Aprio Ascend
Where bold ideas meet smart growth
Join Aprio as we explore what’s next in business, from AI breakthroughs and tax law shifts to cybersecurity, data-driven decision making, and more. Designed for business leaders and entrepreneurs, Aprio Ascend delivers sharp insights to help you lead, scale, and thrive.
Hosted by Jordan Fladell, Aprio’s Managing Director of Technology Advisory Services - Partner and a seasoned business leader with over 30 years of experience helping companies grow smarter. Jordan’s unique blend of tech fluency and strategic business guidance makes him the perfect guide for today’s CEOs, CFOs, and entrepreneurs navigating the fast-changing business landscape.
AI is moving fast—but simply adopting new tools isn’t enough to create a competitive advantage.
In this episode of Aprio Ascend, Ali Coleman sits down with AI leaders Pat Morrell, Brant Casper and Chris Ramos to explore what it really takes to build an AI-native business. They discuss why successful AI adoption starts with workflows, where human judgment still matters, and how AI could reshape teams, pricing and the value businesses deliver to their clients.
8 Sept 2026
Hurdling the Impossible with Sarah Wells
What can business leaders learn from the mindset of an Olympic athlete? In this episode of Aprio Ascend, Aprio Chief People Officer Carolyn O’Boyle sits down with Olympian and keynote speaker Sarah Wells to explore the powerful parallels between elite sports and the workplace. Sarah shares lessons on resilience, preparing for moments that matter, navigating setbacks and separating your identity from your achievements. They discuss why hard work doesn’t always guarantee the outcome you hoped for—and how true excellence is often about who you become in pursuit of the goal.
5 Aug 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 8 - Tech Mid-Year Outlook
In this episode of Aprio Ascend, host Jordan Fladell sits down with Simeon Wallis, CFA, Chief Investment Officer at Aprio Wealth Management, and David Siegel, CPA, Aprio's Technology Industry Leader, to unpack a capital markets story that doesn't quite add up. The first half of 2026 broke every venture record on the books, the IPO window has reopened, and M&A activity is at an all-time high, yet many founders say raising a Series A is harder than ever. Tune in for what's really driving the headline numbers, and what they mean for your cap table, your tax structure, and the decisions sitting on the CFO's desk right now.
Subscribe to Aprio Ascend and listen to the episode here.
1 Jul 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 7 - Beyond the hype
In this episode, we sit down with Sol Rashidi, the world's first Chief AI Officer, to explore her remarkable career journey and the lessons she's learned while helping organizations navigate the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.
As excitement around AI continues to grow, Sol shares a powerful perspective: the true superpower isn't outsourcing your thinking to AI—it's using AI to enhance your thinking. AI was designed to amplify human capabilities, not replace them. Tune in for an insightful conversation on leadership, innovation, and how to leverage AI as a tool that empowers people to do their best work.
9 Jun 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 6 - Time as a Strategic Asset
In this episode of Aprio Ascend, host Jordan Fladell sits down with Chris Ramos, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel at Laurel AI, and Allie Colman, Tax Partner and Northeast Technology Leader at Aprio, to discuss how professional services firms are rethinking time as a strategic asset rather than just an administrative task. The conversation explores the hidden costs of inaccurate time tracking, including lost revenue, compliance issues, and billing disputes, while highlighting how AI-powered tools help firms capture work activity more accurately and efficiently.
4 May 2026
Aprio Asend: Episode 5 - NetSuite, Automation, and the Power of AI
In this episode of Aprio Ascend, NetSuite Sr. Vice President Sam Levy joins us to explore how manufacturers and distributors can drive efficiency, gain real-time visibility, and prepare for the future with AI. From eliminating data silos to embedding AI directly into ERP workflows, we break down practical steps for automation, smarter decision-making, and secure, scalable growth. If you're navigating supply chain complexity or wondering how to start with AI, this conversation is a must-listen.
31 Mar 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 4 - Creating Social Impact: Building Resilient Entrepreneurs
What happens when social impact focuses on building real business capability? In this episode of Aprio Ascend, we explore Building Resilient Entrepreneurs (BRE), a collaborative program designed to strengthen early‑stage entrepreneurs through financial education, mentorship and community.
Joined by Michele Blondheim, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Aprio and Matthew Sutton, Philanthropic Advisor at Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and former Director of Corporate Partnerships at United Way of Greater Atlanta, tune in as they cover closing access gaps, real-world application tailored to entrepreneurs’ businesses, and the lasting impact intentional partnerships can have on communities.
3 Mar 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 3 - From Contact to Connection: Building Meaningful Business Relationships
How do you turn a simple introduction into a lasting business partnership? In this episode of Aprio Ascend, host Jordan Fladell explores the power of authentic connections with Kayla Kania, Mid-Atlantic Leader and Partner, Assurance Services at Aprio and Morgan Higgins, Partner at Blue Delta, who share how their early networking efforts evolved into a trusted professional relationship. From building relevance and value to nurturing long-term connections and knowing when tocollaborate, this conversation offers practical insights for transforming contacts into meaningful partnerships.
3 Feb 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 2 - Economic Outlook 2026: The Year of the Gas Pedal (and the Speed Limit)
In this episode of Aprio Ascend, host Jordan Fladell sits down with Aprio’s Chief Investment Officer Simeon Wallis, CFA, to unpack Aprio’s 2026 Economic Outlook. From sticky inflation and shifting labor dynamics to a reopening M&A market and the risks that could shape the back half of the year, we explore why 2026 is both an acceleration point and a caution zone. Tune in to learn how you can use this early year window to invest, strengthen operations, and prepare for what’s ahead.
16 Jan 2026
Aprio Ascend: Episode 1 - Humans + AI: The Intuit Strategy with Alex Balazs CTO of Intuit
In this episode of Aprio Ascend, host Jordan Fladell sits down with a very special guest to explore the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and the irreplaceable role of human insight. As AI continues to reshape how businesses operate, we’ll dive into why human judgment, creativity, and empathy remain essential, and how leaders can strike the right balance.
We’ll also learn how Intuit is harnessing the power of AI.
Whether you're a CEO, CFO, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you understand how to harness AI without losing the human edge—and how to prepare your business for what’s next.
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