Earnings Call Debrief Your Alignment Secret Weapon Whether you’re looking for the ultimate follow-up to your business acumen course or an open enrollment experience to align your workforce, there is no better solution than quarterly earnings call debriefs. ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Did you know… Only 30% of employees are engaged at work. The problem... Only 17% of employees strongly agree their company has open communication—they don’t know what to prioritize or why, which contributes to the staggering 70% of us who remain disengaged at work. Yet most executives report on their performance and strategy at least quarterly. So, your alignment problem may have less to do with communication coming from the top-down and more to do with a lack of understanding coming from the bottom-up. ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Your solution awaits... Every quarter, shortly after earnings are released, participants will join a 90-minute web conference to break down your company’s most recent earnings announcement. Participants develop a deeper understanding of your company’s quarterly numbers, gain insights into executive strategy, and sharpen their skills to think and act more strategically. ​ ​ Each participant will walk away with an objective review of your company’s financial health. But even more importantly, they’ll be taught the same systematic approach, including access to our Quarterly Earnings Call Workbook, that can be used to analyze future calls, including calls from competitors, partners, and customers. Exercise 1: Prepare Understand the purpose and format of an earnings call and how to locate transcripts ​ Exercise 2: Analyze Using the 5 Business Drivers® and the Navigating the Financials tool, discover key insights about company strategy Exercise 3: Apply Create an action plan to make a greater impact on performance and align your work with your executives’ goals Analyze your customers If sales teams aren’t able to leverage publicly available information about their customers, they’re missing an opportunity to be relevant. It’s like executives are screaming on their earnings calls, “This is how you sell to us — this is what we’re trying to accomplish!” Yet most sales reps revert back to pitching features and benefits and sales managers are left wondering why they’re striking out. ​ On an earnings call designed for your sales team, we’ll analyze a customer of your choice and model how to prepare for sales calls using your customer’s metrics and their executives’ strategy. You’ll develop salespeople who turn those once uncomfortable business discussions into meaningful conversations about creating value. They’ll learn what to listen for when earnings are released and what to cover on their next sales call. ​ In the end, your sales team will use their business acumen to create value for your customers and win more deals. CEOs need more business leaders CEOs want employees who are great at their role and who are exceptional at business — leaders who make strategic, data-driven decisions. In other words, your CEO needs smart business people who just so happen to work in HR or IT or Engineering. Adding Earnings Calls as part of your overall knowledge strategy will keep your workforce aligned and inspire them to use their business acumen to drive profitable growth quarter-after-quarter and year-after-year. ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Hear from participants... “I love the practical & engaging approach of Acumen Learning’s monthly webinars to go through the Earnings calls of different companies. The speakers are excellent and the material is anything but dry. Highly recommend.” Missy Berube Strategic HR Leader Explore more… Earnings Call Webinars We host a free webinar every month where we breakdown a top company's earnings call. Join us and learn how to interpret any company's strategy. ​ View Webinar Schedule Aerospace & Defense Their analysis demonstrated that business acumen training more than paid for itself with a 300%+ ROI. ​ ​ Read Case Study Articles What's the difference between cash and cash flow? What financial questions do you need to know for an interview? Get answers for this and more in our articles. Read Articles Let's start a conversation. We love hearing from you. Let us know how we can help. Contact Us

Building Business Acumen® Turn Your Leaders Into Business Leaders Our customized Building Business Acumen® course will help any professional from any industry, understand the big picture of their business, align decisions to corporate strategy, break down communication barriers, take advantage of opportunities to grow, and much more. ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Learn to Speak the Language of Business Know What CEOs Need You To Know Make Bolder Business Decisions Did you know… 9 out of every 10 employees don't understand important metrics. And if that's not bad enough... 70% of employees are disengaged and 95% of employees don't understand their company's strategy. Too many companies have employees who are more interested in getting their work done than seeing how their work contributes to the bottom line. ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Your solution awaits... Building Business Acumen When employees have business acumen, productivity accelerates, engagement improves, and solutions come together as individuals, teams, and executives align around common objectives Use the 5 Business Drivers to understand how your company makes money ​ Develop a working knowledge of financial statements and strategy ​ Align your individual and team decisions with executive initiatives Improve engagement by helping employees recognize the importance of their role ​ ​ Identify 2-3 business priorities and develop a personal action plan Make bolder and faster business decisions Help your employees become experts of your business As easy as 1, 2, boom! Acumen Learning’s Building Business Acumen® course can help any professional, from any department, understand the business of our business. Using real-world examples and focusing on issues important to your work, you’ll learn a simple framework to quickly cut through business complexities, gain a satellite