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 LEADER1,041: Rethinking Metrics to Align with Business Evolution | Josh Schwartz, CFO, Medidata
When Josh Schwartz arrived at Medidata, the life sciences innovation company was entering unfamiliar waters. Having just gone public, Medidata was shifting…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,040: Leadership Partnership: How the CFO, CEO, and CIO Shape the Future | Mark Partin, CFO, Blackline
Twenty-seven years ago, while in his late twenties, Mark Partin arrived inside the C-suite largely unprepared for the flood of challenges that would quickly…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,039: Driving Alignment Across Finance, Technology, and HR for Operational Success | Laura LaPeer, CFO, Plante Moran
It wasn’t long after Laura LaPeer left public accounting to climb the corporate career ladder that she encountered her first delicate challenge as a corporate…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1038: Driving Financial Agility in a Global Tech Landscape | Joey Wong, CFO, Lenovo Asia Pacific (PCSD)
In the mid-2000s, the world’s attention increasingly turned toward Asia, driven by the region’s rapid economic growth – not to mention the 2008 Beijing…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBeneath the Surface: How to Manage Complexity and Achieve Greater Clarity - a Planning Aces Episode
In this episode of Planning Episodes hosted by Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles, three CFOs—Don McGuire of ADP, Scott Blackley of Oscar Health, and Patrick…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,037: Optimizing Growth and Margins: A CFO’s Strategic Playbook | Regi Vengalil, CFO, Trax Retail
When the opportunity to help lead the corporate travel business at Expedia arose, Regi Vengalil knew it was exactly the role he had been seeking to put his CFO…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,036: The Power of AI in Shaping Strategic Finance Leadership | Zane Rowe, CFO, Workday
In 2012, after nearly two decades in the airline industry, Zane Rowe made a bold career pivot. Leaving behind his role as CFO at United Airlines, Rowe stepped…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1035: Balancing Growth and Sustainability: The Financial Strategy Behind Health Innovation | Daniel Welch, CFO, Kate Farms
In 2018, Daniel Welch made a life-altering decision. After a decade in investment banking, working on high-profile IPOs and M&A deals at Morgan Stanley, Welch…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,034: From Earnings Growth to Long-Term Success: A CFO’s Strategic Shift | Deanna Strable, COO & president (CFO emerita), Principal Financial Group
When Deanna Strable was approached to take on the role of CFO at Principal Financial Group, she was taken by surprise. Having spent most of her 30-year career…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1033: The ‘Buy or Build’ Moment: Preserving Your Firm's Entrepreneurial Spirit | Ben Averis, CFO, Yoto
Ben Averis’s journey to CFO of Yoto was shaped by diverse experiences in finance, ranging from his early days at PwC in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,032: From Bitcoin to AI: How Financial Strategy Can Drive a Company’s Evolution | Patrick Fleury, CFO, TeraWulf
It was during the first half of 2024 that press reports first surfaced to suggest that Bitcoin pioneer TeraWulf was seeking to make a bold strategic pivot into…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,031: Unlocking Operational Scale in Health Insurance Through AI and Data | Scott Blackley, CFO, Oscar Health
When Scott Blackley was asked in kindergarten what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer was surprisingly clear: “I want to be an auditor.” This early…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,030: Leveraging Global Expertise to Shape ADP’s Financial Future | Don McGuire, CFO, ADP
In 2021, Don McGuire received an unexpected call from ADP's HR leader, offering him the In 2021, ADP’s HR leader reached out to Don McGuire, then the company’s…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERBonus Episode: Early Beginnings
In this bonus episode of CFO Thought Leader, host Jack Sweeney shares insightful stories from three finance leaders, focusing on their early beginnings and how…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERStrategic Relationship Building in FP&A- A Planning Aces Episode
In this episode of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and Brett Knowles discuss the evolving role of FP&A professionals, emphasizing the importance of…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,029: A Unique Advantage: When CEO Experience Informs CFO Leadership | Matt Steinfort, CFO, DigitalOcean
While most CFOs climb the ranks through finance-related roles, Steinfort’s path took a significant detour—one that saw him leading a company as CEO before…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,028: Shaping Finance Operations to Support Global Growth | Clemente Cohen, CFO, PG Forsta
Clemente Cohen’s finance career began in the early 1990s inside the Munich offices of Silicon Graphics, approximately 6,500 miles from the Silicon Valley…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,027: Strategic Finance in the Digital Asset Industry: Lessons from a Bitcoin Mining Leader | Salman Khan, CFO, Marathon Digital Holdings
When Salman Khan arrived in Dubai from the U.S. in the early 2000s, he was a seasoned auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers, ready to narrow his focus on the oil…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,026: Partnering for Growth in the Age of AI | Kabir Ahmed Shakir, CFO, Tata Communications
