Empowering professional service firms for future success: TGS conference in Nice

The upcoming TGS international conference for our network of accounting, audit, and advisory firms is focused on key themes essential for the growth and sustainability of our professions. 

We will be empowering your professional service firms with AI, sustainable development and ESG advisory services. 

Here’s a thematic overview of the conference, the activities planned and how they will benefit participants.

Tuesday 5th November

Gala Dinner: from 7pm

Would you like to be in some sumptuously draped upholstery?

The Massena Salon will welcome TGS conference delegates into a typical Empire setting. The former ballroom of Le Negresco, has portraits of imperial generals who are displayed alongside Muses and Griffins, surrounding the young TGS network in ancient glory.

The Imperial Bees and Napoleonic crest will ensure that the opening gala dinner for the TGS Annual Conference meeting will be well guarded and unforgettable.

We’ve never eaten like this before and we’ve never worked as hard as we’re going to over the next three days.

(No shorts or flip-flops please, it’s quite a fancy hotel.)

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Wednesday 6th November

Day 1: Business challenges in a complex, changing global landscape

AI, Automation, Geopolitics, Philosophy and Activism (…and the Future of Professional Services)

• Challenge keynote on the international environment 
  • Writer, philosopher and Berggruen Institute Director, Lorenzo Marsili, will take us into the philosophical and practical action impacts of AI and currents in contemporary global society on our professions, urging us to rethink our approaches and adapt to technological, geopolitical and societal advancements.

Network insights and strategic direction

• President’s introduction & board feedback.
  • Last things first. The current President, Marc Desjardins, will deliver his final address.
  • Accompanied by members of the current TGS Board (and prospective 2025 Board candidates), Marc will reflect on the network’s 12-year journey and future direction.
  • Members will explore the strategic vision and the collaborative efforts needed to achieve our goals as the network heads to 2030. 

Member AI experiences

• Practical AI applications:  
  • TGS members share real-world examples of AI and automation in action
  • You will gain practical insights and best practice strategies for AI and automation implementation in your firm

Inner Development Goals (IDGs) and sustainable practices

• IDGs and well-being
  •  Maria Svensson Wiklander,  co-creating evangelist and thought leader within remote work, co-owner/co-founder of the innovative Swedish community and co-working space Gomorron Östersund. Maria’s vision (which matches that of TGS) is to develop the environment we live in to something global and beautiful.
  • Maria is an IDG (Inner Development Goals) expert and will be highlighting the importance of inner development, well-being, and future-proofing our professions, showing how these factors can enhance productivity and sustainability.
  • The OECD estimates that burnout costs the global economy over $300 billion each year. Firms that are tired of losing staff and of poor performance can reduce staff turnover dramatically and increase productivity by 20% simply by implementing more effective inner development training.

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Thursday 7th November

Day 2: Being creative in a digital world

AI and human intelligence. Who’s programming who?

• • The power of the computer is not in question. It was designed for humans to amplify their reasoning skills. But if computers allow us to think more, it also influences the way of we think.
  • Luc de Brabandere is a corporate philosopher, fellow of the BCG Henderson Institute and co-founder of Cartoonbase, he splits his time between the worlds of academia and business.
  • Recognised as a talented popularizer and pubic speaker, he has published several books on subjects that form our daily lives such as language, mathematics, humour or fallacious arguments.
  • Luc will lead conference delegates to rediscover the art of thinking in a digital world through logic, creativity and sound philosophical argument!

Sustainable firm development round table

• Merge, Acquire, Finance, Diversify, Pivot…  
  • Sustainable, best practice M&A and firm development finance roundtable.
  • How can we attract good young partners and let the old leave rich and happy (and leave a lasting legacy)?
  • Firm Growth: Organic, Acquisition, Pivot, Partner Pathways, Private Equity and Succession Plans
  • Everything you ever wanted to know about the growth and succession of a professional service firm but were too afraid to ask. 

Succession planning

• Live forever: leave a sustainable legacy
  • Jason will take us through the importance and pitfalls of succession planning for accounting practices
  • Benefits of a sustainable approach including ESG principles and TGS values
  • Create a robust succession strategy that nurtures future leaders, integrates sustainability principles, and ensures long-term success.
  • Gain practical insights, engage in interactive exercises, and network with industry experts to secure your firm’s future and your forever legacy.

ESG diagnostics and advisory opportunities and waste:

• • Success stories from Taiwan, demonstrating the financial and environmental benefits of ESG initiatives.
  • Food Loss & Waste (United Nations Global Compact SDG 12.3) is a trillion dollar problem. That’s a trillion dollar opportunity for the savvy ESG Advisor. A firm close to the TGS network recently carried out a waste audit for food producer that uncovered $14.7M energy savings. 

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Friday 8th November

Day 3: Collaboration and culture

Sustainability: professional expertise workgroups and culture

Navigating ESG for you:

• Exploring the powerful intersection of sustainability and profitability
  • TGS’s sustainability partners, ECONOS will be sharing work done on our annual sustainability plan, our Communication On Progress, outlining their recommendations for improvement and updates on the Carbon Footprint Reporting initiative.
  • Additional regulations and documentation has been created by ECONOS for TGS following this year’s report.
  • Outlining quick wins for your firm to become more sustainable, profitable and a better place to work.

TGS professional expertise workgroups

• Putting into (our) practice the powerful intersection of sustainability and profitability
  • Collaborative sessions focused on enhancing professional expertise and building on the success of May’s workgroups and this morning’s ECONOS presentation.
  • Join the Audit Workgroup, The Future of Accounting Workgroup, the Tax & Legal Workgroup or the I’m Not Interested In Any Of Those Workgroups Workgroup
  • Create a 5yr, 2yr, 1yr and 90-day strategic, sustainable plan for success and the inclusion of ESG tenets all along your value chain.  

• Culture: Because feeding the mind with the best of culture feeds the best creativity into your firm.
  • Join us for a visit to the legendary Fragonard perfumery and a production of Puccini’s Edgar opera performance at the beautiful Nice Opera.
  • Unique cultural experiences, fostering camaraderie among participants.
  • If you’ve been to a TGS conference before, you will know how well these are organized.

If you’ve not been to a TGS conference before, it’s high time you came to see just how different our events are: useful, fun and inspiring. 

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