Path to Partnership

Delighted to have spent an hour in the presence of James d’Apice, he is a man with many talents, he’s host of two popular podcasts, he’s a rapper (!), author, social media celebrity and yet he still finds the time to be a leading commercial litigator, business owner, husband and father of 3!James shares his unconventional journey through law — from spending his informative lawyer years with the highly respected Makinson D’apice (MakDap) which has of course, strong family ties to James, to then forging his own career path, driven by his litigation specialism and desire to challenge the status quo, resulting in James launching his own firm Gravamen in 2023.We discuss his career pivots, the early seeds of Coffee and a Case Note, as well as the importance external mentors have played in James’s career across law and marketing.Inside This Episode:Why James resisted being part of the family firm for the long term— and what changed his mindThe origin of Coffee and a Case Note and its surprising slow burn successHow radio, rap, and rigorous case law came together to build his personal brand and shaped his marketing strategyThe reality of starting your own firm, balancing professional ambition and family ambition, and the values that drive his new business GravamenWhy brand doesn’t equal revenue (at least not at first) — and how that shifted over timeJames gets candid about, privilege, branding, his definition of “bricks and mortar” and finding your lane in a changing legal landscape. If you're in professional services, this is a must-listen….And yes, he’s as good a bloke in person as he comes across on camera!

In this episode, we sit down with the newly anointed business advisory Partner Samantha Lo, to explore her unconventional and inspiring journey to the top. From her early days in the motor industry group at Deloitte to a slightly unplanned two-year detour working remotely from Hong Kong, Samantha's Path to Partnership is an inspiring one.We dive deep into:The Power of a "Non-Linear" Career: How her time in Cairns and Hong Kong, working with diverse clients like banana farmers and international corporations, shaped her into the leader she is today.The Foundations of Partnership: Samantha shares the crucial role that mentorship, personal branding, and building authentic relationships played in her progression from Assistant Manager to Partner.Redefining Success and Work-Life Balance: We talk about the myth of the "always-on" Partner. Samantha discusses how she managed to build a successful career and a young family, highlighting the importance of clear communication, trusted support, and making time for the things that matter.This episode gave us the prospective of a newly appointed Partner, the importance of mentors, family and how it feels when you get to Partnership. It is a must-listen for anyone on the Partnership track who wants to learn how to navigate their career with intention, self-doubt, flexibility, and a whole lot of determination.Thank you Sam!

In this in-depth episode, Steve sits down with Sean Keegan, the Head of Tax for Australia at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M). Sean takes us on a fascinating journey, from how he "fell into" a tax career at PwC to his time in the investment banking world in London and his return to M&A tax. He offers a transparent account of the challenges he faced, including rebuilding his professional brand after a stint overseas and the demanding transition to becoming a brand-new partner at a new firm.We also explore his move to A&M, where he and his Senior Partners have built a national tax team from the ground up. He shares why the unique opportunity to start with a blank sheet of paper, backed by a global consulting brand, was an offer he couldn't turn down.Listeners will get an inside look at:The "Three-Legged Stool" of a Successful Partner: Sean's unique take on the three essential attributes needed to thrive in a leadership role.Business Development Secrets: Why building trust and relationships is more crucial than selling, and how to start doing it from day one.Navigating Career Progression: Candid advice on dealing with frustration and why a bit of extra patience can make you a more successful partner in the long run.The Power of Personal Brand: How to leverage a global firm's name to build your own reputation and the critical role your personal brand plays in a new business.The Future of the Industry: A forward-looking discussion on how technology, particularly AI, is reshaping professional services and the importance of in-person relationships that can't be replaced.This is an essential listen for anyone in accounting, law, or consulting, offering practical wisdom and inspiration directly from a leader who has built his career by challenging the status quo.

