The CFO Show
The CFO Show is a monthly podcast hosted by Vena's CFO Melissa Howatson. It features interviews with forward-thinking finance and business leaders, discussing today's biggest issues in business and how finance teams are transforming their organizations. The show offers practical advice for ushering finance teams into the future, serving as a forecast for the future of finance.
Episodes
Global Growth, Integration and AI: Lessons from Grant Thornton’s CEO
Growth often looks impressive from the outside. New markets, new capabilities and new headlines. But as organizations scale, leaders quickly discover that growth is the visible part. Integration is the real work.In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson sits down with Jim Peko, CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, to discuss one of the most significant transformations in the firm’s 100-year
How CFOs Build Resilient Careers: Lessons from Banking, M&A and GoFundMe
The path to becoming a CFO is rarely linear. In today’s environment of constant change, finance leaders are expected to move between strategy, operations, and capital markets while developing the judgment needed to navigate uncertainty and drive growth.In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Greg Mrva, Chief Financial Officer of GoFundMe, about how varied career experiences s
Business Agility in Finance: How CFOs Can Thrive in Volatility and Uncertainty
Business agility has become a defining capability for organizations operating in today’s environment of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). But while many companies focus on operational flexibility or technology investments, fewer understand the critical role finance plays in enabling true agility across the business.In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks w
ERP Transformation Strategy: How CFOs Avoid Failure, Hidden Costs and Legacy Risk
One of the most consequential decisions a CFO will make is selecting and implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. Yet beyond vendor comparisons and licensing costs lie hidden risks—customization overruns, stalled implementations, legacy system constraints, and organizational change fatigue.In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Harpal Mattu, FCMA, Managin
Managing Costs, Complexity, and Change in Healthcare Finance
Healthcare finance leaders are operating under unprecedented pressure. Rising costs, staffing shortages, payer complexity, and constant uncertainty. Matthew Ennen, Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Ensemble Health Partners, shares how finance leaders can navigate volatility while staying anchored to their mission, their people and long-term resil
The Hallmarks of a Modern, Mature Finance Team
What separates good finance teams from great ones? In this special episode, host Melissa Howatson brings together insights from more than 20 finance leaders to answer one deceptively simple question: What is the hallmark of a mature finance team? Across industries and company sizes, their perspectives reveal a shared truth: modern finance teams don’t just report on th
Beyond the Close: How Financial Consolidation Creates Strategic Advantage
Financial consolidation has long been treated as a “back-office necessity,” but in today’s complex, data-dense businesses, it’s becoming a strategic engine. Craig Schiff, Founder and CEO of BPM Partners joins Melissa to unpack the evolution of consolidation, why it’s resurging in importance, and how AI is reshaping both FP&A and controllership. Craig shares what companies are getting
The FP&A Trifecta: How Finance, Data and Systems Drive Strategic Growth
Finance doesn’t need to chase a mythical “best-in-class” model; success comes from mastering the fundamentals. In this episode of The CFO Show, Charlie X.W. Liu, Founder and Chief Happiness Officer of MCC, joins Melissa Howatson to unpack the FP&A Trifecta: finance, data and systems and how getting these right transforms finance teams from spreadsheet operators into strategic pa
What 35 Years in Finance Taught Kelly’s CFO About Change
Career growth isn’t always a straight line, and sometimes the biggest leaps come from taking a step sideways. Troy Anderson, Chief Financial Officer at Kelly, shares the defining moments, pivotal decisions, and leadership lessons from his 35-year career spanning industries from telecom to education to talent solutions. He reflects on leading major turnarounds and public com
How AI Is Reinventing Enterprise Finance
AI promises efficiency, automation, and smarter decision-making, but for large enterprises, the journey is far more complex than simply adopting the latest tool. In this episode of The CFO Show, Rajat Bahri, CFO of Icertis, joins host Melissa Howatson to explore how enterprise finance teams can harness AI to drive transformation. With experience leading finance at global organizations, R
