Virtual Rolodex hosted by TXCPA Houston

About Virtual Rolodex hosted by TXCPA Houston

Kristie will be interviewing selected individuals to let you know who they are, what they do, and why they need to be in your own virtual rolodex. These individuals are subject matter experts, authors, speakers, and members who are willing to share their story.

Publisher

Kristie Ondracek

Category

business · business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2023

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

77 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Virtual Rolodex with Julie Thiel Founder, TTS Company

   Don't Assume, Ask: The Leadership Conversations That Build Stronger Teams Episode Summary What if one of the most effective ways to retain your best employees takes just 15 minutes? In this episode of TXCPA Houston Virtual Rolodex, Kristie Ondracek sits down with Julie Thiel of TTS Company, an HR professional with 30 years of experience, to discuss why strong leadership starts with meaningful conversations. While CPAs and finance professionals spend years developing their technical expertise, managing people, communicating effectively, and supporting career development require an entirely different set of skills. Kristie and Julie explore the importance of regular one-on-one meetings, creating opportunities for honest career conversations, and helping employees take ownership of their professional growth. They also discuss how leaders can recognize potential they may not see in themselves, navigate concerns about losing talented employees, and prepare their teams for the demands of busy season. Whether you're a firm leader, manager, emerging professional, or someone looking to take the next step in your career, this conversation offers practical strategies for building trust, strengthening relationships, and creating a workplace where people feel supported and valued. What You'll Learn Why regular 15-minute check-ins can make a meaningful difference in employee engagement and retention How leaders can move beyond project updates to have meaningful career development conversations Why employees need to communicate their goals, interests, and professional development needs Practical ways to initiate difficult conversations with managers, including preparing an agenda or sending an email How mentors and professional networks can help individuals discover opportunities and strengths they may not recognize Why succession planning and cross-training are essential when developing and retaining talent How leaders can better prepare their teams for busy season by asking questions instead of making assumptions Key Leadership Insight Don't assume you know what your employees want or need. Have the conversation. A high-performing employee who wanted a promotion last year may have different priorities today. Career aspirations, personal circumstances, and professional goals change. Great leaders make time to understand those changes rather than relying on assumptions. Sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference in retaining a valuable team member and building a stronger organization. Why This Matters The accounting profession continues to face challenges related to talent development, employee retention, and changing workplace expectations. While technical expertise remains essential, the ability to lead, listen, communicate, and develop others is increasingly important. For CPA firms, finance departments, and business leaders, investing in regular conversations can help: Strengthen employee engagement and retention Identify career development opportunities Build trust between managers and employees Improve succession planning and knowledge transfer Create stronger, more collaborative teams Prepare employees and leaders for demanding periods such as busy season And for emerging professionals, the message is equally important: your career development is a shared responsibility. Know what you want, ask questions, seek feedback, and build relationships with people who can help you grow. About the Guest Julie Thiel is an HR and leadership development professional with 30 years of experience in human resources. Through TTS Company, she focuses on helping professionals and organizations strengthen leadership capabilities, improve communication, and develop the people-management skills necessary for successful teams. Julie brings practical insights into employee engagement, career development, leadership training, and building workplace relationships that support both individual and organizational success. Connect with Julie Website: https://thettscompany.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemthiel/

2. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Virtual Rolodex with Marques Ogden Founder of Ogden Ventures, LLC

