Accounting for Sustainability (A4S)’s Post

My recent article in Times Higher Education on five ways business schools can pivot to sustainability is now live and free to read on Poets&Quants! “The traditional approach has been to offer elective courses for students who are passionate about the topic, while leaving the mainstream financial, accounting, marketing and leadership classes relatively untouched. This siloed approach is now running into trouble, both in corporations and in business schools.” https://lnkd.in/dEVbkDbY

"𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞!" This slogan from BDO Nederland was a perfect fit for a bespoke keynote at the #CFOCircle. In my native language, it holds a double meaning, perfectly setting the tone for a discussion that shifted from numbers on the P&L to something even more urgent for organizations that want to thrive today: our shared humanity in an innovative world. Increasingly, I have the privilege of engaging with CFOs on topics like AI, innovation, the importance of fostering safe working environments, and the critical role of empathetic leadership. At the heart of these sessions is the vision of building an infinite and 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, one that embraces change and places the human element at its core. For this particular audience, I brought together insights from four keynotes (and my two books) into a story that celebrated unique human competencies like imagination, novelty, openness, realism, agility, and consilience, in a new story: "𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭" 🌎 Reverse Engineering Leadership for a Value-Driven Future 🧠 A Learning Mindset in the Age of Innovation 🤖 The Impact of AI on the Future of Organizations and Humanity 🧒 What Can We Learn From Children to Create the Future of Work? It was inspiring to see how this group embraced the future through the perspectives of young people and explored the generational differences in shaping the future of work. We dove into intergenerational perspectives on the workplace and discussed how to bridge gaps to create something better. The lively discussion extended into a half-hour Q&A session, where #empathetic #leadership and bringing people along during change emerged as #critical priorities, perhaps even more essential for agility and growth than the numbers on a balance sheet! Of course, being numbers-driven professionals, they were thrilled to dive into the #LearningMindsetProfiler, designed to help them evaluate and balance their own learning mindsets and leadership competencies with their goals. I can’t wait to see the results, and I’m already eager to learn from their experiences, perhaps enough to craft my next inspiring story! At The Learning Mindset Organization , our mission is to spark a ripple effect, harnessing the uniqueness of individuals to shape a collaborative and infinite learning ecosystem. Guided by the United Nations #SDG and inspired by #children, who are the architects of our future, we aim to create a world where inclusivity, innovation, and growth flourish. More info ➡️ My personal website https://lnkd.in/eZmZ65Up ➡️ The Learning Mindset Organization: https://lnkd.in/ex_KX3qh #LearningMindset #LearningEcosystem #SDG #Future #Innovation #Youth #Inclusion Speakers Associates Ltd London Speaker Bureau A-Speakers Speakersbase Kogan Page Publishing

Some great insights from Gambit’s Education & Training Team regarding the M&A outlook in the sector in 2025 and the key considerations for acquirors when assessing Education & Training acquisition opportunities.

As the Year Winds Down, the Learning Never Stops With the calendar year drawing to a close, it’s tempting to pause and reflect on achievements. But for me, it’s also a time to keep moving forward—upskilling, broadening my horizons, and refreshing my knowledge. 🌱✨ I’m thrilled to share that I’ve completed the CPA Course on ESG Measurement, Reporting, and Assurance, a step forward in aligning my professional skills with the growing demand for sustainable and impactful business practices. 🌍📊 This course delved into the critical role that accountants play in guiding businesses—especially SMEs—through the complexities of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. As stakeholders increasingly demand transparency and accountability, understanding these frameworks and metrics is no longer optional; it’s essential. Key Takeaways: ✅ Evaluated global ESG reporting frameworks for SMEs. ✅ Identified relevant ESG reporting metrics tailored to stakeholder needs. ✅ Gained tools to conduct materiality assessments and start ESG reporting. ✅ Explored how ESG insights can drive performance and decision-making. This knowledge isn't just a box to tick; it’s a toolkit for making meaningful contributions to businesses striving for sustainable success. Whether it's empowering SMEs to align with stakeholder expectations or championing responsible governance, this learning reinforces the importance of adaptability and lifelong growth. As we prepare to welcome a new year, I encourage everyone to reflect not just on their milestones but also on their growth journey. The world is changing, and so should we. Let’s continue investing in ourselves and building skills that create value—for our careers, our clients, and our planet. 🌎💡 Here’s to finishing strong and starting even stronger! 💪 #ProfessionalDevelopment #ESG #Sustainability #Upskilling #LifelongLearning #AccountantsForImpact #CPA

✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 (𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰) During the holidays I was able to reflect on my first semester of my Master's at EDHEC Business School and wanted to share my experience. 📝 Coming to a program such as this, with a big focus on practical knowledge, such as groupworks, presentations, and cases, was both challenging but also a breath of fresh air. The best example for this was our Strategic Management & Innovation course, where we had to approach a real company, analyze it using the tools we learned, and suggest 1-2 strategic recommendations: Our group worked with the exciting French company PayFit, and although I doubt we will have a massive influence on their future strategy, the learnings from conducting the analysis and the feedback from their CSO, Pierre-Marie de Haut de Sigy, were incredibly enriching. I also greatly appreciated our hands-on courses in Finance: both Financial Statement Analysis and Corporate Finance gave me tools to help me better understand companies’ strategies, their financial health, and their valuation. I could go on, as we’ve had a great curriculum from courses in Organizational Behavior, Leadership & HR to Geopolitics to AI for Sustainability, with brilliant professors in their fields. 🗣️ What makes this program special is its constantly evolving and agile nature that allows it to constantly improve and include the most relevant topics for its students. As Class Representative, I was not only honored to represent my brilliant and talented fellow students, but to actively contribute to the bettering of our program with ideas and feedback. 🇫🇷 Of course, I didn’t only study business, but also improved my French! During the semester, I undertook a B2 French Course with Alliance Francaise and tried myself at reading some classics in French: Le Petit Prince and L’Étranger. Similarly to my stay in China, it was important for me to not only learn the language, but also immerse myself in the culture, understand a country’s history, and its mentality. What helped me most of all, though, was simply talking to my fellow students in French as much as possible, and I am very grateful for their patience, and making me feel comfortable to make mistakes. ☕ Last but not least, I didn’t just study and read - what a pity that would have been, living in Paris of all places! Anyone who has spent considerable time there knows what a magical place it is. Of course, I visited the typical sights, plunged into the art and culture of the city, and simply enjoyed life with good food and wine, flâner through the streets and the banks of the Seine, sitting on the terasses reading and having a coffee. I really fell in love with the city and hope to come back, as there are still many things I haven’t seen yet. (possibly with an internship during my gap year? we’ll see…) For now, though, I am looking forward to the next stop of the program: Seoul 🇰🇷

8 Important Lessons from 8 Years of Growth! 2024 marks a monumental year for NorthStar Academy as we celebrate our 8th anniversary! As we reflect on this incredible journey, I’d love to hear from you: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your journey? For me, these 8 lessons have been instrumental in shaping our growth from a small team to an industry-leading academy in the finance and accounting education space: 1) Start with Purpose Everything begins with a clear vision. NorthStar Academy was founded to empower students and shape the future of finance professionals. Purpose fuels passion, and passion drives progress. 2) Invest in Your Team A business is only as strong as its people. Building a core group that shares your vision and values is crucial. Empowering them to lead and take ownership creates a thriving organization. Every success we’ve achieved reflects their hard work and dedication. 3) Focus on People First Whether it’s students, employees, or collaborators, everything starts with the people. Listening, understanding, and nurturing potential creates a strong, supportive community that fosters growth. 4) Build a Strong Culture from Day 1 Culture isn’t something you add later; it’s the foundation of your organization. A culture rooted in excellence, teamwork, and growth has been the backbone of our success. 5) Quality Over Quantity Growth is important, but sustainable growth is even better. Our focus has always been on delivering high-quality education and impactful results for our students, rather than chasing numbers. 6) Lead by Example As an entrepreneur, actions speak louder than words. Authentic leadership is about aligning decisions with your core values and inspiring your team through your actions. 7) Adaptability is Strength The ability to adapt has been one of the most important lessons in our journey. Challenges and changes are certain, but seeing them as opportunities for growth has made all the difference. 8) Celebrate Milestones Together Every milestone, big or small, is a collective achievement. From reaching 50,000+ students to launching new courses, every step forward reminds us of the power of collaboration. As we celebrate 8 years of growth, we are reminded that the true measure of success is not just how much you grow, but how well your team can thrive in your absence. Looking forward to many more years of growth, leadership, and success together! Here’s to an amazing New Year ahead! #Christmas #NewYear #Leadership #Teamwork #Growth #FinanceEducation #BusinessSuccess #8YearsOfGrowth #FutureOfFinance

