Count Me In®

Sit down with Adam Larson and Ayush Sharma , founder and CEO of Warp , as they chat about reinventing HR and finance with AI-powered solutions. Ayush Sharma shares his journey from tackling messy post-COVID payroll problems to building a platform that bridges people data and financial systems—making reporting smarter and more accessible.   Discover why Ayush Sharma believes AI agents are changing...

Join Adam Larson as he sits down with Michael Nagel—author of " Flourishing Together " and Founder of Collective Breakthroughs —for a candid conversation about what truly drives breakthroughs in organizations. From an unconventional start in social work to leading strategy projects at KPMG, Michael shares how understanding people in context is just as vital as mastering numbers and systems. They u...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Polina Nyer, Senior FP&A Analyst for HP, whose career journey started on the basketball courts before pivoting to international business and ultimately, AI-driven finance transformation. Polina shares her fresh framework for understanding how finance and accounting professionals at different career stages experience and adopt AI—whether you're just st...

Join Adam Larson as he sits down with Ilyai Ilienko —CFO at Halen, business scaling expert, and IMA Global Board of Directors member—for a wide-ranging conversation packed with real-world insight. Ilyai Ilienko shares his fascinating journey from hotel restaurant bookkeeper at 17, through big names like Deloitte and Credit Suisse, to helping small and medium-sized businesses build their brands and...

Get an inside look at how finance leaders weather storms and stay ahead of the curve—even when global markets throw curveballs. In this candid conversation, Rashid AlKhoory (oil & gas finance expert from the UAE) and Nataraja Shateeskhanna (retail and luxury goods finance leader) join host Adam Larson to talk shop about leadership, navigating disruption, and adapting to a world that’s anything...

Get ready for an inspiring and eye-opening conversation as Adam Larson sits down with journalist and broadcaster Tracy Mitchell at IMA26 for a live recording of Count Me In! Tracy shares her fascinating journey from interviewing family members in front of her childhood mirror to covering some of the most emotional and impactful stories in television news.   In this episode, Tracy Mitchell opens up...

Ever had to step into a role where nothing was mapped out and the stakes were sky-high? Eric Lenard , Vice President & CFO, Innovation, Development & Quality at Medtronic, knows exactly what that’s like. In this episode, he joins Adam Larson to share his journey from structured corporate beginnings to standing up a new business in a space he barely knew how to spell (literally).   You’ll h...

What does it take to move beyond functional expertise and become a leader who can navigate people, businesses, cultures and markets? In the first episode of Count Me In | India, host Arindam Ghosh sits down with Sunil Deshmukh , a seasoned business leader whose 30+ year career has taken him from finance and CFO roles to CEO and group CEO positions across multiple geographies. In a candid conversat...

When automation sweeps through a company overnight, what’s really at stake? In this thought-provoking episode, Adam Larson sits down with Dr. Zahida Daruwala —an academic, researcher, and author—for a candid conversation on the true impact of rapid AI adoption in business.   Dr. Daruwala pulls back the curtain on what doesn’t get talked about enough—the hidden costs like declining morale, loss of...

Step into a candid conversation at IMA26 with Kristie Stocker , whose 20 years of experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to transform company culture—beyond lip service and buzzwords. Kristie shares practical insights into the real obstacles leaders and teams face when trying to build a positive workplace, from the myth that only big budgets or...

Join Jill Eubank , Executive Vice President at Randstad, as she shares her journey from finance grad to leading teams that support businesses across multiple industries. In this engaging conversation, Jill opens up about discovering her passion for people, balancing technical skills with human connection, and why mastering the art of storytelling is a must for today’s accounting and finance profes...

Join us live from IMA26 for an engaging conversation with executive coach Rachel Kourakos ! With her impressive background at Morgan Stanley and Google, Rachel brings fresh insights on what it really means to lead—not just from the head, but from the heart. She shares how understanding yourself and your emotions is the real superpower that transforms workplaces and builds stronger teams, especiall...

Carla Aranda is a global finance executive with more than 25 years of experience building a finance career across continents, industries, and company sizes, from a small shop in Argentina to global fashion and beauty brands like L’Oreal and Revlon. In this episode, she joins host Adam Larson to talk about simplicity, not as a mindset, but as a discipline you practice again and again.   You will he...

