Shows / CFO THOUGHT LEADER
CFO THOUGHT LEADER
CFO THOUGHT LEADER is a podcast featuring firsthand accounts of finance leaders who are driving change within their organizations. We share the career journey of our spotlighted CFO guest: What do they struggle with? How do they persevere? What makes them successful CFOs? CFO THOUGHT LEADER is all about inspiring finance professionals to take a leadership leap. We know that by hearing about the successes — (and yes, also the failures) — of others, today’s CFOs can more confidently chart their…
Episodes
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1084: Reading the Signals, Not Just the Statements | Brian Carolan, CFO, SailPoint
It was a late-night meeting room lit by the glow of Excel spreadsheets and half-empty coffee cups. Brian Carolan, then a rising finance leader, looked around…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERThe ROI Equation for AI Starts Here - A Planning Aces Episode
In this episode of Planning Aces, three forward-looking finance leaders share how they’re transforming planning and forecasting inside their organizations. CFO…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1083: Navigating the Go-To-Market Roadmap with Precision | Brian Robins, CFO, GitLab
It was a pivotal moment Brian Robins tells us he’ll never forget: stepping onto a makeshift stage to address some 400 employees just minutes before a key 8-K…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1082: Unlocking Value Through Real Estate Innovation | Tim Arndt, CFO, Prologis
Tim Arndt still remembers the urgency in the air when AMB Property Corporation decided to merge with Prologis at the height of the financial crisis. It was, as…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1081: The CFO’s Role in Innovation and Market Adaptation | Erik Swenson, CFO, IDT
It was a moment that would shape Erik Swenson’s approach to finance forever. As a co-op student at Northeastern University, he found himself in front of a room…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1080: Reframing Your Drivers of Growth | Jason Lee, CFO, Faire
It was a moment of “shock and awe” that Jason Lee says shapes his strategic mindset. Soon after joining Square, he discovered a major partnership with…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1079: Staying Ahead of Growth: How Finance Powers Proactive Scaling | Brandon Sullivan, CFO, 2X
The moment 2X secured private equity backing in March 2023, CFO Brandon Sullivan knew expectations would shift overnight. “There’s gonna be a press release,”…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1078: From Black Box to Control Tower | Stuart Leung, CFO, Flexport
Stuart Leung had occupied the CFO office at Flexport for only a few months when he realized the supply chain management company’s growing margin pressures…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1077: Unleashing Innovation: Strategic Insights into AI Integration | Omar Choucair, CFO, Trintech
Trintech CFO Omar Choucair is increasingly turning to AI as a strategic advantage—building teams, refining data “plumbing,” and automating time-consuming…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1076: Where Finance Meets Factory Floor | Gabi (Bressack) Gantus, CFO, Mytra
It was an impromptu meeting Gantus will never forget. One day at Tesla, the company’s then-President of Automotive, Jérôme Guillen, pulled her aside…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou sits down with Brad Silicani, COO of Anrok
On this episode of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou sits down with Brad Silicani, COO of Anrok, to talk about his journey from Big Four accounting to…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1074: Balancing AI Innovation with Post-IPO Expectations | Bill Koefoed, CFO, OneStream
It began with a tense stretch of weeks that Bill Koefoed tells us he won’t soon forget. As OneStream’s CFO, he was juggling the details of going public when a…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1073: AI, Agility & Ambition: The Making of a Data Center Powerhouse | John Wilson, CFO, Sabey Data Centers
It was a puzzle that John Wilson simply couldn’t resist. Intel had long sold processors to the federal government on a commercial basis, but the rising…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1072: Numbers, Narratives, and Navigating Change | Amy Butte, CFO, Navan
It was a phone call Amy Butte tells us she will never forget. Lifting the receiver, she heard the familiar voice of her father—an accountant who had always…
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Controllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou welcomes Clari's Chief Accounting Officer Karen Wu
In this episode of Controllers Classified, Erik Zhou sits down with Karen Wu, the Chief Accounting Officer at Clari, to discuss the role of accounting in a…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1071: Empowering Finance: Lessons from the Automation Edge | Ashim Gupta, CFO, UiPath
Ashim Gupta, who has evolved from a pre-IPO CFO to now serving as both CFO and COO, is busy redefining the role of finance in driving growth and innovation…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1070: From Finance Leader to Entreprenuer: A CFO’s Journey to the CEO Office | Damon Fletcher, CEO, Caliper
Like many seasoned finance executives, Damon Fletcher saw Snowflake as a game-changer in cloud-based data management. While a senior finance executive at…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1069: Driving Value Through Agile Finance Leadership | Lior Maza, CFO, Priority Software
Early in his career, Lior Maza chose to immerse himself in smaller, venture-backed startups instead of large enterprises—a move that exposed him to an array of…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1068: The CFO Advantage in the Boardroom: Strategy, M&A, and IPO Readiness | Bill Korn, CFO-Emeritus
