Shows / The Diary of a CFO
The Diary of a CFO
If you're currently a CFO or on the path to become one, this podcast is for you. The Diary of a CFO takes you behind the scenes of modern finance leadership through honest conversations about how real finance leaders build their careers, make tough decisions, and carry the weight of the CFO role. Hosted by award-winning CFO Wassia Kamon, each episode covers what it actually takes to lead finance teams, work with CEOs and boards, navigate capital decisions, and grow without burning out. To…
Episodes
The Diary of a CFOThe AI Danger Triangle: What Finance Leaders Must Check Before Using Any AI Tool (with Lauren Elizabeth Pearl)
Lauren Pearl is a CFO, advisor, three-time founder, and educator who teaches financial modeling at NYU Stern's Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship. A former…
The Diary of a CFOThe 3 Conversations Every CFO Must Have With Their CEO with Alex Curran
Alex Curran is the CEO of Aptitude Software and has spent 20 years working with CFOs at some of the world's most complex finance organizations. In this…
The Diary of a CFOFormer McKinsey's Top M&A Advisor on What CFOs Get Wrong About Deals
David Fubini spent 35 years as a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, where he co-founded the firm's global merger integration practice. He has advised on…
The Diary of a CFOThe Difference Between Getting the CFO Job and Keeping It (My 2-Year Check-In)
In this solo episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down halfway through the year to reflect on what I’ve learned during my first two years in the CFO seat, as…
The Diary of a CFO5 Reasons ERP Implementations Fail and How To Get Yours Right, with Sharon Barboza
Most ERP implementations do not fail because of the technology. They fail because of what happens before the system is even turned on. In this episode, I sit…
The Diary of a CFOFrom CAO to EVP Supply Chain: How to Make a Big Career Pivot at the Executive Level
She spent 19 years at Southwire. She started in treasury, moved through business unit finance, became Chief Accounting Officer, and then made a move nobody saw…
The Diary of a CFOHow Operations Experience Makes You a Better CFO, with Donna Cohen, CFO of CarMax Auto Finance (Live in Atlanta)
She spent her entire career in accounting and finance. Public accounting, FP&A, financial reporting, corporate accounting. Then she made a move nobody…
The Diary of a CFOHow to Evaluate a CFO Role in Private Equity Before You Say Yes - Chris Voudouris, 3x PE CFO
Most finance leaders think about making the jump to a private equity backed company at some point. Very few know what they are actually walking into. In this…
The Diary of a CFOFrom Big 4 Auditor to CFO: How to Make People Want to Work With You in Finance - James White (Live in Atlanta)
He spent over 20 years at Ernst & Young. He did a secondment to Berlin, Germany by himself. He went back to Alabama to take over the CPA firm his father…
The Diary of a CFOFrom 6x National Champion to Fortune 500 Chief Audit Officer - Lori Kaczynski on Leadership and Resilience
She won six Canadian national championships in speed skating and was training for the Olympics. Then, had a car accident at 18. Four knee surgeries. Three…
The Diary of a CFOHow Finance Teams Should Be Using AI Right Now, with Chad Gold, CFO of Fullstory
He started at Ernst & Young, moved to Home Depot where he had a front row seat to one of the most operational CFOs in the country, then jumped into high-growth…
The Diary of a CFOFormer Starbucks IR SVP: How a Homeless Teenager Ended Up Managing $130 Billion Market Cap on Wall Street
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO: Live in Atlanta, I sit down in person with Tiffany Willis. Tiffany is a global investor relations executive who recently…
The Diary of a CFOThe Unlikely Journey of a $3 Billion CFO, William Washington III
He dropped out of high school. He was a single father. He started his career at a cottonseed company. Now he oversees $3 billion in annual revenue across 76…
The Diary of a CFOHow to Cut Your Board Reporting Process From Weeks to Days (with Fabian Ferrada)
Most finance teams spend two weeks building a board report that gets reviewed in ten minutes. The formatting alone could take days. And if one number changes…
The Diary of a CFOExcel vs FP&A Software: When to Make the Switch (with Paul Barnhurst)
Most finance teams stay on Excel longer than they should. The hard part is knowing when it is actually time to switch. In this episode, I sit down with Paul…
The Diary of a CFOMistakes founders make during fundraising (from a cfo who has done 50+ M&A and Exit deals)
