On 8 May 2024, our Business Solutions team, accompanied by all our partners, had the privilege of attending the Xero Roadshow in Cape Town. This annual event is a premier gathering for accounting and bookkeeping trailblazers to explore transformative tools, gain fresh insights, and connect with the vibrant Xero community. Our aim was to discover productivity-boosting Xero tools and gain insights from business leaders that will help elevate our practice to new heights.
The roadshow featured three inspiring speakers, new and exciting Xero product launches and ample opportunities for our partners, managers, and trainees to network with industry leaders and Xero app partner integrators. This further enriched our experience and expanded our professional connections.
Featured speakers:
Dr. Caroline Leaf
Dr. Caroline Leaf has spent the last 30 years researching the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health, and the formation of memory. She shared valuable insights with her talk on managing mental health and creating effective habits. She emphasized that success comprises 4% intention, 66% learning, and 30% stabilizing. Her insights on “cleaning up your mental mess” and habit formation were both enlightening and practical.
Rusty Labuschagne
Rusty Labuschagne captivated the audience and shared his harrowing experience of being falsely accused, framed, and imprisoned. He talked about life changing lessons learned after spending a decade in prison under horrific conditions as an innocent man. The talk highlighted the importance of mental resilience and the power of the mind and soul over physical freedom.
Key points from his talk included:
• True freedom is that of the mind and soul, not just the body.
• The value of health, loved ones, and friends is paramount.
• The significance of faith, mental strength, and forgiveness.
• Gratitude and the importance of focusing on what you have.
• The profound impact of the company you keep on your character and destiny.
Bulelani Balabala
Bulelani Balabala, the township entrepreneur developer and youth ambassador, shared his inspiring story of overcoming adversity. Despite facing numerous challenges, including growing up in a township, dropping out of school after grade 9 and his single mother being retrenched, he highlighted the importance of community support and resilience.
Key takeaways from his talk included:
• Embracing fear and turning disadvantages into strengths.
• Building with the right intentions to create meaningful impact.
• The power of innovation and disruption.
• The concept of “Siyabona” – seeing and acknowledging others.
• The importance of humility and shifting perspectives.
In addition to these powerful speakers, Xero’s own representatives provided valuable industry insights and introduced exciting new product launches. Among the highlights was the announcement of JAX (Just Ask Xero), an AI-powered business companion set to launch in beta later in 2024. JAX aims to assist small businesses by automating accounting tasks and delivering personalized insights.
This event has been an invaluable experience, leaving us inspired and equipped with new tools and knowledge to take ASL to new heights.