Bill Korn approaches board leadership with the same strategic, forward-thinking mindset that defined his CFO career. He believes a board member's role extends…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Erik Zhou sits down with Bloomerang’s Jeff Arensman
In this episode of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou sits down with Jeff Arensman, Controller at Bloomerang, to cover two important topics: building a…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1067: The Power of Storytelling in Scaling Businesses | Matt Collis, CFO, PairSoft
For Matt Collis, CFO of PairSoft, storytelling is more than a skill—it’s a strategic tool for aligning teams and scaling businesses. Whether leading…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1066: How Language Barriers and Data Shortfalls Propelled a Life in Numbers | Cosmin Pitigoi, CFO, Flywire
Arriving at a high school in Cape Town, South Africa, without speaking English, Cosmin Pitigoi faced an immediate communication challenge. Yet he refused to be…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1065: The Accidental CFO: From Entrepreneurial Leader to the CFO Office | Stacy Tumarkin, CFO, Kubecost
Stacy Tumarkin unexpectedly found herself stepping into the CFO seat—twice—earning the moniker “The Accidental CFO.” Early in her career, she worked at a hedge…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1064: Cybersecurity, AI, and the Evolving Finance Frontier | Russ Keefe, CFO, Corelight
Back in the mid 1990s–when Russ Keefe decided it was time for a career pivot–he got behind the wheel. With a Jeep packed full of his belongings, he drove from…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1063: From Banking to Building: One Leader’s Shift to Operations | Eugene Wong, CFO, Clara Analytics
It was shortly after Eugene Wong exited the banking world to advance into a senior operations role that he realized the importance of a holistic view. At one…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1062: Scaling with Purpose and Profit | Hetu Patel, CFO, Thrive Market
Four years into his 12-year career chapter at Amazon, Hetu Patel was appointed Finance Director for Prime—a role he credits with opening his eyes to strategic…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou welcomes Sourcegraph's Contoller Desene Sterling
When you think about accounting at growth stage companies, the word "artistry" might not immediately come to mind, but Desene Sterling makes a compelling case…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1061: Innovate, Scale, Repeat: A CFO’s Blueprint for Rapid Expansion | Kfir Lippmann, CFO, Salt Security
CFO Kfir Lippmann began his career at Ernst & Young in Tel Aviv, auditing high-growth tech clients and navigating the intricacies of IPO-bound businesses. The…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1060: Reaching Unicorn Status Through Innovation | Emma Seymour, CFO, Deputy
When Emma Seymour arrived at Deputy in early 2022, she became focused on strengthening the company’s financial foundation. In the three years since, Deputy has…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERFrom Misaligned Commissions to Unified Goals - A Planning Aces Episode
In our latest Planning Aces episode of CFO Thought Leader, Jack Sweeney teams with FP&A veteran Brett Knowles to spotlight three finance leaders tackling one…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBonus Replay: Where the Puck Is Headed | Michelle Hook, CFO, Portillo’s
It was late 2020 when Michelle Hook ended 17 years of fruitful career-building at Domino’s to accept a CFO appointment at fast casual restaurant chain…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBonus Replay: The Lessons We Learn | Dev Ahuja, CFO, Novelis
Among the learnings that Dev Ahuja has gleaned from his three-decade-long, globe-hopping finance career, perhaps none has delivered a more enduring instruction…
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Bonus Episode: Three Leaders
In this special holiday episode of CFO Thought Leader, host Jack Sweeney shares three unique CFO beginnings that highlight the power of perseverance…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1059: Future-Proofing Finance: Essential CFO Priorities for 2025 | Eliran Glazer, CFO, Monday.com
monday.com CFO Eliran Glazer highlights three vital priorities for 2025. First, he stresses that long-term efficiency must guide strategy. Instead of focusing…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1058: Empowering Industry with SaaS-Driven Material Technologies | Brian Registe, CFO, QuesTek
Brian Registe’s path to the future began in Dominica before relocating to Alaska with his industrious father. He launched his finance career in Alaska’s…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1057: Building Strategic Value: Inside the Finance Engine Room | Georgy Egorov, CFO, ZeroAvia
Beginning his career in audit at PwC Moscow, Georgy Egorov gained a foundation in finance’s finer details before transitioning into high-stakes investment…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou welcomes Jake Jones, Contoller at FinQuery
In this episode of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou, CAO at Brex, dives into the world of accounting and automation with Jake Jones, Controller at…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1056: The Three Ps: A Data-Driven Approach to Sustainable Growth | Zach Johnson, CFO, Cribl
Ask any business manager about the “three Ps in business” and they will likely say People, Process, and Product. However, ask any finance team member at Cribl…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1055: At the Intersection of Product Love and Financial Leadership | Joanne Cheng, CFO, Jellyfish
Joanne Cheng’s career had already carried her through multiple successful exits and leadership roles when an unexpected opportunity arose. Having proven her…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1054: AI as a Game-Changer for Revenue and Operations | Chris Nagy, CFO, Salesloft
