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EPISODE #534 PREVIEW: MILTON’S MANDATE — THE MARKET, MORALITY, AND MONEY
In this episode, Ron and Ed dive into one of the most influential and debated essays in business and economic thought: Milton Friedman’s The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits. Published in The New York Times in 1970, Friedman’s argument that businesses should focus solely on maximizing shareholder value while operating within the law sparked decades of debate about corporate ethics, stakeholder capitalism, and the role of business in society.
EPISODE #533: 2025 TECH TRENDS REPORT WITH GREG TIRICO
With Ron Baker out this week due to a personal matter, Ed Kless is joined by Greg Tirico for a deep dive into the FTSG 2025 Tech Trends Report (available as a free download). Together, they explore 10 provocative takeaways shaping the future of technology—from AI’s evolution into “living intelligence” and action models, to the rise of agentic systems, climate-driven innovation, and the commercial colonization of space.
EPISODE #532: SUPERABUNDANCE REVISITED — OUR SECOND CONVERSATION WITH GALE POOLEY
Join us for an enlightening discussion as we welcome back economist and author Dr. Gale L. Pooley to celebrate the release of his new book. In this episode, we delve deeper into the groundbreaking concepts presented in the book, exploring how human ingenuity and freedom drive resource abundance and economic growth. Dr. Pooley shares new insights and reflections since his last appearance, offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between population dynamics and prosperity.
EPISODE #531 : THE BOARDROOM BRAWL — WILL PURPOSE STAND TALL OR WILL PROFIT TAKE ALL?
In this episode of The Soul of Enterprise, Ron and Ed dive into the long-standing debate: Is the purpose of business to make a profit, or is profit simply the result of fulfilling a deeper mission? Drawing inspiration from the wisdom of Peter Drucker—who famously stated, “There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer”—they explore the implications of this perspective for entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals.
EPISODE #530: ONE THING — MARCH 2025
Inspired by A. J. Jacobs when he appeared on Russ Robert's great podcast EconTalk, Ron and Ed have each been keeping a "One Thing" journal for the last few years. The idea is simple. You have a place where each day you capture, just one thing that inspired you. For us, it is often a quote, but it can just be an idea. In this episode, Ron and Ed once again share entries from their "One Thing" journals. It is a bit random, but contains nugget after nugget of curated wisdom for the reading and listening habits of the hosts.
EPISODE #529: ENTREPRENEURIAL NERDERY - SECOND INTERVIEW WITH SETH DAVID
In this episode of “The Soul of Enterprise,” hosts Ron and Ed engage in a compelling conversation with Seth David, the Chief Nerd and CEO of Nerd Enterprises, Inc. Seth is renowned for his ability to demystify complex financial concepts, making them accessible and actionable for businesses and accounting professionals alike.
EPISODE #528: QUESTIONING CONSCIOUS CAPITALISM — FIFTH INTERVIEW WITH KIMBERLEE JOSEPHSON
In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Kimberlee Josephson for her fifth appearance on The Soul of Enterprise. Dr. Josephson, an associate professor of business at Lebanon Valley College and adjunct research fellow with the Consumer Choice Center, brings her extensive expertise in global sustainability, international marketing, and workplace diversity to our discussion.
EPISODE #527: BUILDING YOUR IDEAL PRACTICE — ROUNDTABLE WITH EXPERTS FROM WOODARD
Join Ron and Ed for an engaging roundtable discussion with three dynamic leaders from Woodard: Patricia Hendrix, Heather Satterley, and Deborah Defer. These accomplished professionals bring their unique expertise in practice advancement, technology integration, and Client Advisory Services (CAS) to the conversation.
EPISODE #526: ENGAGEMENT FROM THE INSIDE OUT — INTERVIEW WITH JORDAN BIRNBAUM
In this episode of “The Soul of Enterprise,” hosts Ron Baker and Ed Kless engage with Jordan Birnbaum, CEO of Glinda Group, to explore the intersection of behavioral science and business strategy. They discuss how applied social science can drive measurable improvements in employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational culture.