The Hidden Power of Procurement
Procurement is no longer just about cutting costs. It’s about creating value, building partnerships and helping finance teams make smarter, faster decisions. On this episode of The CFO Show, Aaqil Kassamali, Procurement Director at Vena Solutions, joins Melissa Howatson to discuss how procurement has evolved into a strategic function that drives innovation and alignment across the business.&n
Integrating Finance and IT: Insights From the CIO of Brookfield Residential
In this episode, Brookfield Residential CIO Brandon Sharp joins host Melissa Howatson to share his unique career journey and to reveal why tighter alignment between finance and IT drives true transformation. Brandon reflects on lessons learned while leading major initiatives in homebuilding and real estate, from navigating shadow IT to building cross-functional trust. He offers practica
From Series C to G: Carta’s CFO on Adapting to Change
How do you scale finance operations to keep pace with a business that’s doubling in size every few months? In this episode of The CFO Show, Carta CFO Charly Kevers shares how he has navigated constant change while helping the company grow from Series C to Series G and reach a $7.4B valuation. Charly opens up about the tactical lessons he has learned leading finance in a high-growth environmen
ERP Migration Without the Chaos: What Finance Leaders Need To Know
ERP migration can make or break your finance function. From outdated systems to cloud-based solutions, the stakes are high, and the risks are real. In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson, CFO of Vena, sits down with Scott Jorgens, Sr. Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Endeavour Solutions. With more than 25 years of experience across finance, consulting, and techno
Balancing Stability and Innovation: The CFO Playbook From Thumbtack
What does it take to lead a high-growth company through economic uncertainty, while still innovating for the future? Larry Roseman, Chief Financial Officer of Thumbtack, joins us to explore the modern finance leader's role in balancing resilience, agility, and long-term value creation. With a career spanning investment banking, accounting, and tech, Larry shares how he's redefined capital all
What Makes a Top-Tier Private Equity CFO?
Stepping into a PE-backed CFO role? You're not just signing up for financial reporting; you're stepping onto a burning platform. Scott Engler, CEO & Co-founder of Sync Executive Partners, sits down to discuss what separates “A-player” CFOs from the rest in the high-stakes world of private equity. Scott shares the mindset shifts, leadership capabilities, and stakeholder dynamics CFOs
Annual Planning: Beyond Numbers to Business Growth
Are you leveraging the full potential of strategic finance in your annual planning process? In this episode of The CFO Show, Igor Stelea, Director of Strategic Finance, Analytics & Business Transformation at CFGI, unpacks what makes annual planning effective and what causes it to break down. From aligning strategy with operational plans to integrating long-range forecasting an
Beyond Silos: Uniting FP&A and Controllership for Impact
What if the secret to financial agility lies in reimagining the relationship between FP&A and Controllership? Tom Seegmiller, CFO at Texada Software, returns to explore the transformative power of aligning FP&A and Controllership. Tom shares his journey from FP&A leader to full-spectrum CFO, and what he’s learned about the often-overlooked (but essential) collaboration betwee
How Finance Teams Are Learning to Lead with AI
Are you leveraging AI to its full potential in your finance department? In this episode, we dive into the practical application of AI in finance with Anton Medvedev, former Senior Product Manager at Vena and CPA/CFA. With his unique blend of finance and tech expertise, Anton offers a roadmap for effectively adopting AI in your financial operations. Anton shares insights on training AI mo
From Fear to Framework: Safe AI Implementation for Businesses
In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Steve Browning, VP of Data Privacy and Corporate Security at Vena, and Kaz Takemura, Managing Director of FP&A Technologies at Modelcom, to explore how finance teams can adopt AI safely and strategically. Steve and Kaz share practical, cross-functional strategies for embedding AI into business operations, from building the right teams to cre
Unlocking the Finance Maturity Model: From Reaction to Innovation
Is your finance team truly driving strategic value, or are you stuck in reactive mode? Host Melissa Howatson, welcomes Peter Emerling, Director in the Digital Transformation Practice at Citrin Cooperman, to explore the finance maturity model, the four stages of finance maturity and what it takes to move from reaction to transformation. With over 18 years of experience advising
Resilience by Design: Supply Chain Strategies for Volatile Times
