The complete guide to Scaling New Heights 2025

Scaling New Heights 2025 is headed to Orlando, featuring 550+ speakers across 4 packed days. For accounting professionals who want to sharpen their skills, explore the latest in accounting technology, and connect with peers over a shared growth mindset, this is the place to be. 

And to help you plan your itinerary, here are key sessions to look out for.

🤖 The best sessions on AI

The human side of digital transformation: Ensuring employee buy-in

Presenter: Tony Proctor, Proctor & Assocs.

Time: Sunday 22 June, 12pm

You may be ready to embrace new technology, but is your team? Join Tony Proctor for an interactive discussion as he shares the case studies, change management principles, and strategies of an effective digital transformation. One that places employee trust and engagement at the centre.

You’ll learn the framework to communicate with intention, foster a culture of innovation, and empower your people to not only adopt the change, but to champion it for you. The path of least resistance starts with prioritizing your people.

The AI advantage: Automating processes & planning for growth

Presenter: Nayo Carter-Gray, 1st Step Accounting

Time: Monday 23 June, 5.20pm

The key to efficiency could already be in your tech stack. Hear from Nayo Carter-Gray as she explores how you can use AI to save time and improve your daily operations, including practical strategies for reducing admin, enhancing communication, and ultimately growing your firm.

You’ll walk away with a better understanding of task automation, using ChatGPT and other AI tools, and a wealth of AI use cases, including for business strategy, marketing, and service expansion.

AI Confidential? Privacy and AI

Presenter: Randy Johnston, K2 Enterprises

Time: Wednesday 25 June, 4.10pm

Accounting professionals know better than anyone to read the terms and conditions before agreeing to something. AI is no exception. In this session, Randy Johnston will explain the common terms of service in Generative AI tools, translating the technical meanings into easily digestible takeaways about your data security.

Stay informed about your privacy agreements, so you can make the most of AI without compromising your, your firm’s, or your clients’ sensitive information.

🤝 The best sessions on leadership

From isolation to connection

Presenter: Shirley Koss, Woodard

Time: Sunday 22 June, 12pm

The accounting industry is more digitized than ever, but that doesn’t have to mean being disconnected. In this session, Shirley Koss will deep dive into the common barriers and opportunities for championing connectivity at your firm.

Discover the effects of isolation, and how to counter them with a modern, community-first approach to networking, relationship-building, and connection in the workplace.   

Achieving your goals and improving staff performance

Presenter: Terrell Turner, TLTurner Group

Time: Sunday 22 June, 2.40pm

The success of your firm is ultimately the success of your team. In this session, Terrell Turner will explain how to set KPIs that align with your company objectives, covering everything from barriers to industry trends to practical techniques.

Expect actionable takeaways that you can use to develop your team, improve your operations, and grow your firm.

Stay small or scale up? Making the decision that’s best for you

Presenter: Dave Olsen, Nimbl

Time: Monday 23 June, 5.20pm

There’s no one-size-fits-all to growth. Founder and CEO, Dave Olsen, scaled his business from 1 to 100+ in 7 years. In this session, he will reveal his insights into the different stages of growth, and his learnings from each.

For firm leaders, deciding how and whether to grow your firm is an important decision. This session will shed light on the advantages, challenges, and strategies of scaling up, empowering you to plan your next steps with confidence and without unnecessary pressure.

Bringing the spark back: Creative recharge tactics for burned-out teams

Presenter: Brandy Jordan, Woodard

Time: Wednesday 25 June, 11.40am

In this session, Brandy Jordan will address the issue of burnout: the signs and the steps to leading your team through it.

Discover practical insights and strategies for harnessing creative practices, such as visual brainstorming and a new approach to meetings, to inspire curiosity, collaboration, and connection in your team on a daily basis. 

Putting energy back into your team starts with the energy you put into preventing burnout in the first place.

🧩 The best sessions on inclusion

Harnessing ADHD to turn challenges into strengths

Presenter: Jina Etienne, Etienne Consulting

Time: Sunday 22 June, 1.10pm

ADHD isn’t a weakness. With the right approach, it can be your greatest strength. In this session, Jina Etienne will replace the stigmas with proven solutions for managing ADHD, from time management techniques to behavioral therapies.

She’ll reframe common traits, like hyperfocus and creativity, as strengths, with accessible strategies for leveraging ADHD as the powerful asset that it is, setting yourself and your teammates up for success.

Fearless and flourishing: Women in accounting on overcoming imposter syndrome

Presenters: 

• Brittany Brown, Ledger Gurus

• Astrid Galvez, Accounting Specialists and Business Solutions

• Megan Tarnow, DaisyBee Consulting

• Questian Telka, ReQoncile Financials

Time: Monday 23 June, 5.20pm

Everyone deserves a seat at the table. Many women champion this, but not all of them believe it for themselves. In this panel discussion, four trailblazing women will open up about their experiences with imposter syndrome, and how they overcame it.

