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Xerocon Denver 2026 is just around the corner and Nat and Sarah are buzzing. In this episode they take you through everything they're excited about, from the agenda highlights and the people they want to interview, to the practical tips that will help you get the absolute most out of an international accounting conference. It's part preview, part love letter to the power of showing up.
Nashville Changed Everything
The episode opens with Nat and Sarah looking back at Xerocon Nashville two years ago - the conference that set the benchmark. Neither had been to Nashville before, but the combination of the city's energy, the global mix of attendees, and the sheer scale of ideas on show made it one for the memory books. Sarah admits she originally tagged along out of FOMO, but what they both walked away with was far more valuable than a good time.
The connections forged in Nashville have continued to pay dividends. When tariffs hit and Australian clients suddenly needed US-based accounting advice, Nat and Sarah already had trusted contacts to refer to - people they'd met poolside or on the expo floor. The takeaway is clear: international conferences break the echo chamber. Australia's accounting community is tight-knit, but it can become insular. Getting perspective from other markets - understanding where the US, Canada, and the UK sit on AI adoption, pricing models, and practice management - gives you a strategic edge you simply can't get from a local roadshow.
Roving Reporters Return
Nat and Sarah are returning to Xerocon as roving reporters, just as they did at Brisbane. They'll be recording interviews, capturing behind-the-scenes content, and producing a podcast episode from the ground. If you're attending, they want to hear from you - send them your questions and let them know if you'll be there. Their plan is to walk up to as many people as possible and get the real story of what's happening on the ground in the US accounting industry.
Sarah is especially keen to test whether the AI-forward messaging coming out of US accounting circles matches reality on the expo floor. She's been consuming a lot of American tech content and wants to see firsthand whether firms there have truly sprinted ahead of Australia in AI adoption, or whether it's more marketing than substance.
Day One: AI, Economics, and the Opening Showcase
The Denver agenda is packed and AI is everywhere. Nat and Sarah walk through the standout sessions, starting with the opening showcase featuring Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy and CPTO Dia Mabasa. They're cautiously optimistic about big product announcements - remembering that Nashville's headline reveal (bank reconciliation improvements) landed with a thud for the Aussie contingent who'd had that feature for years.
Simon Curran, the former All Blacks performance coach now at Rocket, is back as a keynote speaker. Both hosts loved his talk at a previous Xero Roadshow and are looking forward to hearing his updated take on mindset and performance. There's also a strong lineup of discovery sessions on trustworthy AI, AI tools for practice, and Xero hacks - the practical stuff that gives you something to implement on Monday morning.
Nat highlights that the AI theme isn't just topical window dressing. Australian practitioners want to see a genuine return on investment from Xero's AI capabilities, and Denver is where they expect to see the roadmap. Zero Hacks sessions, in particular, are a chance to pick up tips and tricks that even power users might have missed.
Day Two: Agentforce, the Wrap Party, and Andre Agassi
Day two brings sessions on Xero's Agentforce - the AI agent that connects into Xero and potentially Practice Manager to automate tasks like sending uncoded transaction reports to clients. Both hosts are beta-testing it and want to see how far it can be pushed to deliver real efficiency gains.
Joe Woodard, the well-known US accounting thought leader, and Chelsea Pottenger, a wellbeing speaker who made a lasting impression at previous Xero Summer Series events, are also on the day two lineup. Chelsea's advice about not looking at your phone for the first eight minutes after waking and capping wine at one glass (because two disrupts sleep) still gets quoted by the hosts - even if they only followed the advice for a week.
The Xero Awards ceremony is built into the conference this year rather than being a separate event, which both hosts think is a smart move. And the wrap party at Mile High Station is non-negotiable. Nat confesses she skipped the wrap party at her very first Xerocon because she didn't know anyone - a mistake she'll never make again. Their advice: you will always find a friend on the dance floor.
Who They Want to Interview
The interview wishlist reads like a who's who of progressive accounting. Jason Statz is number one - widely regarded as the gold standard for AI in accounting. Chad Davis, the Canadian behind Automation Town, is next, especially since Beau from XPAC and GrowthWise is becoming more involved. Blake Oliver and David Leary from The Accounting Podcast, plus Matthew May who hijacked their Nashville "pass the phone" segment and turned it into something memorable, are also on the list.
On the female side, they want to connect with Twyla Verhelst and Mary Delaney from Karbon. The hosts acknowledge their initial list skews male and are actively working to balance it - a reflection of the broader industry conversation about visibility and representation.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Conference
The practical tips section is vintage AAH - obvious but essential. Comfortable shoes (Nat once wore heels to Xerocon and regrets it), stay hydrated, and get to the gym in the morning. Sarah credits the F45 session at Nashville with transforming her mornings and is committed to working out before each day this time.
But the deeper advice is about mindset. Have a plan and a checklist (Nat's specialty), but also leave room for organic conversations (Sarah's specialty). Some of the most valuable connections happen outside the scheduled sessions. If you're speaking to someone interesting and a session is starting, Sarah says keep talking. Nat says follow the checklist. They balance each other out - and that's the point.
For Aussies heading to Denver, they're planning to set up a group so everyone can connect before landing. And for anyone going solo: don't skip the wrap party. The accounting community is full of introverts, but there's always a friendly face ready for a dance and a drink.
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