In this episode of the Path to Partnership podcast we are joined by Vincent Scali, Business Advisory Partner at Nexia in Sydney.This was a really great chat, perfect for this podcast as Vincent became a Partner just under a year ago so his path to partnership is fresh and new!Vincent talks very candidly about the transition from employee to Partner and the various challenges he faced, including the fact his father was a Senior Partner at the same firm, and as Vincent discusses, there were no favours for him in his partnership journey, in fact quite the opposite. So Vincents journey to Partner was far from conventional, we talk through the time, he moved firms and service lines and took it upon himself to go back to being a grad even with 2 years experience at PWC. In my view, an early sign of Vincents self-awareness and high EQ, no doubt.Beyond the Partner promotion itself, Vincent delves into the plan ahead as a new Partner, building his own client portfolio in a rapidly evolving market. He shares practical strategies for generating new business, leveraging his existing network, and the importance of embracing personal branding in the digital age.Finally, Vincent imparts invaluable advice for aspiring partners, emphasizing the importance of patience, mentorship and continuous growth. It was such an enjoyable and insightful chat, a must listen to anyone on that Path to Partnership.

In this episode of The Path to Partnership, we're joined by Alistair Marshall — Amazon bestselling author of Grow Your Professional Practice, keynote speaker, and one of the foremost voices in business development for professional services firms in Australia.Alistair shares his journey from fast-moving consumer goods into the world of professional services where he quickly noticed a gap: highly qualified professionals who struggled to articulate why clients should choose them. From that observation came a mission — to help firms and individuals not just grow, but grow with purpose.We unpack:Why no one hires a generalist in 2025 — and how to position yourself as an expertThe real definition of business development (hint: it's not “selling”)Strategies new partners can use to attract better clients and talentThe importance of personal brand and building a visible, credible digital footprintWhy "you can’t build a great relationship from behind a desk"And how firms can stop relying on price as their only differentiatorThis episode is packed with practical advice, frameworks, and if you know Alister plenty of good humour, and is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow their practice or stand out in a crowded market.

In this episode, I chat with Shane Bell, Co-Founder and CEO of NSB Cyber — a leading Australian cybersecurity advisory firm. NSB stands for “No Steps Backward,” and once you hear Shane’s story, it’s clear that mantra has guided not just his business, but his entire career.Shane began his journey in the Australian Navy straight out of school — an experience he loved. From there, he made a bold move into the commercial world, starting out in HR admin at an IT company. That role opened the door to a position in their digital forensics and IT team, where he began building his technical skills.In 2007, Shane joined McGrathNicol as a Manager in their Digital Forensics team, helping to grow their Melbourne practice. After six and a half years, he moved to PwC to be part of their new and growing cyber practice — attracted by the opportunity to do what he described as “cool stuff” in the cyber space.Two years later, the chance to return to McGrathNicol and help build a dedicated cyber division was too good to pass up. Shane spent another eight years there, making Partner in 2017. Then in 2023, he took another leap — co-founding NSB Cyber, a business he’s truly passionate about.I’ve always admired people who take big career pivots, and Shane’s made several — from the military to tech, from tech to consulting, and from Director to Partner to CEO.This was such an enjoyable conversation — not just because of Shane’s story, but because he’s genuinely a great guy to talk to.

In this episode, we’re joined by Phil Evans, founder of Ambition Performance Coaching. Phil is an executive coach with extensive experience advising leaders and Partners of accounting and professional services firms across Australia.Phil began his career in elite sport, working with professional athletes in sport science, so as an executive coach he links that high performance mind set and behaviours to the modern corporate and professional services world Phil shares plenty of insights into the journey of partnership, from those readiness conversations to the key attributes needed to become a Partner. We cover a lot in this chat, including, the importance of life balance, the need for consistency of character, what keeps Partners up at night, as well as the need for having good, supportive people around you throughout your career.I really enjoyed this chat, and not just because Phil is a scouser and Liverpool fan, but because it was great to hear that connection from elite sport to the corporate world and how Phil’s insights and advice relate to the path to partnership. So, whether you’re an emerging leader or a partner looking to elevate your practice, this conversation is packed with valuable advice. Up the reds!