view of the business, improve your track record of success, align decisions to corporate strategy, fix present problems and prevent new ones, break down communication barriers, take advantage of opportunities to grow, and much more. Step I Choose Your Delivery Whether it's a 1-, 2-, 4-day, virtual , online , or blended solution, we can customize our deliveries to best suit your needs. ​ Step II Customize Your Course Together we'll customize your course to cover the concepts, key metrics, and strategies that are important to your CEO. ​ Step III Schedule Your Course Let's have a conversation about how our Building Business Acumen® training course can help your corporation. Reach us at 801-224-5444. ​ ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Choose your delivery... Onsite 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-day courses Bring in an Acumen Learning consultant or certify an internal trainer to teach courses in person to your employees. Virtu al 3-8-hour sessions An instructor-led classroom experience for those limited by distance or scheduling demands. On-Dem and Self-paced online course An online experience that delivers results with instructional design best practices and intuitive platform. Hear from participants... 34 Fortune 50 Could Be Onto Something. Suzanne Moore - Parzyck • 2nd Global Director, Talent Management ​ Want to transform your workforce to think like business owners? Acumen Learning can provide the strategic lever to do just that. I've worked with Acumen Learning in two industries and they are world class. Ben Cook, President of Acumen Learning was our facilitator both times and to hear him speak, you'd think he was an employee of our company. Talk about modeling the way . . . Stuart Raetzman • 2nd Executive Chairman ​ ​ I have used the Business Acumen training to help business leaders and executives better see the big picture and to better understand the connections between the levers they use to drive the business forward. We know your industry… Our consultants have worked directly with over 200 different companies and have conducted research on all of their top competitors. This gives them an unparalleled perspective into a wide range of industries. What are the main strategies for driving growth in retail? How are hospitals navigating new industry regulations? Who’s leading in the energy sector? We know the answers to these questions and more, and we’ll give your teams information specific to your business and partners' needs. Do your employees understand the business of your business? While most people understand their job, only one out of ten understand metrics that are important to their CEO, and 95% don’t understand their company’s strategy. You end up with employees who are more interested in only getting their work done than in seeing how their work contributes to the bottom line. But when employees have business acumen, productivity accelerates, engagement improves, and solutions come together as individuals, teams, and executives align around common objectives. CEOs want business leaders… CEOs need employees who aren't just great at their role but exceptional business leaders. Someone who can help them along the path forward. A business leader who makes strategic, data-driven actions. In other words, your CEO wants to have business people who just so happen to be in HR or IT or Engineering. ​ As such, your training will have a particular focus on executive needs. Participants will be taught how to quickly analyze your company's communications from a strategic and financial perspective and create action items around that strategy. ⇲ Download the Executive Overview Tired of reading? Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Explore more… Earnings Call Webinars We host a free webinar every month where we breakdown a top company's earnings call. Join us and learn how to interpret any company's strategy. ​ View Webinar Schedule Aerospace & Defense Their analysis demonstrated that business acumen training more than paid for itself with a 300%+ ROI. ​ ​ Read Case Study Articles What's the difference between cash and cash flow? What financial questions do you need to know for an interview? Get answers for this and more in our articles. Read Articles Let's start a conversation. We love hearing from you. Let us know how we can help. Contact Us

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Press Release OREM, Utah – July 3, 2023 Download the Business Acumen Press Release: News Facts: One of the world’s leading consumer electronics manufacturers partnered with Acumen Learning on a business acumen training initiative to drive strategic sales initiatives and profitable growth. This Fortune 50 company sought to enhance their field sales representatives’ skills in pitching internal projects and sales initiatives to create mutually beneficial sales promotional programs. To achieve this, they partnered with Acumen Learning for a specialized training program that leveraged ROI analysis and improved business case development. Acumen Learning created a highly customized training program that was tailored to the needs of the sales academy. A key element of this program was the development of a custom ROI analysis tool, which played a pivotal role in the business acumen training. These interactive sessions equipped sales leaders, marketing teams, product marketing, and digital marketing leaders with the expertise to effectively leverage the ROI analysis tool and optimize its utility in their strategic decision-making processes. This extremely targeted approach created significant improvement in the team’s ability to quantify the ROI for various initiatives, including discounts, rebates, and the use of marketing development funds. Through the utilization of this ROI tool and quantitative analysis, the sales teams were empowered to develop stronger business cases, make data-driven decisions, and accurately assess the financial impact of their proposals. As a leading provider of business acumen training, Acumen Learning has a track record of success in delivering customized programs to renowned companies, including 32 out of the Fortune 50. Supporting Quotes: “This course received the highest NPS scores that we’ve