Most founders make the same fundraising mistakes and do not realize it until the cash is gone. In this episode, I sit down with Julianne Averill, a healthcare…
The Diary of a CFOinsightsoftware President Jennifer Warawa on How AI is Changing the Office of the CFO
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Jennifer Warawa, President of insightsoftware and a seven-time honoree as one…
The Diary of a CFOFormer Caterpillar Group CFO on The Leadership Skills Finance Professionals Must Master to Reach the Top
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Dave DeFreitas, retired group CFO of Caterpillar Inc., to explore the…
The Diary of a CFOBuilding an AI-Ready Finance Team Without Losing the Human Side, with Tariq Munir
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Tariq Munir, digital transformation advisor and author of Reimagine Finance, to…
The Diary of a CFOThe First‑Time CFO Playbook: The First 90 Days, Imposter Syndrome and Leading the Business
Stepping into your first CFO role can feel overwhelming. In this episode, former divisional CFO and GrowCFO Mentor Kevin Appleby shares what really changes…
The Diary of a CFOWassia Kamon’s 15-Year Journey from Staff Accountant to CFO
In this solo episode, Wassia Kamon shares how she went from staff accountant to CFO in 15 years, including the moments that didn’t look like progress at all…
The Diary of a CFOBeyond the Numbers: Leadership Lessons from Three-Time Nonprofit CFO, Teri Kozub
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Teri Kozub, a three-time CFO with more than 33 years of experience in nonprofit…
The Diary of a CFOExecutive Presence Explained: Why Top Performers Still Get Overlooked, with Executive Coach, Jill Avey
Executive presence is often cited as the reason leaders don’t get promoted, but rarely explained. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Wassia Kamon sits down…
The Diary of a CFOReal Fraud Stories and Legal Protection for Your Fractional CFO Firm with Attorney Natalia Greene
Attorney and risk-management expert Natalia Greene reveals the real stories behind major fraud cases, including those featured on American Greed that she…
The Diary of a CFOWhat CEOs Want from Today’s CFO, with Executive Recruiter, Mark Johnson
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, executive recruiter Mark Johnson shares insider perspectives on what CEOs are really looking for in today's CFOs…
The Diary of a CFO80/20 Rule for FP&A Experts to Transform Decision-Making Through Analytics with Andrew Hull
Note: This episode is a pod swap from FP&A Unlocked. We’re sharing it here to help you discover another excellent show in the finance leadership space. All…
The Diary of a CFOAgentic AI for CFOs, with Vivienne Wei, COO of Salesforce Unified Agentforce Platform
Join Vivienne Wei, COO of Unified Agent Force Platform at Salesforce and a leading thinker in financial technology, as she shares her journey from Wall Street…
The Diary of a CFOBuilding a Finance Function That Drives Growth: Lessons from Liberty Bank’s CFO, Paul Young
What does it take to turn a traditional finance team into a true strategic business partner? In this episode, Paul Young, CFO of Liberty Bank, shares how he…
The Diary of a CFOWhy Every CFO Feels Stretched and What to Do About It, with Tom Hood
CFOs are expected to drive transformation, lead strategy, and still deliver flawless numbers every month. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down…
The Diary of a CFOGetting the most out of your tech stack, with Anna Sagan
Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar: https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-dri…
The Diary of a CFOLeading Through Market Cycles, with Real Estate and Construction CFO, Bona Allen
Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar: https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-dri…
The Diary of a CFONon-Traditional Pathways to the CFO Seat, with Axile Talout
Not every CFO starts as a controller or FP&A lead. Axel Talout shares how banking and private equity shaped his journey, why your “different” background can be…
The Diary of a CFOThe CFO Playbook for Handling Crises and Building FP&A Functions, with Mike High
Mike High (CFO, NAIT; ex-Shell Deep Water CFO) shares leadership lessons from the Army to corporate finance: why the “platinum rule” beats one-size-fits-all…
The Diary of a CFOMoving From Big 4 Auditor to Controller to CFO, with Andrea Hecht
Andrea Hecht, EVP & CFO at CSAA Insurance Group, walks through the real shifts at each step of her career — from auditor at Big 4 accounting firm, EY, to…
The Diary of a CFOAccounting vs FP&A: Which Path Gets You to CFO Faster?