According to CFO Kabir Shakir, when AI giant Nvidia sought to expand its alliances in India, it knew exactly with whom to partner: “They did their homework…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,025: Cost Management to Strategic Investment | Chikako Tyler, CFO, California Bank & Trust
In her role as CFO of California Bank & Trust, Chikako Tyler faced the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank—the second financial crisis of her career. Unlike the…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,024: From Overdrive to Insight: Lessons Learned in the Pursuit of Success | Tom Bock, CFO, SmartFinancial
In 2005, fresh into his first banking job at Citigroup, Tom Bock found himself working 63 hours straight to prepare for a critical pitch. Fueled by a desire to…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,023: How Finance Propelled a Tech Enthusiast into the C-suite | Doug Potvin, CFO, Trinity Logistics
Doug Potvin’s journey to becoming the CFO of Trinity Logistics reveals the power of adaptability and continuous learning. Initially captivated by technology in…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,022: The Power of Lean Thinking | Todd Patriacca, CFO, BVI Medical
Todd Patriacca was more than a dozen years into his finance career when two things happened that accelerated its trajectory. The first was that he found a…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,021: A Taste for Professional Growth: How the U.S. Coast Guard Granted Larry White an Expansive Finance Career
The year 1986 was a pivotal one for Larry White’s career in the U.S. Coast Guard. After entering the Coast Guard Academy in 1976 and graduating in 1980, White…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,020: A Savvy Investor Cracks the Operator’s Code | Seth Wunder, CFO, Acorns
t a recent executive team dinner, several Acorns executives were reminiscing about their childhood professional aspirations. While many had had career dreams…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERNavigating Communication Challenges - A Planning Aces Episode
Brett & Jack discuss the commentary and insights of three accomplished CFOs (Sandeep Aujla from Intuit, Shelagh Glaser from Synopsys, and Seth Wunder from…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,019: The Rewards of Making an Early Exit | Josh Schenker, CFO, Aditude, Inc.
Josh Schenker may well be the only CFO we’ve interviewed who claims to have dropped out of high school—which he actually did, in order to accelerate his…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,018: From Complexity to Clarity: Simplifying Business Segments for Investor Insight | Shelagh Glaser, CFO, Synopsys
When asked to share a single career chapter that has influenced her strategic mind-set as a finance leader, Synopsys CFO Shelagh Glaser knew exactly what to…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERAn Entrepreneur Leverages AI to Revolutionize Finance Operations
In a special Trouble Shooter episode of CFO Thought Leader, we speak with Tal Kirschenbaum, CEO and founder of Ledge. Together, we delve into his career…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,017: Two Hands, One Vision: A Balanced Approach to Finance | Eric Emans, CFO, Nintex
“I see the fear of failure as being so detrimental to so many people early in their career. In people’s minds, failing is often outsized, but most of the time…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,016: When Career Years Are Investment Years | Sandeep Aujla, CFO, Intuit
By the time Sandeep Aujla arrived at Intuit in 2015, he had already invested 7 career-building years as a senior finance executive at Visa, so his path to the…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,015: Aligning Investor Narratives with Operational Strategy | Mark Khavkin, CFO, MinIO
Mark Khavkin tells us that from the very beginning of his career journey—a 2008 role as an investment professional with a European private equity firm—he was…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,014: Passion and Purpose: Building a Vibrant Finance Culture | Karen Williams, CFO, American Express Global Business Travel
Karen Williams’s journey to becoming a successful CFO began with a crucial lesson learned early in her career at the UK headquarters of candy giant Mars. As a…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERStandardize, Streamline & Scale - A Planning Aces Episode
On the latest episode of Planning Aces three dynamic CFOs—Robert Cornella (RNDC), Karen Williams (American Express Global Business Travel), and Tony…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,013: The Curious CFO: Crafting the Future of Space | Muhammad Shahzad, CFO, Relativity Space
Mo Shahzad is not one for trivial conversations. At Relativity Space, he’s known for his deep curiosity, often engaging team members in discussions about their…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: A VC’s perspective on what financial data matters most
In the season 1 finale of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou is joined by Sarah Hinkfuss from Bain Capital Ventures for an overview of the VC investment…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,012: The Last Unlock: Empowering Teams | John Lutz, CFO, Sellars
Looking back, John Lutz doesn't hesitate to recall a strategic turn along his career journey when, during his tenure as director of finance at Charter Steel…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,011: Balancing Agility and Structure for Strategic Growth | Carol Lee, CFO, LogicMonitor
Beginning her career as an analyst, Carol Lee honed her technical skills both in pre-revenue start-ups and a multinational corporation with over $10 billion in…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERSpecial Episode: The 20 Leading CFOs of AI