EPISODE #525: FRACTIONAL CPO? INTERVIEW WITH ETHAN WILLIAMS
In this insightful episode of The Soul of Enterprise, Ed and Ron are joined by Ethan M. Williams, the founder of Fractional Pricing Advisors and a recognized expert in value-based pricing strategies. With over two decades of experience in corporate strategy and a Certified Pricing Professional designation, Ethan shares his journey through roles at PwC, GE Digital, and beyond.
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Ron Baker
Ronald J. Baker started his CPA career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute—the leading think tank dedicated to educating professionals internationally—and a radio talk-show host on the www.VoiceAmerica.com show: The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Knowledge Economy, and the Chief Value Officer at Armanino LLP.
As a frequent speaker, writer, and educator, his work takes him around the world. He has been an instructor with the California CPA Education Foundation since 1995 and has authored over twenty courses for them, including: You Are What You Charge For: Success in Today’s Emerging Experience Economy (with Daniel Morris); Alternatives to the Federal Income Tax; Trashing the Timesheet: A Declaration of Independence; Everyday Economics; Everyday Ethics: Doing Well by Doing Good; and The Best Business Books You Should Read.
He is the author of seven best-selling books, including: Professional’s Guide to Value Pricing; The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional Services, co-authored with Paul Dunn; Pricing on Purpose: Creating and Capturing Value; Measure What Matters to Customers: Using Key Predictive Indicators; Mind Over Matter: Why Intellectual Capital is the Chief Source of Wealth; Implementing Value Pricing: A Radical Business Model for Professional Firms; and his latest book The Soul of Enterprise: Dialogues on Business in the Knowledge Economy, co-authored with Ed Kless.
Ron has toured the world, spreading his value-pricing message to over 220,000 professionals. He has been appointed to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s Group of One Hundred, a think tank of leaders to address the future of the profession; named on Accounting Today’s 2001 to 2007, and 2011 to 2019, Top 100 Most Influential People in the profession; voted among the Top Ten Most Influential People in the profession in 2012—2019; selected as one of LinkedIn’s Influencer Bloggers; inducted into the CPA Practice Advisor Hall of Fame in 2018; and received the 2003 Award for Instructor Excellence from the California CPA Education Foundation. He graduated in 1984 from San Francisco State University, with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a minor in economics. He is a graduate of Disney University and Cato University, and is a faculty member of the Professional Pricing Society. He presently resides in Petaluma, California.
Ed Kless
Ed Kless joined Sage in July of 2003 and is currently the senior director of partner development and strategy. He develops and delivers curriculum for Sage business partners on the art and practice of small business consulting including the Sage Consulting Academy, Business Strategy and Customer Experience Workshops.
Ed hosts the Sage Advice Podcast and co-hosts the VoiceAmerica TalkShow Network’s The Soul of Enterprise with Ron Baker, founder of the VeraSage Institute where Ed is also a senior fellow. They coauthored The Soul of Enterprise: Dialogues on Business in the Knowledge Economy, a compendium of a few of the episodes.
Prior to joining Sage, Ed worked with Tipping Point Advisors, an organization dedicated to the growth and development of software implementation partners. In 1996, he co- founded Third Wave Business Systems, a Microsoft Dynamics GP partner that grew to 20 team members and $5 million in revenue. At Third Wave, Ed developed the implementation methodology and led the CRM and ERP consulting teams.
Ed is a contributor to industry publications and has spoken at many conferences worldwide on project management, pricing, and knowledge workers. He is also active in the Information Technology Alliance (ITA) and has been named to Accounting Today’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in Accounting numerous times including 2019. Additionally, Ed is a faculty member of the Professional Pricing Society.
He lives north of Dallas with his wife and two children and ran for Texas State Senate in 2010 and 2012 as a Libertarian.
Follow him on his blog at www.edkless.com or on Twitter @edkless.
Time’s Up NOW AVAILABLE
We have some great news!
In 2003, Ron Baker and Paul Dunn published The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional which revolutionized the business model of professional firms worldwide.
Now they are back with Time’s Up: The Subscription Business Model for Professional Firms which once again upends the business model.