Controller vs FP&A : which path gives you a better shot at the CFO seat? Wassia Kamon has done both. In this solo episode, she reveals why neither route…
The Diary of a CFOSheryl Shaw on Scaling Finance Teams and Embracing Technology
This week on The Diary of a CFO, host Wassia Kamon is joined by Sheryl Shaw, Senior Manager at Bridgepoint Consulting and a former CFO with three decades of…
The Diary of a CFOInside FP&A: Christian Wattig’s Guide to Smarter Forecasting and Strategic Impact
Christian Wattig is the program director of Wharton’s FP&A Certificate and the founder of InsideFP&A. In this episode, he shares his path from Procter & Gamble…
The Diary of a CFOThe Role of Treasury in M&A and Business Strategy, with , AVP of Treasury at Victoria’s Secret & Co, Summa Simmons
In this episode, Summa Simmons, Associate VP of Treasury at Victoria’s Secret & Co., shares what most people get wrong about treasury and why it's a strategic…
The Diary of a CFOWhy Culture Is Your Biggest Cybersecurity Risk, with Dutch Schwartz
Most companies think cybersecurity is about firewalls and IT policies. But the real risk often starts with culture. In this episode, Dutch Schwartz, VP of…
The Diary of a CFOHow the Best Finance Leaders Operate, Plan, and Forecast, with Christina Ross
Christina Ross, serial CFO turned CEO of Cube, explains why spreadsheets aren’t the problem and what finance leaders should focus on instead. She shares…
The Diary of a CFOThe Art of Becoming a Strategic CFO, with Dr. Tamer Alsayed
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Wassia Kamon speaks with Dr. Tamer Alsayed, CFO at the Future Investment Initiative and author of The Art of Becoming a…
The Diary of a CFOThe #1 Mistake Keeping Controllers from Becoming CFOs
Welcome to Season 2 of The Diary of a CFO. In this kickoff solo episode, Wassia Kamon shares behind-the-scenes highlights from Season 1, why some careers stall…
The Diary of a CFOWhat I Wish Finance Professionals Knew Sooner, with Syed Nadeem
In this episode, Syed Nadeem shares the lessons he wishes more finance professionals learned early on. He talks about why certifications alone won’t get you…
The Diary of a CFOSolving Revenue Recognition Nightmares for SaaS Companies, with Apurv Bansal
If you’ve ever lost sleep over complex contracts, usage-based pricing, or revenue schedules that live in hundreds spreadsheet tabs, this episode is for you…
The Diary of a CFOBeyond Compliance: Kendra LaFleur on Becoming a Trusted Advisor
Audit Director at FORVIS Mazars and board treasurer for Girls on the Run Georgia, Kendra LaFleur opens up about her journey from intern to partner, how she…
The Diary of a CFOFrom Combat Zones to Corporate Finance: Stephen McLain on Leading in High-Stakes Environments
Stephen McLain led 250 soldiers as an Army Commander. He built internal controls in Iraq to fight fraud and misuse of funds. And, he defended military budgets…
The Diary of a CFOWhy Treasury is More Than Managing Cash, with Matthew Harlan
Treasury often works behind the scenes, but Matthew Harlan shows why it should be a key player at the table. We cover what treasury leaders bring to IPO…
The Diary of a CFOLeading Finance with Curiosity and Cultural Intelligence, with Jenny Fuss
Jenny Fuss has led finance teams in Germany, China, and the United States. Each move meant learning a new way of working. In this episode, she shares how…
The Diary of a CFOFrom School Teacher to CFO, with Atlanta Food Bank CFO, Tamica Williams
Tamica Williams went from relying on food pantries as a kid to leading the largest food bank in Georgia as CFO. She shares how she made the jump from teaching…
The Diary of a CFOSecrets of Rockstar CFOs: Jack McCullough on Developing the Next Generation of CFOs
Jack McCullough has spent decades in the CFO seat, but his biggest impact may be what he’s done for the next generation of CFOs. He’s the founder of the CFO…
The Diary of a CFOMeet The CFO Who Went Viral on TikTok: Professor Bee Nance
What do you get when a CFO, CPA, and accounting professor starts teaching on TikTok? 42,000 followers and a new way to make accounting finally click. In this…
The Diary of a CFOIs the Climb to CFO Worth It?
In this solo episode, I answer 4 questions from my newsletter subscribers: Is the climb and reach to CFO worth it? Do you enjoy the work and people? Do you…
The Diary of a CFOThe Critical Role of Accounting in Business Success, with Edwine Alphonse
In this episode of the Diary of a CFO podcast, Edwine Alphonse shares her journey from a work-study student in Canada to a senior controller at Ramp…
The Diary of a CFOWhat Technology Can (and Can’t) Fix for Finance Teams, with Campfire CEO, John Glasgow
Finance leaders are under pressure to move faster, stay accurate, and be more strategic. But not every challenge can be solved with technology. In this…
The Diary of a CFOHow to Get on High-Impact Projects and Lead Major Change, with Sindy Wilson
Sindy Wilson didn’t plan to be in finance. She was headed for med school until dissecting a rat and a cat made her rethink everything. That switch led her to a…
The Diary of a CFOWhat I’ve Realized After Six Months as CFO
Six months as a CFO has taught me a lot about leadership, decision-making, and what it really takes to succeed in this role. In this solo episode, I share my…
The Diary of a CFONonprofit Finance Isn’t as Simple as You Think, with Stephen Newland
Most people assume nonprofits just need to balance donations with expenses. But in reality, nonprofit finance comes with its own set of complexities. In this…
The Diary of a CFOLeadership Lessons from a CFO-Turned-Coach, Jeremy Earnshaw
After 25 years as a CFO, Jeremy Earnshaw transitioned from managing numbers to mentoring leaders. He shares what he wishes he knew earlier, the common…
The Diary of a CFOAligning Strategy and Execution, with Beverly Davis
What if the problem isn’t the numbers, but everything around them? Beverly Davis has spent years helping businesses fix their financial blind spots. From…
The Diary of a CFOBalancing strategy, risk, and leadership decisions as a CFO (with Scott Meyers)
Scott Meyers, CFO of Plurilock, talks about what it takes to lead in a fast-changing environment. We discuss how he approaches strategic decisions, manages…