🌟 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱? 🌟 Impact means different things to different people. Over the holidays, I reflected on my professional impact for #2025 - as every year while hiking up and skiing down the mountains 🏔️ As many smart leaders point out: 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦: in politics, the economy. As a professor, 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 —two avenues through which I hope to make insights accessible to people. Below is my agenda for 2025. 🎓 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 allows me to directly engage with individuals who can drive real societal change. This year, I will teach three distinct groups of people: 1️⃣ 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 at London Business School - open to all LBS students. I’m kicking off the year by teaching taxation and transparency topics. We’ll explore regulations that not only boost economies but also drive sustainable outcomes. 🌱 I’ll share insights live from the classroom, but here’s a sneak peek of what we’ll cover: • How #tax policies shape corporate behavior (including those included in U.S. president #Trump 's Day 1 #executiveorders) • The role of transparency, such as #ESGreporting, in sustainable growth 2️⃣ 𝘗𝘩𝘋 𝘚𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳: Novel scientific depends on junior researchers who generate high-quality studies. I’m thrilled to cover hot topics and empirical methods to help PhD students tackle issues in: (Sustainability) reporting, Corporate finance, and Taxation. 3️⃣ 𝘔𝘉𝘈 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘉𝘚: As every year, a personal highlight! Teaching ~500 talented and diverse #MBA2026 students the fundamentals of financial accounting—the language of business. We’ll explore how to hold firms accountable to their strategies, profitability, and sustainability promises. 🌍 🔬 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝: with growing uncertainty and major policy changes (again, including Trump's executive orders), scientific evidence can help improve decision-making. I will focus on three key questions: 1️⃣ How can policies mitigate #climatechange 🌳 without stifling growth? 2️⃣ How do tax policies drive innovation in the age of #AI 🤖, especially in a global economy where innovations originate in hubs like Silicon Valley? 3️⃣ How does requiring multinational firms to disclose their global footprint affect capital allocation and global inequality? I’m fortunate to present these ideas on four continents 🌏 this year—at research institutions, conferences, and policy stages. A huge opportunity for feedback and collaboration. Alongside his agenda, I value positive impact in my personal life 🏡. Sometimes, this means missing a conference or delivering a paper later than planned. But 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘸 - and carrying more weight doesn’t mean less progress. Proof: I hiked the same mountain as last year, in less time, while carrying a heavier toddler 👇 Happy to hear your thoughts on my agenda and your plans! All the best for 2025!

"Happy ✨😇to announce that I have completed my course in Business and Sustainable Development. This learning experience has given me valuable insights into how businesses can operate sustainably while driving growth. Looking forward to applying these principles in my future endeavors! #ProfessionalDevelopment #SustainableBusiness #LifelongLearning #NPTEL"

Recently, I had the privilege of participating in a 5-session program of Future Leaders in Accounting & Industry Research (FLAIR)🚀, a not-for-credit, no-fee program designed by the Department of Accounting under the Faculty of Business and Economics of University of Melbourne to complement the regular studies of high-potential students. 📚 Purpose of FLAIR: FLAIR provides exposure to creative, critical, and collaborative thinking experiences, exploring research topics such as sustainability reporting, performance management, and data analytics. It aims to prepare students for leadership roles in both industry and academia by showcasing the diverse ways in which accounting knowledge is advancing and impacting business practice today. 🔍 My Learning Journey: Reflecting on my recent learning journey, each week brought new insights and perspectives that enriched my understanding of crucial areas in business: 🌱 Week 1: Risk Management in Financial Services Operations: -Explored efficient risk measurement techniques and the importance of understanding operational risk.  -Highlighted the necessity of building a risk-aware culture, discover the enables and impediments to effective operational risk management 💼 Week 2: Sustainability Reporting: -Delved into the concept of materiality and strategies to enhance the relevance of sustainability reporting. -Explored the integration of sustainability information in financial reporting and its impact on investor decision-making. 🏢 Week 3: Superfund Performance: -Examined the dynamics of superannuation funds and their implications for retirement savings. +Discussed the effectiveness of "MySuper Performancce Test" and explored its implications. 🌍 Week 4: Corporate Culture: -Explored how corporate culture influences bonus decisions based on performance within organizations. -Discussed the potential impact of referral-based hiring on exacerbating agency problems. -Discussed the challenges of measuring and incentivizing cultural values to maximize organizational effectiveness. 🎓 Week 5: Advanced Topics in Sustainability Reporting: -Explored the evolving landscape of sustainability reporting and its impact on stakeholder decision-making. -Discussed how connected information and quantification influence the relevance of sustainability information. Each week's learning has equipped me with valuable knowledge and skills, furthering my journey towards becoming a future industry leader. I'm excited to continue applying these insights as I progress in my academic and professional endeavors. #FLAIR #Accounting #Sustainability #LearningAndDevelopment #FacultyofBusinessandEconomics

Exciting news! I’ve decided to take the leap and invest in my professional growth by enrolling in the Diploma of Business Advisory. This in-depth course is the next step in upskilling myself and expanding my expertise in business. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead and the opportunities it will unlock. Stay tuned for updates as I dive into this new chapter! #ProfessionalGrowth #BusinessAdvisory #Upskilling #LifelongLearning