Episode 14

Guru or Con-Artist - What Really Makes an Accounting Influencer

Episode 14. The Accountants Influencers Podcast with Rob Brown & Martin Bissett on how terms like influencers and gurus get distorted in accounting and fintech land.

Key shownotes from the whole interview include:

➜ The emerging role of accounting and fintech micro influencers who go deep with narrow audiences or areas of expertise

➜ What really makes an influencer in the accounting and fintech world and what sets them apart from the rest

➜ Why mere opinions, blogs and articles do not make somebody a true influencer for accountants and the firms they serve

➜ The fallacy of claiming to advise seven figure accounting firms on growth if you've never done this even for a five figure firm

➜ How content, frameworks, methodologies and strategies are not applicable to all accounting firms in all markets, though many so called influencers and experts say they are

➜ The analogy of coaches in accounting and fintech to Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful British football manager of all time who was not a high level footballer himself

➜ What accounting firms, accountancy networks and professionals should be looking for when they listen to the many experts, influencers and gurus

➜ The importance of track record and consistent results to cement the credentials of advisors and experts in any field

➜ How the hype on social media (likes, shares, followers and fans) dupes many accounting professionals into rating false influencers and empty experts

➜ The key differences between anyone with a voice who claims to have expertise (con-artists) and a true expert influencer who actually gets results

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About the Podcast

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Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.

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About your host

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.