In this episode, we sit down with Marc Walsh, Director at Altus Financial, one of Australia’s top 40 accounting firms based in Sydney. Marc’s path to becoming a partner is anything but traditional. When he graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, his dream was to tour America as a musician with his band. However, a series of pivotal moments led him to Sydney in 2007, where he began his accounting career at Altus—then a small firm with just 35 employees. Fast forward to today, and Altus has grown to over 110 people in NSW.Although Marc entered the accounting world later in his career, his previous experience in sales played a key role in his success. His ability to sell, identify opportunities, and help build Altus' Tax Advisory service offering helped shape the firm’s growth.Marc shares his insights on leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness as a director and how the role evolves once you reach partnership. For Marc, it’s no longer just about personal success—it’s about empowering those around you, fostering their growth, and delivering exceptional service to clients. His approach speaks volumes about his leadership and commitment to both his team and clients.Marc’s journey will especially resonate with those who’ve made a career pivot later in life, showing that with the right mindset and support from a commercially savvy firm, achieving success and partnership is possible.

In this episode, we’re joined by Sevan Tuna, the Managing Partner of Alexander Spencer, a top 100 accounting firm in Australia, and host of the insightful business podcast, The Bottom Line. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out his podcast—it’s a must-listen for anyone interested in business!Sevan’s journey is truly inspiring. He arrived in Australia in 1986 with his parents and sister, hailing from Istanbul. With Armenian heritage, Sevan’s first job at just 12 years old was working in his uncle’s restaurant, laying the foundation for his lifelong passion for business. This early experience eventually led him to steer Alexander Spencer to its current success.During our conversation, Sevan shared his unique path to partnership—one that wasn’t typical, but exemplifies his determination, drive, and the critical role of building strong relationships with both peers and clients.We also dive into the value of mentors, especially during his transition to partner, and how he wishes he’d engaged one sooner. Sevan opens up about the challenges of shifting from an employee mindset to becoming a business owner, and the personal growth required to navigate that change. He talks candidly about luck, but it’s clear from our discussion that Sevan created his own luck and therefore created his own opportunities.Having spent formative years working in a family business, coupled with his experience in accounting, Sevan’s story is a testament to the power of hard work and passion. Today, he’s channelling those lessons into advising small to medium-sized enterprises and shaping the future of Alexander Spencer.

In a candid conversation it becomes clear why James has achieved such success in his career so far (and there’s plenty still to come). Starting his journey at BDO as a Cadet, James quickly climbed the ranks to Manager before taking on a secondment in the UK. After returning to Sydney in 2016, he transitioned to Senior Manager, but the entrepreneurial itch soon led him to establish his own advisory firm Ainsworth Advisory, where he served as a virtual CFO for multiple clients.In a pivotal moment, James returned to BDO in 2021 as a Partner and became Partner-in-Charge just a year or so later. His story is one of growth, resilience, and seizing opportunities when they arise.Throughout our conversation, James shares his passion for people and clients, offering valuable insights on the power of authenticity and the impact of delivering exceptional service in building a sustainable client base. We also explore the challenges of the accounting industry, the importance of work-life balance, and the undeniable value of surrounding yourself with a strong team to achieve success.

Full disclosure, this episode is a good’un! Will has such an interesting career journey, with plenty more to come. He began his career in a small boutique firm in Sydney and then moved into commercial accounting roles. Will then joined Xero’s where he became country Head in both Canada and Australia in a relatively short period of time. It’s a meteoric rise for someone so young, however when you hear of Will’s resilience, determination and energy, it’s easy to understand why.We talk through how Will overcame the disappointment of not pursuing a football career, as well as his razor-sharp focus on being a sponge and learning and adding as much value as possible in the first “10 year block” of his career. We talk about a couple of sliding door moments which wouldn’t have happened if he didn’t have that focus and tenacity and how that drive helped to create the opportunities that were put in front of him.Will talks about what he regrets in his career as well as advice to anyone on that career journey, whether it be on the #pathtopartnership or running a company. We also talk through what his next 10 years looks like and how GoodLuca.com is going to change the learning and development game for accountants.

