1. AI Adoption Strategy & Driving ROI Aimed at firms considering AI adoption and automation opportunities.  The focus is on building a foundation so firms realize a return on their AI investment: defining a long-term vision for AI in the firm, identifying the specific problems they're trying to solve, and setting up intentional ways to measure ROI. Once you've selected a tool, explore critical change management and communication to drive responsible team adoption and increase ROI.  Learn how to avoid common adoption failures driven by management communication breakdowns (expectations, guidelines, rules for responsible use) rather than failures of the tool or the people.

2. Building the Future Leadership Pipeline We'll explore the impact of AI adoption on the people in your organization.  Understand how firms must approach people development in the age of AI as traditional development paths have accelerated. Early-career staff become reviewers rather than doers as AI takes over data entry and routine work; managers move into business development and client relationship management much sooner. We'll explore critical components of an effective development program, including new skills that should be trained now to prepare your team to operate effectively alongside technology and continue to drive client value.  

Learning objectives

● Identify the critical factors that determine whether AI adoption succeeds or stalls in an accounting firm

●Assess where your team stands on the readiness spectrum and identify steps you can take to increase their AI skills

● Explore leadership’s role in driving AI integration, ROI, and team readiness to go from sporadic use to consistent application across the organization

● Think differently about developing your internal team to get them ready to thrive in an AI-enabled environment.

Field of Study: Business Management & Organization

Level: Intermediate

Prerequisites: None

Recommended Audience: Partners, Managing Partners, COO, Leaders in Accounting firms charged with Technology Transformation or People Transformation

Erin Daiber is a CPA-turned-leadership strategist and the founder of Well Balanced Accountants - a consulting firm that helps independent CPA firms grow firm value by increasing revenue, retaining and developing top talent, and transforming workplace cultures.

Drawing from her experience as a former EY auditor, financial analyst, and now CEO and coach, Erin brings a rare combination of technical accounting expertise and strategic leadership insight. She understands what it takes to build an elite firm: one that attracts the best people, operates strategically, and thrives on their own terms for generations.   

Well Balanced Accountants partners with firm leaders across the U.S. to tackle the most critical challenges facing accounting firms today: building leadership pipelines, preparing for succession, reducing costly turnover, and scaling sustainably.  She believes that leading in today's competitive landscape requires bold, strategic thinking and a willingness to invest in people as the foundation of firm value.

As a speaker, Erin delivers actionable strategies, real-world insights, and practical solutions that firm leaders can implement immediately to strengthen their organizations and position themselves for long-term success.

Erin holds an active CPA license in California, the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coach Federation, and a degree in accountancy from John Carroll University. She lives in San Diego and ser_ves CPA firms nationwide.