Sage Thought Leadership Podcast

Christopher Reeves claims to be as passionate about data as he is about food and music. Christopher is the CEO of ZAP, makers of Sage Data and Analytics and is a technologist with a product and finance background. As a 20-year veteran in the manufacturing, ERP and data space, Christopher has lived through many technology hype cycles, but his conviction is that the core value of data cannot be over-hyped. Summary The importance of data and its potential value. Christopher Reeves believes data's core value cannot be overhyped, despite technology hype cycles. Data value, AI, and data management. Christopher believes AI will solve data problems in the next decade, but human processes are essential for now. AI's potential to provide new knowledge and reach wisdom level. Ed Kless and Christopher discuss the potential of AI to reach the wisdom level described by Peter Drucker's data pyramid, with Christopher expressing optimism about the possibility. Kless and Christopher agree that AI will not take jobs directly, but rather provide opportunities for those who know how to use it to take jobs from those who don't. AI, data management, and heroes. Christopher names their father as their hero, citing his strong moral compass and gratitude. Christopher Reeves highlights Steven Pinker and Brian Kaplan as intellectual heroes, and shares insights from their books on data management and analytics.

29 Jan 202410min

Anthony Miller is the business Development Director at Flowgear, a global business that specialises in integration and aims to shed the workload & complexity of App-to-App integration quickly & affordably, using their no code platform. Anthony is also a serial entrepreneur with a passion for building innovative businesses with inspirational people, having co-founded several successful businesses in several countries and in unrelated sectors.  Summary Integration and app-to-app connectivity with Anthony Miller. Anthony Miller is passionate about integration, bringing disparate systems together to enable data sharing between companies. Shifting from custom software to best-of-breed SaaS solutions. Historically, companies commissioned bespoke software solutions, but today they prefer to license best-of-breed SaaS technologies, and Flood goes helps connect these systems in real-time. Integration in various systems for a simple online purchase. Ed asks for a practical example of integration, and Anthony provides an everyday scenario involving multiple systems and parties in real-time. Integrations as digital plumbing and maintenance. Integrations are like digital plumbing, critical for business operations. Leadership values with Anthony Miller. Anthony Miller names Steve Jobs and Nelson Mandela as his heroes, citing their perseverance and values.

26 Jan 20248min

Jeremy Hemsworth is a seasoned marketer and U.S. Army veteran. He currently leads partner marketing at Ramp and has held various marketing roles at Microsoft, Slack, and Salesforce. Throughout his career, he has focused on helping customers understand how tech and automation can boost productivity and business impact. Based in Nashville, he balances his career with a hobby farm, raising chickens and sheep. Summary Productivity and automation with a seasoned marketer. Jeremy Hemsworth prioritizes helping others boost productivity and business impact through tech and automation, while balancing his career with a hobby farm. How ramp helps customer Walter Farms save time with automated processes. Ramp helps Walter farms save time on manual processes, freeing up more hands-on work in farming operations. Automating finance tasks to free up time for strategic work. CFO saves time by automating tasks, focuses on strategic work. Automating financial tasks to free up time for CFOs. CFOs save 10 hours/week with automation, focusing on high-value tasks like financial planning and personal interests. Leadership and inspiration with Colin Powell. Colin Powell is a hero to the speaker for his servant leadership and inspiring others. Jeremy Hemsworth shares contact information on LinkedIn and Twitter.

25 Jan 20247min

In the late 1990s, Ryan Kerry initiated his investment technology career at Advent software. Advancing through roles at Advent, he later joined SEI to oversee their outsourced investment management. With a knack for data management and client service, he established Accusource in 2008, specializing in white-glove operations for family offices. Addressing the challenge of transferring investment data to general ledgers, Ryan founded KnowLedger in 2020. Based near Philadelphia, he harmonizes family life with his love for bicycling. Summary Using technology to make accounting easier. Ryan Kerry loves using data and computers to make life easier for accountants. Using technology to reduce data entry in accounting profession. Ryan proposes using AI to automate data entry in accounting, potentially reducing fees. Automating accounting processes with AI. Ryan discusses how their technology can reduce audit time by tagging journal entries in real-time. Using AI to automate accounting tasks and avoid errors. Ed Kless and Ryan discuss ways to identify and correct suspicious financial data, with Ryan emphasizing the importance of staying in their lane and not overstepping into the auditor's territory. Mentors, heroes, and leadership with Ryan Kerry. Ryan Kerry highlights mentors and heroes in his career, including Harry Truman, and shares how he stays connected with them through Vistage and other groups.