ever had for our sales academy.” “With our highly customized training program and ROI analysis tool, we have empowered the sales teams to navigate the ever-changing business landscape with strategic expertise,” said Ron Saffell, Sales Director at Acumen Learning. “The commitment to equipping sales professionals with the necessary skills and tools to drive profitable growth showcases the company’s visionary approach. It is a privilege to see the transformative impact our business acumen training has on our clients’ success.” “It has been clear to us in our 20+ years of working with every industry, every function, and in every geography, that every business needs smarter businesspeople at all levels,” says Ben Cook, President of Acumen Learning. “Business acumen equips each individual with the knowledge, insights, and mindset to make business-savvy decisions, seize new opportunities, and drive sustainable success. In today’s complex and interconnected world, developing strong business acumen is not just a competitive advantage; it is an essential skill for thriving in any role or industry.” “The realization of the impact that our customized ROI analysis tool can have on our client’s sales organizations has exceeded my expectations," says Kenny Snarr, Senior Financial Consultant at Acumen Learning. "It has become abundantly clear that this tool enables accuracy in investment decisions, facilitates meaningful conversations regarding profitability and investment metrics, strengthens business case development, and ultimately showcases the strategic impact that can be achieved with each initiative.” About Acumen Learning Founded in 2002, Acumen Learning's highly customized business acumen and sales training programs have helped organizations develop employees who are more engaged, efficient, and effective in their work. To further support its mission, Acumen Learning published, Seeing the Big Picture – Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company, in 2012 which quickly became a #1 Wall Street Journal and a New York Times bestseller. More than 20 years later, Acumen Learning has been trusted by more than 200 organizations on six continents to help employees understand how their company makes money, and to take real steps towards improving that process.

Press Release OREM, Utah – June 18, 2023 Download the Business Acumen Press Release: News Facts: A top 10 commercial vehicle manufacturer has joined forces with Acumen Learning for business acumen training solutions, to empower its employees with business acumen and align them to the organization’s strategic vision. The company recognized the need for a substantial cultural change to adapt to industry transformation and prioritize solution-focused approaches. The initiative focused on empowering employees to take more ownership and accountability for decisions, cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, and fostering a broader perspective within the organization. Acumen Learning facilitated a customized two-day business acumen course that brought together L&D leaders, managers, vice presidents, and representatives from the manufacturing, communication, and e-mobility sectors. The participants left the program with a renewed ability to see the big picture, understanding the broader mission of the company and the impact of their roles in driving both cultural transformation and revenue growth. The business acumen course delivered outstanding results, receiving positive feedback from both participants and the leadership team. By tackling the cultural obstacles that hindered employee retention and talent attraction, we successfully contributed to a 5% reduction in retention costs. This achievement improved engagement, alignment, and enhanced participants’ business acumen skills. Acumen Learning is happy to add a top 10 commercial vehicle manufacturing company to its esteemed list of clients. This partnership adds another prominent company to its portfolio, cementing its position as a trusted provider of business acumen training to top-tier players in the industry. Supporting Quotes: “This course had a lot of good information spread out over the 2 day sessions. It was very broad in the coverage of financial statements and how different groups impact them. As someone in Finance, it was a good refresh and reminded me of my time studying in college.” “Very good on basic financial drivers for a company and how to understand financial statements.” “Excellent session, Ryan kept it engaging and interactive. Lots of relevant content to my role and company.” “It has been clear to us in our 20+ years of working with every industry, every function, and in every geography, that every business needs smarter businesspeople at all levels,” says Ben Cook, President of Acumen Learning. “Business acumen equips each individual with the knowledge, insights, and mindset to make business-savvy decisions, seize new opportunities, and drive sustainable success. In today’s complex and interconnected world, developing strong business acumen is not just a competitive advantage; it is an essential skill for thriving in any role or industry.” “It was truly inspiring to witness these leaders embrace the business concepts and cultural shifts of their company,” said Ryan Hunt, Senior Financial Consultant at Acumen Learning.” I loved witnessing the positive impact it had on their understanding of the company’s strategy and their role in it. Seeing their growth in business acumen and their newfound ability to ‘see the big picture’ has been immensely rewarding.” About Acumen Learning Founded in 2002, Acumen Learning's highly customized business acumen and sales training programs have helped organizations develop employees who are more engaged, efficient, and effective in their work. To further support its mission, Acumen Learning published, Seeing the Big Picture – Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company, in 2012 which quickly became a #1 Wall Street Journal and a New York Times bestseller. More than 20 years later, Acumen Learning has been trusted by more than 200 organizations on six continents to help employees understand how their company makes money, and to take real steps towards improving that process.