Expect vulnerable storytelling, battle-tested strategies for building self-confidence, and unfiltered insights into the systemic barriers that women in accounting face. 

🚀 The best sessions on marketing

Nailing your niche: Finding and targeting ideal clients

Presenters: 

• Candy Bellau, Kramerica Business Solutions

• Samantha L Hallburn, Simplified Accounting Management, Inc.

Time: Sunday 22 June, 2.40pm

Join Candy Bellau and Samantha L Hallburn for a comprehensive session on attracting your ideal clients. You’ll learn the essentials: defining your ideal client, positioning your firm, and crafting marketing strategies that draw in new leads and keep existing contacts engaged.

This is the blow-by-blow of an effective business strategy, for a healthy and profitable client lifecycle.

The 3-part marketing system every growth-minded firm needs

Presenter: Anna Khayet, Padgett Advisors

Time: Tuesday 24 June, 5.20pm

In this session, Anna Khayet will break down the strategy that has helped hundreds of firms reach new clients and capitalize on existing ones, including a step-by-step guide, client-friendly selling tactics, and a personal branding playbook.

Just like accounting, marketing is all about the numbers. Learn tools and techniques to increase your qualified leads, profitability, and brand awareness (without hiring a full-time marketing team).

💰 The best sessions on pricing

Pricing conversations that work

Presenter: Lamont Nesbitt, Woodard

Times: 

• Monday 23 June, 11.20am

• Tuesday 24 June, 12pm

Developing a pricing model is just the first step. Now, you need to communicate it. Join Lamont Nesbitt as he leads an interactive session on how to navigate these conversations with clients.

You’ll discover how to emphasize the value of your services, leverage the power of silence, plan your talking points, and communicate with confidence. Most importantly, you’ll learn the art of letting go of expectations, so you can lead conversations that feel collaborative, inspire trust, and foster mutual agreement.

From hourly hassles to pricing power: Lessons learned from ditching hourly billing

Presenter: Ron Baker, THRESHOLD

Time: Monday 23 June, 1pm

Ron Baker’s firm has been operating on a value-based pricing model since 1989. In this session, he will divulge why he made the switch from hourly billing, how he implemented the change, and what the outcome was.

This is a first-hand account of embracing new pricing models, with insights, learnings, and strategies for modern firms to do the same. Is it time to review your pricing strategy?

🙌 More great sessions

What it’s really like to sell your firm: Top tips & tricks

Presenter: Sharrin Fuller, Glass Wallet Ventures

Time: Sunday 22 June, 12pm

Is a merger or acquisition (M&A) the right move for your firm? Drawing on her own experience, Sharrin Fuller will divulge the ins and outs of M&A to help you make that decision.

Hear the best practices, strategies, and learnings for each stage of the M&A process, including selling, due-diligence, and exiting your business. You’ll gain clarity on what to expect, how to emotionally prepare yourself for the transition, and how to set your firm up for success, even after you’ve exited.

Automate your prospective client discovery process

Presenter: Kellie Parks, Calmwaters Cloud Accounting

Time: Sunday 22 June, 1.10pm

What if you could attract clients to your firm without the manual effort? In this session, Kellie Parks will outline how to use technology and automation to perform your client discovery for you, without compromising on client experience.

She will cover how to set up the whole process, from discovery, to qualified, to client intake, so that you can automatically find, vet, and sign your ideal client. Every time. For half the effort. Without losing time on unqualified leads.

Stop saying yes to everything, start asking for what you want

Presenter: Amy Yip, Amy Yip LLC

Time: Wednesday 25 June, 1pm

If saying no to a client feels overwhelming, this is your reset button. Join Amy Yip for a circuit breaker session on people-pleasing, burnout, and boundaries.

Understand where the pressure to say yes comes from, the impact it has on you and your work, and the importance of voicing your own needs. You’ll leave with proven strategies for setting limits, communicating with clarity, and protecting your work-life balance, without unnecessary pressure or guilt.

Optimizing CAS capacity: Strategic resource planning, outsourcing, and effective staffing

Presenters: 

• Emily Cheshire, Aprio LLP

• Deborah Defer, Woodard

• Kane Polakoff, CohnReznick

Time: Wednesday 25 June, 4.10pm

Firms offering Client Advisory Services (CAS) in 2025 are expected to see a 99% increase in median revenue growth. But that’s only possible with the right resourcing.

This panel will see thought leaders Emily Cheshire, Deborah Defer, and Kane Polakoff share and discuss their strategies for optimized CAS services, from internal resourcing to outsourcing strategies to a staffing model that works. 

Glimpse at the ins and outs of establishing a CAS practice that’s efficient, scalable, and effectively delivers on the high-quality advisory services that your clients are seeking.

The best way to network

Events like Scaling New Heights are as much about what you learn as they are about who you meet. Between sessions, don’t be afraid to approach the speakers, turn to the person next to you, or share your takeaways with your LinkedIn network.

The Karbon team will be near the main entrance at Booth 101. Stop by to say hello 👋