24 Jan 20247min

Justin Smith is the Chief Financial Officer of LeaseQuery. Justin provides leadership and oversight for capital allocation, financial management, operational efficiency and investor relations. He brings nearly 20 years of experience and came to LeaseQuery in 2023 from Goldman Sachs, where he was a senior member of their technology investment banking team. At Goldman, Justin advised CEOs, CFOs and boards on transactions including IPOs, M&A, and capital raises. Additionally, Justin served on the investment selection committee of Engage Ventures, a leading VC fund based in Atlanta. Justin holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. Summary Financial leadership and capital allocation with Justin Smith. Justin Smith provides leadership and oversight for capital allocation and financial management at Elise Curry. The evolution of the CFO role. CFO evolved from cash manager to strategic partner, matching resources with investment opportunities. Signs of a ripe M&A environment. Speaker 2 highlights the importance of market dynamics and capital availability for M&A deals to occur. Sellers are starting to show willingness to come to market, but capital availability remains a challenge. Valuation of software and consulting companies. Speaker 2: Subscription model companies have longer term visibility, premium in market. Subscription-based business models and their benefits. Subscription-based businesses provide high degree of visibility into future revenue. Justin Smith, CFO of Lease Query, highlights his mother as a hero for her positivity and optimism, and Rich Roll, a podcast personality, as someone he looks up to for his career pivot and personal development insights.

23 Jan 202411min

Tom Miller After a career of over 5 decades in the technology industry Tom Miller currently works directly with the ownership of Net at Work to assist in driving the company’s M&A strategy. His career began as a mainframe sales engineer for Sperry Univac, followed by founding a computer service bureau providing automated computer services to CPA firms, which led to opening an Apple Computer Store primarily selling Great Plains Software systems to SMBs. This led Tom to Great Plains Software in 1987, followed by stints at Microsoft, Sage Software and now Net at Work. Summary Technology industry career and M&A strategy with Tom Miller. Tom Miller shares insights from 50+ yrs in tech, from mainframe sales to SMB software sales. Exit strategies for business partnerships. Tom reflects on 30-40 years of partnerships, exit strategies, and fulfillment in the business. Selling a business, finding the right buyer, and ensuring a smooth transition. Find a buyer with aligned values to maintain customer trust and loyalty. Ensure buyer has financial wherewithal and a broad portfolio of products/services to maximize earn-out potential. Customer-first approach and leadership lessons from a former governor. Tom admires Doug Burgum, former boss and current governor of North Dakota, for prioritizing customers and valuing learning through failure. Business success through customer intimacy and partnerships. Tom emphasizes the importance of understanding customers and building relationships.

19 Jan 202411min

Adam Lean transitioned from an accountant to a successful entrepreneur, having built and sold two businesses. He's now dedicated to guiding business owners and is the brains behind The CFO Project—a platform that trains accountants and tax professionals to offer CFO and advisory services. Through his experiences, he discovered his true passion: guiding and equipping firm owners with the necessary tools to maximize profitability and to escape the “accountant’s trap.”  For a free guide to starting a CFO service click here. Summary Entrepreneurship and accounting with Adam Lean Starting and growing an internet business. Accounting and business growth. Customer selection and business structure Business structures, compliance, and growth with a focus on Sam Walton's entrepreneurial spirit

19 Jan 202411min

Summary Across three episodes, Jeff Richards and David Beard from the Sage CRM team talk with Bea Rebollo from Renishaw Plc, who are a global engineering technology group, creating high-precision technology for metrology and healthcare.  Operating across 67 locations in 36 countries with 5,000+ employees worldwide, Bea is the Senior Sage CRM Analyst/Programmer whose main role is to develop and support Sage CRM for her internal customers - that's 2500 users of Sage CRM across the world. In this third & final episode, Bea talks to us about the future of Sage CRM for Renishaw, the importance of staying current with the latest version, and what she would like to see in the future for the product.

10 Jan 20249min