CFO Thought Leader host Jack Sweeney and performance management guru Brett Knowles explore and highlight the takeaways from The 20 Leading CFOs of AI report…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,010: When SaaS Became His Native Language | Michael O'Grady, CFO, Permutive
Michael O’Grady’s finance strategic moment occurred in 2014 at higher-ed tech company Ellucian. Faced with transitioning from a traditional perpetual license…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,009: From GE Conference Rooms to Pinstripes’ Boardroom | Tony Querciagrossa, CFO, Pinstripes
Two-and-a-half years ago, CFO Tony Querciagrossa began a discussion with Dale Schwartz, founder of Pinstripes, that would eventually lead to Querciagrossa…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERON LOCATION: IMA24 Uncovering New Educational Pathways
On Location IMA24 (San Antonio, TX) the annual America's conference for the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) CFO Thought Leader Host Jack Sweeney…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,008: Managing Change and Ensuring Stability | Erica Gessert, CFO, Upwork
In the throes of the Great Recession, Erica Gessert faced one of her first tests of leadership. As the head of Investor Relations for Virgin Mobile, she found…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,007: The Art of Financial Storytelling: A CFO’s Perspective | Ashley Johnson, CFO, Planet
When she was an international studies major living abroad, Ashley Johnson tells us she met a U.S. ambassador whose unvarnished career advice subsequently led…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERControllers Classified: 6sense’s Treasurer on Managing Risk in Today’s World
In this episode of Controllers Classified, host Erik Zhou is joined by Eugene Spevakov, Treasurer and Head of Corporate FP&A at 6sense. The conversation begins…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,006: Finance and Strategy: A Dual Approach | Jorge Stevenson, CFO, Yuvo Health
CFO Jorge Stevenson’s finance career journey begins in Santiago, Chile, where both his parents were leaders within the business community and instilled in him…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,005: From Salesforce Playbook to Start-up Strategy | Scott Henderson, CFO, DISQO
In the early years of Scott Henderson’s career, the dotcom bubble burst, leaving the tech industry in turmoil and many young professionals uncertain about…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERWhy "Finance People & Analysis" is the New FP&A - A Planning Aces Episode
A brief summary of this episode
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,004: Beyond the Casino Floor: A CFO’s Ascent | Efraín Pérez Agosto, CFO, MGM National Harbor
Efraín Pérez Agosto began his career on the lively casino floors of Puerto Rico, where his fascination with the gaming industry was first sparked. Starting…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,003: Beyond Borders: Navigating an International Career | Robert Cornella, CFO, RNDC
Robert Cornella’s path to the CFO office at Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) wasn’t meticulously planned; it was shaped by pivotal moments and…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERSPECIAL EPISODE: Strategic Leadership in Data: Perspectives with Fatema El-Wakeel, PHD
Blending academic rigor with industry acumen- Fatema El-Wakeel, PHD has multiple professional lives inside the data strategy realm. Her multifaceted career…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,002: Transforming Retail: A Strategic Journey | Joan Hilson, CFO, Signet Jewelers
When David's Bridal, a New York City staple, filed for bankruptcy in 2018, Joan Hilson was at the helm as CFO. The experience was a crucible, teaching her…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1,001: Building Teams and Breaking Boundaries | Julien Lafouge, CFO, Spendesk
Angola might not top the list of destinations to which executives typically flock to build their careers, but for Julien Lafouge, it was the starting point of…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERON LOCATION: Among the Planning Masses at Perform24
Planful CEO Grant Halloran shares his insights on the current state of AI adoption in the enterprise, emphasizing the need to temper excitement with reality…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER1000: When Culture Informs Strategy | Tucker Marshall, CFO, J.M. Smucker & Co.
At just 16, Tucker Marshall unsuccessfully sought a humble beginning at The J. M. Smucker Company—not in the back office but on its lush grounds, hoping to cut…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER999: A Bias For Action | Jason Godley, CFO, Xactly
On a remote Wyoming cattle ranch, young Jason Godley faced a dire situation: the baler attached to his tractor suddenly caught fire. Alone, with no immediate…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER998: Margins, Metrics, and Payments | Lawrence Herman, CFO, Dwolla
Lawrence Herman’s path to becoming a CFO unfolded through a series of experiences that changed his understanding of the finance world, beginning with his…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER997: From Reaction to Action: Capturing Insight for Growth | Daniel Bisgeier, CFO, Constellation
When faced with unprecedented challenges, the true mettle of a leader is tested. Daniel Bisgeier, a seasoned CFO, exemplifies how continuous improvement and…
CFO THOUGHT LEADERFrom Rearview to Road Ahead - A Planning Aces Episode
Leadership in FP&A: All three CFOs emphasize the role of finance in leading and driving business performance through strategic foresight, detailed operational…
CFO THOUGHT LEADER996: Cultivating a CFO’s Toolkit | Aaron Levine, CFO, Prophix
From his early days in auditing at PwC to his current role as CFO at Prophix, Aaron Levine has had a career that has closely tracked the evolving nature of the…