Live from IMA26, this episode of Count Me In features an eye-opening conversation with Bret Hood , a former FBI special agent who brings a fresh approach to ethics in accounting and finance. Bret shares fascinating real-world stories, like how small, seemingly harmless decisions can snowball into major ethical failures—sometimes without anyone realizing it’s happening. Drawing on his 25 years of e...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to serve on a nonprofit board—especially as an accounting or finance professional? Join Barbara Uggen-Davis , an experienced board member, and Tala Khalifeh , operations manager for PHG Advisory, for an honest conversation about the challenges, the must-have skills, and the ethical dilemmas that come with board service.   Hear firsthand advice on spotting red fl...

Join Adam Larson as he sits down with Kapil Arora , a leader at Grant Thornton with deep experience in global finance and accounting. Kapil Arora shares his unique journey from studying ACCA in the UK to making an impact back home in India. You'll hear firsthand insights on how the finance and accounting profession is shifting—what skills today's graduates and seasoned pros need to stay ahead, the...

Get inspired by Ted Bozarth , founder of the SetFire Foundation , as he shares his journey from IT whiz kid and supply chain veteran to retirement, where his passion turns towards helping the next generation of professionals. In this episode, Ted opens up about what led him to launch a mentorship organization for college students, the story behind the SetFire name, and why meaningful guidance can...

Join us for a lively conversation with James Vanreusel , founder of Vanreusel Ventures , as he shares his unique journey from stock market enthusiast to math major to Wall Street and microfinance leader. James opens up about helping organizations from startups to global nonprofits build strong financial foundations, and he doesn’t hold back on the hard-learned lessons of managing his own firm’s bo...

Join Adam Larson for an energizing and thoughtful conversation with Cassandra Worthy , founder of Change Enthusiasm Global and author of the book “ Change Enthusiasm .” In this episode, Cassandra gets real about how most change management strategies overlook one key ingredient: our emotions.   Drawing from her personal experience and signature framework, Cassandra Worthy shares how professionals c...

Join us for a candid, inspiring chat with Laura Nespoli , brand strategist and author of Threads of Me and You , who knows what it’s like to chase meaning, connection, and authenticity both at work and in life. Laura opens up about her winding career path, what it felt like to pull on life’s “loose threads,” and the power of embracing vulnerability and wonderlust—her own term for the urge to look...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Pete Leibman , speaker and author of Stronger Advisor: High-Performance Habits for Consultants, Lawyers, and Advisors . Pete shares his journey from competitive basketball player to NBA front office staff and top executive search recruiter, revealing how peak performance habits from pro sports translate to the business world. Discover why a strong pregame...

Join us for a must-hear conversation with Clyde Calhoun , Founder & CEO of Root Idea , an AI advisory firm. With a career that’s taken him from nuclear weapons R&D to AI governance, Clyde shares how his curiosity led him to tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges in AI adoption. He breaks down the real difference between governing AI tools and the decisions they influence, explores...

In this special edition of Count Me In, Adam Larson sits down with Dr. Brigitte de Graaff , IMA's new Board Chair and Assistant Professor at Vrije University in the Netherlands. Brigitte shares how a student job with IMA's CMA program launched a career that never followed a straight line, and why she believes that is a strength, not a detour. She talks about her vision for a more connected IMA com...

Soufyan Hamid , founder of The Finance Circle , returns to Count Me In to share fresh insights on the evolving role of finance teams. His company specializes in training FP&A leaders and finance professionals to master financial storytelling, deliver impactful presentations, and build strong business partner relationships. Since Soufyan's last appeared in 2024, AI has swept through the finance...

Join us for a lively conversation with Marina Ter Sargsyan , Founder and CFO of Crystal Books Consulting , whose 25-year journey spans Armenia to the U.S., banking to nonprofits, and tech transformations to teaching. Marina shares how her love for numbers and problem-solving fueled her passion for helping small businesses and nonprofits tackle complex challenges. You'll hear honest insights on the...