Today we are welcoming Monty Magleby, one of our Senior Financial Consultants. We are delving into the importance of business acumen for finance professionals. Let's get started! Question: Understanding the complexity of finance is pivotal for finance professionals because it is more than just accounting, right? Absolutely. Even experienced finance professionals may struggle with applying their technical knowledge of real business scenarios. For instance, knowing debits and credits is one thing, but understanding how they impact business decisions can be a challenge. Similarly, calculating metrics like EBITDA is essential, but comprehending how to leverage them for strategic choices is where the real value lies. Finance encompasses various functions, such as treasury, cash management, financial planning, and more. To excel in our roles, we must grasp how these functions intertwine with the broader business. Question: I've heard it mentioned that even seasoned finance professionals can have gaps in their business acumen. Could you share some common examples of these gaps and how they impact their roles? That is right, unfortunately. The first challenge involves not just having technical knowledge but also the ability to apply it. For example, closing the books and issuing reports is important, but do we truly understand the underlying business dynamics? Have we engaged with business leaders to comprehend their challenges and market influences? Being able to interpret the numbers and explain why they changed is crucial for moving beyond reporting. Question: In one of our videos, we talk about two significant challenges when trying to bridge these gaps. Can you elaborate on the challenge of applying technical knowledge to the business and understanding its context? The real challenge here is making that technical knowledge click with the actual business game plan. It's not just about knowing the strategy; it's about truly getting why it matters. This means we've got to wrap our heads around what's happening in the market, what trends are steering the industry, and where we fit into the big picture of the business. Understanding our department's strategy is important, but linking it to the businesses we work with and the overall corporate strategy is where the real magic happens. Question: Interesting. So moving on to the second challenge, how can finance professionals connect with their organization's strategy and the broader corporate strategy? What steps can they take to achieve this? Alright, so here's the deal with connecting finance to the big-picture strategy. It's not just about crunching numbers anymore. We've got to get in the mix with the people running the show. That means diving into discussions about where the business is headed, sharing our financial insights, and actually pitching in to shape plans that sync up with the overall strategy. We must aim to be more than just employees, but someone who is a partner to the business. Question: So then how do we become more like a business partner? Can you give us some practical advice on how finance professionals can transition from being seen as bean counters to strategic partners? So, going from bean counters to strategic players takes a bit of a mindset shift. Step one is diving deep into what's driving the numbers, not just what they are. We've got to really understand the ins and outs of what's affecting how things are going and figuring out what actions to take. Step two is linking those numbers to where the company is headed. It's about being the translator between finance and the big-picture strategy. Understanding not just the 'what' but also the 'why' behind where the organization is going is key. Question: Monty, why would you say that taking a business or financial acumen class is important for finance professionals, even though they're already financially savvy? How can this type of class help connect all the dots for them? You bring up an excellent point because a business acumen class often feels unnecessary to finance professionals since they’re already well-versed in the finance world. But even in the finance arena, there is a lot of areas of specialization in very specific roles. So taking a business acumen class can often refresh them on the big picture of how a business operates and where their role fits into that grand scheme. Besides, finance professionals often speak a language that can be challenging for those outside the finance world to understand. When they interact with colleagues in operations, marketing, sales, or other divisions, it can sometimes feel like they're speaking a foreign language. This is where business acumen training becomes invaluable. It helps finance professionals bridge the gap and speak the language of business to non-financial peers. Question: So, in essence, business acumen training isn't just about numbers; it's about helping finance professionals communicate effectively with their colleagues across the organization? Is it a crucial part of becoming a well-rounded and strategic contributor to the business? Certainly. I've witnessed finance professionals truly elevate their impact