Get Connected or QuickBooks Connect? A ProAdvisor’s Perspective

December 22, 2023

It’s been a busy run into the festive season with several big QuickBooks events both here and abroad. We caught up with Intuit Trainer Writer Network member and mixmaster of accounting Emma Fabbro, FCPA who attended both QuickBooks Get Connected in Sydney and QuickBooks Connect (QBC) in Las Vegas.

QuickBooks: Emma, it sounds like November was a big month for you. Can you tell me more about your experience at both events?

Emma: Yes, it was a busy but exciting month for me. Get Connected in Sydney was first out of the gate where I was both a presenter and attendee. I presented two technical sessions on Wowing Clients with Advanced Reporting in ‘QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Time & Billing’ and a presentation on ‘AI in Accounting’ which I presented with my fellow TWN’er Trent Yesberg of Regional Business Services. I love the technical training and helping fellow ProAdvisors get the most out of the QuickBooks Suite.

Then it was back home to Adelaide for the weekend before heading to the US for QuickBooks Connect.

QuickBooks: How did the two events compare?

Emma: There were some obvious differences but what was consistent across both events was the importance of connection for the attendees. With both events as much as we want the learning, new insights, and professional development we ultimately want to connect. I guess it’s no coincidence that ‘connect’ features prominently in their name. Sydney was small and more intimate, while QuickBooks Connect had more than 4,000 attendees! I love seeing my ProAdvisor friends at various events around Australia and many of the US attendees I met on the first day shared how they had forged life-long friendships through their QBC attendances. A special shout out to Roberta from Arizona, Christie from Minnesota, and Erika from San Francisco who I hope to cross paths with again at future events. I also learned Americans love a high five - I couldn’t help but enjoy the buzz of the drum line and the high five-ing human tunnel the Intuit team created for us to kick off day one of QuickBooks Connect.

QuickBooks: What were the similarities between the two events?

Emma: Both events had high-calibre keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and fabulous MCs. Both events were focused on connecting with others, learning new insights, and professional development. We might be on other sides of the globe, but I was surprised by how similar the challenges we face are, including finding qualified people, not charging enough for our services, as well as recognizing how important it is to embrace technology for our practices to thrive.

It was good to see ProAdvisors around the globe like to let their hair down and have a good time. From mimosas in the morning (Vegas), to live music and sunsets (Sydney), to the most ProAdvisors dancing on tables at one time (Vegas) I’ve ever seen, the experiences that the Intuit team created for attendees were exceptional

QuickBooks: What about the keynote speakers, and breakout sessions, what were some of the key takeaways from their presentations?

Emma: At QuickBooks Connect, we had the likes of Jade Simmons, Ryan Reynolds, and Adam Grant. Jade Simmons impressed me as she shared how our purpose is not the thing we do but the thing that happens in others when we do what we do. As an accountant, this resonated with me. Ryan Reynolds advised that we should stop overthinking and not take ourselves too seriously, again as an accountant this resonated. Adam Grant discussed the leadership skills and humility that are required to lead in the next generation of businesses.

While at Get Connected, journalist Erin Molan, US Air Force (Ret) Major Daniel 'fuzz' Walker, former Matilda Amy Duggan shared what they’ve learned from being at the top of their respective games and Dr. Ben Harmer discussed how quickly things are evolving and changing in how (and where) we work and that we should strap in because it's going to get a whole lot faster.

Quickbooks: Any new product features or releases that caught your eye?

Emma: I’m very excited to see Quickbooks Advanced being released in Australia and cannot wait to deep dive into the new features this will offer to clients. I’m also really looking forward to seeing Open Banking rolling out. This will change the way data flows into QBO. In Las Vegas, I did a demo of Intuit Assist with the US team. We have heard that it is on its way down under, but to see the demo was fantastic. This will be a game changer for not just us as advisors but for clients as well. I was also pleased to see the updates to roles and permissions in both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Accountant. To see this update shows the Intuit team is really listening to us!

QuickBooks: So, which event wins?

Emma: I plead Switzerland here because both events were amazing! And most importantly I left each event knowing I had a great partner in Intuit and QuickBooks as well as an amazing community of supportive, like-minded ProAdvisors ready to change the small business world. If you're in Australia and haven't attended a Get Connected event, be sure to lock it in 2024, and put QBC on your bucket list. I know I’ll be back. And if you're an America ProAdvisor and haven't made the trip 'down under’, you won’t regret it, we’ll look after you, show you a good time, and introduce you to a few koalas and kangaroos.

QuickBooks: Thanks so much for your insights, Emma! If you missed Get Connected in Sydney this year, check out this highlight reel.