Today I’m sharing with you a recording of a keynote titled “Developing and Keeping a Competitive Advantage,” given by Philip Fierlinger, co-founder of Upstock and co-founder of Xero.

Philip Fierlinger discusses his experiences and insights on developing and maintaining a competitive advantage in the technology and accounting sectors. He shares his journey from working on the first smartphone at General Magic to co-founding Xero and Upstock. The talk focuses on creating extraordinary user experiences, transforming pain points into pleasurable experiences, and adhering to a strong vision and values.

Highlights from the session include:

  • Developing and maintaining a competitive advantage, drawing from his extensive experience in the tech and accounting industries.
  • Unfolding his journey from working on General Magic’s first smartphone to co-founding Xero and Upstock, highlighting key milestones and lessons learned.
  • Explaining how to transform technology into “magic” through exceptional user experience design, making technology seamless and user-friendly.
  • Showcasing how Xero succeeded by turning the painful process of bank reconciliations into a pleasurable and engaging experience, fundamentally changing the perception of accounting software.
  • Describing the creation of Upstock to address friction in the B2B supply chain for foodservice, offering a digital platform that levels the playing field for small suppliers.
  • Highlighting the significance of having a clear vision and strong values as the foundation for business operations, ensuring long-term success and competitive advantage.
  • Sharing lessons on the critical role of customer research and feedback, and the importance of early adopters in refining and validating the product.
  • Discussing how cultivating a positive company culture and retaining employees can be achieved through adhering to guiding principles and providing support, such as coaching and counselling.

This is the third podcast I’m bringing to you from the 2024 Tropical Innovation Festival held this June, in Cairns, in beautiful Far North Queensland.

Other podcast episodes of interest:

  1. Building Your Startup’s Profile with Media | TIF24 https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/2024/07/18/building-your-startups-profile-with-media-tif24/ 
  2. MediaPhones, Accounting Dashboards & Digital Marketplaces: The Design Journey of Xero’s Co-Founder | Philip Fierlinger: https://heathersmithsmallbusiness.com/2023/11/30/mediaphones-accounting-dashboards-digital-marketplaces-the-design-journey-of-xeros-co-founder-philip-fierlinger/

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