May 2, 2024

Balancing Power and Purpose for Profit

On this episode of the Gross Profit Podcast, James Kennedy sits down with Bridget Harris, former Parliamentarian turned CEO and co-founder of YouCanBook.Me. Bridget unveils the intricate balance of power and purpose required to carve out not just profit, but a legacy of success that empowers an entire team.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
Balancing Power and Purpose for Profit
Loading
/

Show Notes

James Kennedy engages with Bridget Harris, former Parliamentarian turned CEO and co-founder of YouCanBook.Me. Bridget unveils the intricate balance of power and purpose required to carve out not just profit, but a legacy of success that empowers an entire team.

With a rich background in politics and a remarkable journey in the tech startup scene, Bridget shares her profound experiences and the pivotal lessons that have shaped her approach to business and leadership.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Leadership Lessons from Politics to Business: Insights into transitioning from a high-profile government role to spearheading a tech startup.
  • The Art of Balancing Power and Purpose: How to leverage leadership roles for broader team success and personal fulfillment.
  • Sustainable Business Practices: Bridget’s strategies on maintaining a bootstrapped business model while achieving significant annual recurring revenue (ARR).
  • Cultivating a Strong Company Culture: Tips on nurturing a productive, engaged, and remotely connected team.
  • Customer Engagement: The importance of direct communication with customers and its impact on business growth and innovation.

Episode Highlights:

  • “Bridget, transitioning from a political career to the tech industry must have been challenging. Can you share how those experiences informed your leadership style at YouCanBook.Me?”
  • “You’ve emphasized the balance between power and purpose. How has this philosophy impacted your business decisions and team dynamics?”
  • “Your company has reached over 1 million accounts with a bootstrapped budget. What are your key strategies for sustainable growth without external funding?”
  • “Discussing company culture, how do you ensure your remote team remains aligned with your company’s goals and ethos?”
  • “You’ve been a champion for customer engagement. Could you expand on how this focus has driven your company’s success?”

Beyond her role at YouCanBook.Me, Bridget has left her mark on the SaaS community as a frequent speaker at major conferences and a recognized figure in business strategy discussions. With accolades like the top online scheduling tool and a customer success award, her contributions to the industry are both influential and inspiring.

This podcast is tagged under:

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Martin Mellor – The One Hire That Changes Everything

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with fractional CFO Martin Mellor to unpack what it really looks like to shepherd a customer through a live M&A journey – straight from the trenches (Q2 2025). Martin shares how a managed service provider (MSP) can shift from “comfortable lifestyle business” to a serious exit opportunity, what buyers care about (EBITDA multiples, recurring revenue, and quality of earnings), and how CFO-grade clarity turns a fuzzy growth plan into a focused value-creation roadmap. Along the way, they dig into target-setting (including Martin’s memorable “6-3-3” framework), leading vs lagging indicators, and how to translate finance-speak into operational decisions that actually move enterprise value.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Austin Moffat – Fractional CFO Empire: AI Tools + Family Legacy

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Austin Moffat, founder of DSO CFO, to unpack how Austin built a thriving fractional CFO firm for dentistry – despite taking a non-traditional route (no CPA). Austin shares how high-level competitive soccer shaped his business IQ, how an early “trial by fire” accounting role accelerated his learning, and why the dental industry urgently needs simple, decision-ready financial clarity. They also dig into dental-specific KPIs, the rise of DSOs and private equity in dentistry, and the practical AI/tech stack Austin is using to run a modern accounting firm.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Wendy Laxton – Fund Accounting Explained: Why Grant Money Gets Spent Wrong

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Wendy Laxton, founder of Laxton CFO Services, to unpack the “modern” version of fund accounting – how nonprofits manage restricted vs. unrestricted funds, align grant requirements with real-world operations, and avoid credibility-killing misallocations. Wendy shares how the 2008 recession unexpectedly led her into fractional CFO work, why niching down to nonprofits was a defining move, and what she’s learned from guiding organizations through system complexity – from overbuilt ERPs to intentionally “resetting” in QuickBooks and rebuilding structure over time.

Listen Now »