   Your Network Is Human Capital: Why Relationships Matter in Business and Life Episode Summary Technical knowledge can open doors, but relationships built on trust can take your career much further. In this episode of TXCPA Houston Virtual Rolodex, Kristie Ondracek sits down with former NFL athlete, entrepreneur, speaker, and business coach Marques Ogden to talk about resilience, relationships, leadership, and the lessons he's learned through both extraordinary success and significant setbacks. Marques shares his journey from the NFL to building a successful construction company, losing it all, and ultimately rebuilding his career after hitting rock bottom. Today, through Ogden Ventures LLC, he uses those experiences to help leaders and organizations strengthen culture, develop their people, and navigate challenges. Most importantly, he reminds professionals—especially those just beginning their careers—that education and expertise matter, but trusted relationships are an equally important investment. What You'll Learn Why relationships are critical to building a successful career and business How authenticity and vulnerability can make leaders more relatable and impactful What Marques learned from losing his business and rebuilding from rock bottom Why taking responsibility for failure can become the starting point for future success How listening to your audience or client creates more meaningful solutions Why trust can make business relationships more efficient and effective What young professionals should understand about investing in their "human capital" Key Leadership Insight Your greatest capital isn't always financial capital. It can be human capital. Education, credentials, and technical expertise are important, but careers and businesses are also built through relationships. Invest in people. Build trust. Be curious. Help others. Create a network of people you can learn from, collaborate with, and support. Those relationships may become some of the most valuable assets you build throughout your career. Why This Matters CPAs are trusted advisors, and trust isn't created by technical expertise alone. Clients, colleagues, and business partners want professionals who listen, understand their challenges, communicate authentically, and build genuine relationships. For the next generation of accounting professionals in particular, Marques' message is an important reminder: don't become so focused on earning the credential, mastering the technical skills, and advancing your career that you forget to invest in people. Your professional network isn't simply a list of contacts. It's human capital. About the Guest Marques Ogden is a former NFL athlete, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, business coach, corporate consultant, and founder of Ogden Ventures LLC. After his NFL career, Marques built a successful construction business before experiencing significant financial and professional setbacks. After reaching rock bottom in 2013, he rebuilt his career around speaking, coaching, leadership development, and sharing the lessons he learned through both success and failure. Today, Marques works with organizations across industries, customizing his programs around leadership, culture, resilience, business growth, and performance. His message combines personal experience, vulnerability, and practical strategies designed to help individuals and organizations move forward. Connect with Marques Website: https://marquesogden.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquesogden/

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Virtual Rolodex with Roderick Jefferson, CEP of Roderick Jefferson & Associates

   Success is something we all strive for—but how often do we stop to ask what that success is costing us? In this episode of TXCPA Houston Virtual Rolodex, Kristie Ondracek sits down with Roderick Jefferson, CEO of Roderick Jefferson & Associates, internationally recognized business and transformational speaker, consultant, coach, and two-time bestselling author. After decades of corporate success and surviving two strokes, Roderick brings a powerful perspective to the conversation: professional achievement should never come at the expense of your health, relationships, or the people and experiences that matter most. Roderick shares practical ways professionals can become more intentional with their time, incorporate self-care into their schedules, be fully present, and build structure that creates more—not less—freedom. The conversation also explores work-life wellness, the importance of coaching and accountability, using AI as a business partner, and why remembering your "why" matters throughout every stage of your career. What You'll Learn Why professional success should always be measured against what it costs you How choosing just three priorities each day can create greater focus and structure Why self-care belongs on your calendar just like a client meeting The difference between physically being in the room and truly being present How scheduling breaks and limiting consecutive meetings can improve productivity Why Roderick focuses on "work-life wellness" rather than work-life balance How coaching and accountability can help professionals remain successful without forgetting to be human Key Leadership Insight Climbing the ladder of success is amazing—but not if you lose yourself on the way up. Leadership isn't only about achieving more. It's also about recognizing what matters, creating boundaries, surrounding yourself with the right people, and building a definition of success that includes your health and your life outside of work. Why This Matters CPAs, finance professionals, and business leaders are accustomed to deadlines, packed calendars, high expectations, and the constant pressure to accomplish more. But productivity without intentionality can come at a significant cost. Roderick's message challenges professionals to think differently about success. Building breaks into the calendar, prioritizing what truly matters, delegating to the right people, and creating time to be fully present aren't signs that you're accomplishing less. They can help you become a stronger leader, colleague, advisor, and person. And as AI creates new opportunities to work more efficiently, the question may not be simply, "How much more can I accomplish?" Instead, it may be, "What will I do with the time I get back?" About the Guest Roderick Jefferson is an internationally recognized business and transformational speaker, CEO of Roderick Jefferson & Associates, and a thought leader in sales enablement. Throughout his career, Roderick has held executive leadership, sales, sales enablement, operations, and customer experience roles with organizations including AT&T, Marketo, Oracle, and Salesforce. Today, his work includes fractional consulting, business coaching, keynote speaking, and helping organizations and professionals grow while creating sustainable approaches to success. Roderick is also the author of Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence, the Sales 3.0 Companion Workbook, and Stroke of Success. Drawing on his own experience as a two-time stroke survivor, he shares a powerful message about achievement, health, purpose, and the importance of asking: Success—but at what cost? Connect with Roderick Roderick Jefferson & Associates (https://www.roderickjefferson.com) Stroke of Success (https://roderickjefferson.com/stroke-of-success) https://roderickjefferson.com/book https://linktr.ee/roderickjefferson

Who has been a guest on Virtual Rolodex hosted by TXCPA Houston

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ely Delaney
• Steve Goodman
• Roger Devine
• Natallia Ornelas

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

67

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

27

Contact Virtual Rolodex hosted by TXCPA Houston

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Virtual Rolodex hosted by TXCPA Houston