In this episode, we take the podcast in a slightly different direction. Why???.... I hear you ask, well a common theme across all the podcasts I’ve done with Partners and Managing Partners is just how important and impactful it is for a future Partner or current Partner to build their personal brand and leverage their own digital reputation. That is why I asked Roger Christie, Managing Director of Propel and podcast host of Your Digital Reputation to be a guest, because Roge is THE expert in this field. Plus, full disclosure, he’s also a mate of mine and us working together has been in the pipeline for some time.We talked in detail about how Partners and Leaders of professional services firms can leverage LinkedIn, how without trust in the digital world, you'll have a very hard time driving sales and innovation and attracting talent. Roge says LinkedIn is your best opportunity to earn and leverage that trust at scale. He talks passionately and perhaps most importantly, that having an online presence isn't all about you. He says there is a direct correlation between leaders who are visible and active online, and the willingness of their teams to follow suit. When leaders are present, they unlock their teams' potential - and “that's where the real magic happens”.As someone who should be leveraging LinkedIn more myself, a key takeaway for me from this chat was, if you see LinkedIn more as a relationship platform, and not a sales platform then the “why” you use it, and how you use it should make more sense and be easier. Generally, people don’t like being sold to, but people will listen to leaders who are an expert in their field, who are credible, who add value and are authentic - and who have more of a "we" mindset than a "me" mindset.So whilst this episode is a little different to hearing about someone’s individual journey to becoming a Partner, the advice that Roge gives will add so much value to anyone on the journey to Partnership or already in that role today who wants to build their profile, team, client base even more into the future.Hope you enjoy the episode, and feel free to connect with Roge on LinkedIn with any questions on how to maximise your own potential online: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerchristie/

Wali Aziz is Head of Audit & ESG Leader at Walker Wayland NSW, a AFR top 20 accounting firm. Wali was a real pleasure to interview, during our chat he shared excellent insights into the career moves he made and opportunities he saw in order to achieve his goal of becoming an Audit Partner.   Wali shared his views on the importance of having mentors during your career journey, as well as the importance of having a supportive and commercial firm such as Walker Wayland in helping him achieve Partner.  Wali talks about the need as a leader to evolve and grow, even as a Senior Partner, an example of which is importance and focus ESG has with clients.   For anyone on that Path to Partnership I really think Wali’s story will really resonate.

As well as being Managing Partner of PKF Sydney, few would argue that Bob Bell is an industry legend with over 42 years experience in the chartered accounting profession. Bob became a founding Partner of a firm, just 7 years into his career and has operated at the Partner level ever since having started, built merged or exited from a couple of boutique firms over the years. It was an incredibly enjoyable chat talking to Bob about his career, particularly his transition from Manager to Partner and business owner in the early part of his career as well as his more recent transition from Senior Partner to Managing Partner of PKF Sydney. We cover a lot in our conversation, from the importance of relationships in terms of clients and how insightful learning off clients can be, to how to build a sustainable fee base and the importance of “just getting out there to win work”.

It's fair to say that Adam’s path to Managing Partner, is not the usual path. Adam began life as an accountant in various commercial roles before joining Moore Stephens as their internal finance person. Its there where Adam grew personally and professionally, working in an environment that saw value in Adam’s role and where the internal functions of the firm, finance, IT, HR and operations supported the growth of the firm. Adam talks about the importance of working closely with Senior Partners who allowed him to do his thing who trusted him and gave him the responsibility to grow those functions and for him to have a seat in the all-important Partner meetings.  We talk about the Moore Stephens and Pitcher Partner merger and the role Adam played as COO in bringing together two major players in the Sydney market. Adam talks about the importance of allowing his team to grow and take accountability for their functions which allowed a smooth transition to the firm that Pitcher Partners is today. We talk through Adam’s transition from COO to Managing Partner and the key skills and confidence needed in such a role as well as the importance of internal and external mentors along the way. I though this was such an insightful and enjoyable chat with Adam in how a career in accounting can start in one direction yet can lead you to a different path in what is a very successful career to date. Adam was very generous with his advice on aspiring Partners and Managing Partners as well as the challenges firms such as Pitcher Partners have in the next 12-24 months.