within organizations by embracing business and financial acumen. One notable example involved a finance manager who, after undergoing comprehensive business acumen training, transformed their role. Previously, this manager had primarily focused on financial reporting and budgeting. However, armed with a deeper understanding of the business's strategy and operations, they began collaborating with department heads. They started interpreting financial data in a way that provided actionable insights for improving operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. In meetings, this finance professional could discuss not just financial metrics but also the broader context of how those metrics are tied to the company's goals. They effectively communicate how various financial levers could be adjusted to support the strategic direction. This approach significantly enhanced their credibility and influence within the organization. In essence, by increasing their business acumen, this finance manager became a true partner to the business, making a more substantial and lasting impact rather than solely focusing on reporting. Question: Monty, as we wrap up, what advice would you have for finance professionals who are considering enhancing their business and financial acumen? How can they embark on this journey to become more strategic contributors to their organizations? My advice to finance professionals looking to enhance their business and financial acumen is to embrace continuous learning and engagement. Start by seeking out courses or training programs that focus on business acumen. These courses can provide valuable insights into understanding the broader aspects of how a business operates. You could also actively engage with colleagues from different departments within your organization. Take the initiative to understand their challenges, objectives, and how your financial expertise can support their goals. This collaboration can help you bridge the gap between finance and other functions, making you a more effective communicator and strategic partner. Also, don't underestimate the power of real-world experience. Look for opportunities to take on cross-functional projects or roles that allow you to apply your financial knowledge in diverse settings. This practical exposure can significantly enhance your ability to connect the dots between finance and the overall business strategy. So just to summarize since that was long, the journey to becoming a more strategic contributor involves a combination of formal education, collaboration, and hands-on experience. Embracing business and financial acumen as an ongoing commitment can position you as a vital asset to your organization and help you make a more significant impact on its success. ACTIVITY: Now that you've explored the impact of the finance department, let's engage in a learning activity you can do during your next team meeting: Exercise 1: Financial Decision Making 1. Ask your team to imagine they are part of the finance department in a company facing a critical financial decision. Provide a hypothetical scenario: The company is considering either investing a substantial amount in a new project for revenue growth or implementing cost-cutting measures to improve profitability. Divide the team into groups. 2. Each group should deliberate and present arguments for their chosen approach: investing in growth or focusing on cost-cutting. Encourage them to consider financial implications, risk factors, long-term impacts, and alignment with the company's strategy. 3. After the group discussions, have each team present their decision and rationale to the entire team, emphasizing the financial implications and strategic alignment of their chosen approach. Facilitate a discussion to compare and contrast the different perspectives presented, highlighting the potential impact on the company's financial health and strategic goals. This exercise aims to encourage finance professionals to think critically about financial decisions and strategic alignment. By simulating real-life scenarios and assessing the impact of financial choices on the business, teams can better understand the nuances of financial acumen in decision-making. This activity is designed to reinforce the importance of aligning financial strategies with broader business objectives, a key aspect of enhancing business acumen in the finance realm. Continue your learning… Business Acumen for Finance People Is Business Acumen About Finance? Finding the Business Acumen Gaps Why Business Acumen is Essential for Financial Services Next Steps… Get a demo of our business acumen training: Attend a preview of our course from our Founder and CEO, Kevin Cope: Take this quick quiz: ✅ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more Business Acumen videos! ✅ Follow us on LinkedIn @AcumenLearning to keep up with all company updates! ✅ For more on our business acumen training visit our website! #businessacumen #businessstrategy #financialacumen #financialstrategy #learninganddevelopment #HR #leadershipdevelopment #training #businesssuccess #finance #businessacumentraining #financialacumentraining