumen skills that will help you better connect with prospects, clients, colleagues, and staff. You’ll learn about the power of curiosity, and how authenticity and empathy cultivate relationships.

Fireside chat with Earvin 'Magic' Johnson

Presenters:

• Greg Johnson, Intuit

• Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, 2x NBA Hall of Famer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist

Time: 11.30am

It’s the Magic Johnson—in the flesh.

In this discussion with Intuit’s Greg Johnson, Magic will share his entrepreneurial story, including his journey from NBA star to philanthropist.

Enjoy your time at Intuit Connect

There’s plenty to be learned and experienced at this year’s event. If you get the chance, swing past booth 42 and meet the Karbon team. See you there!