Preeti Inchody is Senior Managing Director of deals & advisory at Ankura, a global consulting firm with over 35 offices across the world.   Preeti’s path to Partnership is one of resilience, persistence hard work, humility, and patience. Born and raised in Mumbi India, Preeti talks fondly about her childhood and the intensity of Mumbai when she started her career in accounting and finance. Preeti and her Husband then take the bold step and move to Australia in 2011 a country they had never even visited where Preeti talks about the initial challenges of securing a job and the approach she took to overcome those challenges. In 2015 Preeti joined global advisory firm FTI Consulting as the first “deals” person in a team of Insolvency and Restructuring professionals, Preeti talks about how she made her business a success as well as the importance of having mentors who supported her during that time. In February 2020 Preeti joined Ankura, 2 months before the world changed. Preeti talks about the challenges of starting a new business in a new brand in Australia at the start of Covid and how she was able to make it a success. Preeti achieved “Partnership” at Ankura at the beginning of 2023, we talk about what that meant to her and how she wants to help and mentor anyone on a similar journey. I loved this chat with Preeti. We covered a lot, particularly the importance of persistence, how she built her network and eco-system, the importance of internal and external mentors in her career journey as well as her thoughts on the deals market in the next 6 to 12 months. Preeti’s Path to Partnership is inspirational and I think it will resonate with a lot of people. Hope you enjoy!

Mitch Stone is Executive Director (Partner) of Quantaco, a specialist hospitality advisory firm born out of the PKF and Lawler Partners brand. I’ve known Mitch for a number of years, since he was a Manager, so I’ve been lucky enough to see firsthand Mitch’s individual journey on his Path to Partnership.   During our chat we talk about the importance of mentors, what aspiring Partners can work on to help the get there, as well talking more about the Quantaco brand, and the success they’ve had as a firm, in such a short space of time.

Jim Softsis is Managing Partner and Head of Specialist Advisory at Findex, Australia’s fifth largest firm in the AFR top 100. Jim has had a really impressive career journey to Partner, not least what he’s helped build at Findex, but also the career moves he made, at the time he made them made sense which will resonate with people. Jim is a great example of someone understanding that when there is change going on all around you, by sticking with in because you believe in a firms strategy, that can create great opportunities for you personally.. I really enjoyed my chat with Jim, I’ve known him for over 13 years and to see him go from Senior Manager to Senior Partner is great to see. Jim is passionate about his clients needs and growth, as well as the importance of building a team and mentoring their development both personally and professionally Jim gives great advice about how to build a successful practice and the importance of building your personal brand both inside and out side the firm which I think will be really valuable to people.

Lauren Hosie is a Business Advisory Partner at Pitcher Partners NSW. Lauren’s journey to Partner is incredibly impressive, but Lauren would struggle to say that as Lauren is a self-confessed introvert who, in her own words “hates to talk about herself.” First and foremost Lauren is a Mum to 2 young children whose husband is in the military. Lauren became a Partner at Pitcher Partners at the age of 30 and has been a Partner for 5 years. She is now a full equity Partner having built a highly impressive client base and fee base. Lauren talks about the importance of having a mentor Partner, someone who had her “back” and full support during her path to Partnership. She talks about the importance of being authentic, being nice and responsive and why she “makes business personal” We talk about how she juggles family life and work life, and not to “sweat the small stuff” but having a supportive firm and great people around her is so important. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, and I think it will resonate and inspire many in the industry.

Greg is a Director & Partner of advisory and accounting services for SW Accountants & Advisors and has worked in professional practice for over 28 years. Having worked for global accounting giants such as Grant Thornton and PWC, Greg founded Armstrong Dawson in 2012.  Excitingly Greg recently sold his firm Armstrong Dawson to SW accountants and he and the Armstrong Dawson team merged their practice into SW in July this year.