Chris Nagy’s finance career began with a foundation in problem-solving, influenced by his early passion for math and logic. He started in commercial finance…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1053: Strategic Financial Alignment for Enhanced Transparency and Growth | Cyrus Lam, CFO Orion Innovation
For Cyrus Lam, the aspect of the CFO role that sets it apart from all others is the weight of non-negotiable priorities. Despite years spent closely…
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The FP&A Spectrum: Technology, Culture, and Long-Term Value - A Planning Aces Episode
In this episode of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles share insights from CFOs Sandra Wallach (Amprius Technologies), David Morris (Guardian…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBonus Replay: How a Biotech Disrupter Is De-risking R&D | Jamey Mock, CFO, Moderna
It's no secret that Moderna's R&D efforts have expanded well beyond the realm of COVID-19. CFO Jamey Mock tells us that today the company has more than 40…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1052: How Mobileye’s Capital Journey Shaped, Tested, and Advanced Its Future CFO | Moran Shemesh, CFO, Mobileye
By all accounts, when Moran Shemesh joined Mobileye in 2016 as Corporate Controller, the drama of its IPO was behind it. The Israeli autonomous vehicle…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou welcomes Jessica Peng, Contoller at Invoca
In this episode of Controllers Classified, Erik Zhou speaks with Jessica Peng, Controller at Invoca, about mastering change management. Jessica shares her…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBonus Episode: CFO Mark Partin on Building BlackLine’s Revenue Ops from the Ground Up
When Mark Partin first became CFO at BlackLine nearly a decade ago, the concept of Sales Ops was still rather new within the company, and he was tasked with…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1051: Building a Greener Future: A CFO’s Journey in Climate Tech | Derek Warnick, CFO Electric Hydrogen
From day one of his professional life, Derek Warnick knew his career would be driven by a purpose greater than mere career advancement. As an undergraduate…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1050: Harnessing the Power of Three: Dynatrace’s Layered AI Strategy | Jim Benson, CFO, Dynatrace
One of the key lessons that helped advance Jim Benson down the CFO path was one in clarity and focus during his tenure as FP&A leader for the customer service…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBonus | Finance Leadership in a World of Iconic Collectibles Martin Nolan, CFO, Julien's Auction
Had Martin Nolan studied engineering instead of accounting, his career might never have intersected with icons like Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, or Michael…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou welcomes Eric Van Cleve, Controller at NexHealth.
In this episode of Controllers Classified Erik Zhou explores the role of accounting in scaling businesses as well as public company accounting processes with…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1049: Beyond the Balance Sheet: Leveraging People and Data for Success | David Morris, CFO, Guardian Pharmacy
When it came to the public markets, no one can accuse David Morris and his seasoned C-suite colleagues, Fred Burke and Kendall Forbes, of being impatient…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1048: Strategic Growth and Leadership in Hard Tech Finance | Sandra Wallach, CFO, Amprius Technologies
Sitting quietly at the back of a crowded GE conference room, a young Sandra Wallach diligently took notes during an executive briefing. As one of the newest…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERFrom Constraints to Collaboration - a Planning Aces Episode
In the latest Planning Aces episode, hosts Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles discuss how finance leaders are elevating FP&A as strategic partners within…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1047: Balancing Risk and Opportunity in a Changing Finance Landscape | John Gronen, CFO, Yooz
It was not the first time John Gronen addressed the staffing company’s board — but it was very likely the most consequential. At the time, Gronen was vice…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1046: Transforming Finance from Reactive to Proactive Leadership | David Eckstein, CFO, Vanta
When David Eckstein inherited a struggling business unit earlier in his career, he faced an uphill battle. The unit wasn’t one he had built, nor had he…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1045: Cash Flow Focus: Building a Sustainable Growth Strategy | Brian Hogeland, CFO Packer Fastener
In his three years as CFO of Packer Fastener, Brian Hogeland has led a milestone transformation of the company’s financial operations. Joining in 2021 during a…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1044: Driving Sustainable Growth: Aligning Business Goals with Profitability | Isabelle Winkles, CFO, Braze
In January 2020, most finance leaders saw ASC 606 as a closed chapter. However, for Braze’s newly appointed CFO, Isabelle Winkles, the revenue recognition…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1043: Redefining Success: A Journey from Corporate to Startup Leadership
As Aira Pineda stared out from her new office at a seemingly endless rice field, a voice inside her asked, 'What are you doing here?" Only a year or two…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,042: From the Diamond to the Boardroom: A CFO’s Journey | Max Krakowiak, CFO, Revvity
Max Krakowiak stood on the pitcher’s mound, ignoring the first drops of a Seattle rain. A shout from a less-than-faithful fan filled his ears as he prepared to…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: Host Erik Zhou welcomes Matt Didden, Controller at NexHealth.
In the season two premiere of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou welcomes Matt Didden, Controller at NexHealth. The conversation begins with a recount of…