Xerocon 2026
Xerocon: Inspiration, Innovation and Courageous Conversations
All ready to set off for my first Xerocon, we travelled down the East Coast line the day before the event. We had time to settle in and acclimatise to the heatwave in London – so that by the following morning we were raring to go!
As soon as we walked into Olympia, I turned to my colleague and said how much I loved the feel of the room. Xero had decorated in such an airy, light and playful way which immediately set a fun tone for the event. First stop, of course: coffee!
We then joined the keynote sessions, where Xero shared updates on the latest releases. It was exciting to hear in detail about the innovations on the horizon and how they will improve the user experience.
Much of the first day was spent catching up with some of our software partners and learning about some new ones. As a Xero-only practice, we feel that it’s very important to have a good understanding of Xero’s app integrations and make sure we are recommending trusted suppliers to our clients. Working closely with a handful helps us support our clients best by being extremely knowledgeable in these software solutions.
Learning from Exceptional Speakers
The second day was all about talks!
Louis Theroux kicked off the day – and spoke about the art of conversations. How to have meaningful conversations that balance empathy for someone with your own morals. Being able to engage fully in conversations is such an important life skill. As advisers to our clients, we want to make sure we are actively listening and understand what matters to them. Louis Theroux offered some really valuable insights – and plenty of food for thought.
The next speaker was Dame Prue Leith who spoke about her experience of running multiple businesses and the challenges that have come along with this. She spoke about being authentic to yourself and embracing uncertainty. As a Team Leader, I found it particularly useful when she spoke about providing feedback in a positive and constructive way when she judges the Great British Bake Off.
The future of AI
After a quick break, we were then straight off to see our very own Rosie Berridge take to the stage.
Rosie spoke about AI and how she feels about the changes we are seeing all around. It was an honest talk on how we are looking to navigate this as practice. I think most people are aware of the benefits and risks, including the environmental impact (although maybe not everyone realises the extent!), social impact and the efficiencies that can be achieved - but now what?
Rosie talked about trying to balance all of these. AI is now at a stage where we can’t avoid it, but we must understand that all actions have impact. Rosie introduced the idea of looking at the use of AI like a budget and encouraged making informed decisions with care. Seeing all the nods around the room I believe it was an important discussion and am proud of the way in which Rosie, and the whole practice, are approaching a complex topic with thoughtfulness.
Courageous Conversations
Another standout session for me was from Michele Capel’s talk on Courageous Conversations. Given that one of our values at Accountability Edinburgh is Courageous Common Sense, this was a session we weren’t going to miss.
Michele spoke about how to approach difficult conversations effectively, starting with an important point: often, the best difficult conversation is the one that never becomes necessary. Many challenging situations arise because behaviours or issues have been left unaddressed for too long. She encouraged leaders to tackle concerns earlier, before they grow into larger problems.
She also talked about the implications of not being honest or not being sensitive - and how both these qualities must work together if conversations are to have a positive outcome. Afterwards, our team reflected on how relevant this is not only for Directors and Team Leaders – but also for our role as advisers to small businesses.
In fact, the session had such an impact that we’ve already shared these ideas across the practice and incorporate them into team discussions about how we can apply them in our day-to-day work.
Heading home inspired
I left Xerocon feeling inspired, energised and with lots of knowledge to share.
I’m heading off on maternity leave soon but feel armed with enthusiasm and vision for my return! Thank you, Xero and Accountability, for an insightful couple of days.