In this milestone episode of The Bunker Talk, we sat down with Karen Ross, partner at Palermo, Lansky & Ross, to discuss her evolution from bookkeeper to partner and the intentional culture that fuels their firm.
Episode Highlights:
In this conversation, we dive deep into the importance of mentorship and being the “culture bearer” of a business. Here are some of the key takeaways:
- The Enrolled Agent Advantage: Karen explains her role as a federally authorized tax practitioner and why a “taxpert” is necessary for handling complex IRS disputes and audits.
- Succession Planning Through Loyalty: How Arty Palermo mentored Karen and her partner Brett to become his eventual succession plan by being a “go-giver” and teaching them everything he knew.
- Hiring for Culture: Why Karen believes skills can be taught but culture fit cannot, and how their firm attracts young, hungry talent in a “boring” industry.
- The Brand Ambassador Program: Insights into Karen’s new initiative to train employees to become the face of the brand through both social media and in-person networking skills.
- Vulnerability in Leadership: Karen discusses the power of the Daily Drip community and how sharing raw, personal experiences (like caring for aging parents) builds deeper professional respect.
Listen to the Full Episode:
You can catch the entire conversation with Karen Ross by clicking here to watch the episode on YouTube.