Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/80319
Have you embraced cloud computing? Samir Khosla MBA — 39 Director, Product Management - Accountant Customer Segment, Intuit, Inc. Mountain View, California I have been an early adopter of many cloud technologies. For example, I have used Google Docs for several years now. I have also now started to use Evernote, which is a very useful applica- tion that bills itself as "your second brain" – it's how I capture ideas, take notes in meetings, clip useful web content etc. The best part is that all of this information is easily accessible and search- able anywhere, on any device (and never forgotten, which I can't say for my real brain). Have you found business success via so- cial media, either via recognizable ROI, new customers, marketing or network- ing? Hobbies: Playing basketball, volleyball and squash; International travel; Hiking How is cloud computing changing the accounting profession, and how concerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? When it comes to cloud computing, the security issues are not a big concern to me. If you really think about it, on-premise computers are also usually connected to the internet and susceptible to hacking from the outside. My take is that while there will always be risks, cloud comput- ing, when delivered through reputable companies, is probably more secure than other methods. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/samir-khosla/0/2/22b Education: Undergraduate Engineering degree (Penn State) and MBA (Stanford) Through Intuit's use of social media, there are many success stories, especially in terms of pro- motion of new products from Intuit. Recent examples are the success of SnapTax and SnapPayroll, which have grown very effectively from social media word of mouth. On a personal level, Linke- dIn has become a very im- portant tool for me in terms of staying up with professional news and finding the right professional contacts. What tips on social media do you think are essential, but perhaps missed by professionals? Start by taking small steps. First, one can just create a profile, which is basically an online resume in a site like LinkedIn – this often starts someone connecting with others. Another small step after that could be potentially to take time everyday to browse your latest social media updates, without having to worry about posting and sharing right away. What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? If five years ago someone told me that I would replace my bookshelf, notepad, flashlight, alarm clock, camera, camcorder, email client, kids' game platforms, GPS, and my phone with one single device – I would have been incredulous. Well, my iPhone has done that and more…so while, this may be a pretty obvious answer, it really is the single piece of technology I cannot live without. NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? I am a big fan of Costco. The company has three things I look for: a strong founda- tion of values, a culture that believes that in empowering employees, and a belief in doing right by customers. I love the fact that they have turned retail on its head in many ways. One example: instead of going for lots of selection, which is the con- ventional wisdom, they have simplified the process for the consumer by only carrying one or two items in any given shop- ping category. What sports team/champion- ship event do you absolutely refuse to miss? There are so many! I would never miss cricket championships featuring India or a World Series game featuring the Phillies or a Super Bowl featuring the Eagles. How many monitors do you have on your desk? Two. 44 | 2012 CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 BACK TO PAGE 3