David Wurtzbacher — Building a People-First Business

What does it really look like to put people first while building and scaling a business?

In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary and Ben sit down with David Wurtzbacher, Founder and CEO of Ascend, to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, culture, and building organizations where people have the opportunity to flourish.

David shares lessons from his journey through JPMorgan, Lightwave Dental, and ultimately founding Ascend — including why character matters in M&A, how Ascend is working to preserve the independence of entrepreneurial CPA firms, and why long-term thinking often requires making decisions that can't immediately be measured on a spreadsheet.

The conversation also explores the importance of stepping out of the day-to-day to work on the business, developing a coachable mindset, investing in future leaders, and intentionally designing a life that goes beyond professional success.

In This Episode:

What it means to lead people toward an inspiring vision
Why Ascend takes a People First approach to growth
Preserving independence and culture during acquisitions
Choosing the right people — not simply the right deal
Why leaders have to make time to work on the business
The role of executive coaching and lifelong learning
Creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders
David's perspective on faith, purpose, and living an abundant life

About David Wurtzbacher

David Wurtzbacher is the Founder and CEO of Ascend, a platform built to help entrepreneurial CPA firms grow and transform while preserving their independence, culture, people, and approach to serving clients.

Resources

Ascend: ascendtogether.com
Ascend on LinkedIn: Search “Ascend” on LinkedIn
Connect with David: Find David Wurtzbacher on LinkedIn

About Anything But Typical

Anything But Typical shares the real stories behind entrepreneurship — not just the wins, but the challenges, decisions, lessons, and experiences that shape the journey.

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