The era of reactive supply chain management is over. Are you ready for predictive resilience? Nick McKeehan, Managing Director at Protiviti, shares CFO-focused insights on modern supply chain disruptions, from cybersecurity to geopolitical tensions. With 25 years in finance transformation, Nick guides the shift from reactive to predictive, tech-enabled decision-making. Learn how visionar
The State of Strategic Finance 2025: AI Adoption, Collaboration and Technology Gaps
What’s driving finance leaders’ strategic planning in 2025—and its future trajectory? In this data-packed episode, we welcome back Craig Schiff, CEO of BPM Partners to unpack the findings from Vena’s 2025 State of Strategic Finance Report. From AI adoption to strategic business partnering, Craig dives into key insights on how finance leaders are navigating change, deploying technology, and bu
Inside Commercial Real Estate: Trends, Tactics and Tenant Strategy
In today's unpredictable real estate market, CFOs are facing complex decisions that could significantly impact their bottom line. In this episode, Scot Ginsburg, Executive Managing Director at Hughes Marino and author of ‘It's Not All About the Rent’, breaks down the current commercial real estate landscape and what finance leaders need to know to make smart, strategic choices. Fr
Scaling Smart: Financial Strategies for High-Growth Startups
As the startup funding landscape evolves, is your financial strategy keeping pace? In this changing environment, a well-crafted financial strategy has become increasingly crucial for startups. Janelle Gorman, CFO of York IE, York IE, an advisory and investment firm that helps technology companies grow, shares valuable insights on crafting financial strategies that can make or break a sta
Transforming Tax: From Cost Center to Strategic Business Partner
Revolutionizing tax functions is no longer a distant dream—it's happening now. This episode delves into the groundbreaking transformation of tax departments from cost centers to strategic powerhouses. Dave Helmer, EY Global Tax and Finance Operate Leader, and Daren R. Campbell, EY Americas Tax Technology and Transformation Leader, share their expertise on how Generative AI or GenAI and other cutti
How AI is Reshaping Work
The AI revolution is here, and it’s transforming business as we know it. In this episode, Hugh Cumming, Chief Technology Officer of Vena, discusses the new industrial revolution powered by artificial intelligence. With over 20 years of experience as a product and technology leader, Hugh offers insights into how AI is reshaping the modern business landscape. &nb
Optimizing Debt for Business Growth
The art of corporate debt management has become a critical balancing act for CFOs, who must simultaneously fuel company expansion and preserve financial robustness. Debt is a critical tool that, when leveraged effectively, can drive operational efficiency and business expansion. By structuring debt strategically, organizations can optimize liquidity, mitigate financial risk, and
Leveraging Intellectual Property for Growth, Investment and Competitive Advantage
Intellectual property (IP) is revolutionizing how companies build value. For many businesses, the key to sustainable growth lies not in their balance sheet, but in the ideas they own. Erin-Michael Gill, founder of M&A firm Genaesis, LLC, and Chairman of a Federal Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property and Trade, shares his expertise in this episode. With over $1.2 billion in M&A
Forging a Powerful CFO-COO Partnership to Drive Organizational Success
The CFO-COO partnership is undeniably one of the most powerful alliances that can make or break a company's success. When working in perfect harmony, this duo creates a formidable force that drives strategic decisions, enhances operational efficiency, and propels growth. In this installment of our finance business partnering series, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Sandra Clarke, Former E
Crafting a Cost-Effective Employee Healthcare Strategy
Healthcare costs continue to be the most unpredictable expense for businesses, creating a challenging dilemma for CFOs. While healthcare benefits serve as a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining employees, the escalating costs are forcing many finance leaders to seek innovative ways to reduce expenses without compromising the quality of care or the attractiveness of their benefits packages.An
Building a Finance Function From the Ground Up
The journey from being a solo finance expert to architecting a robust finance function is complex. Knowing where to begin and how to proceed can shape the future of your department and company.In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Amy Ward, CFO of Blue River PetCare, to discuss the intricacies of building a finance function from the ground up. Amy shares her journey from Senior Accountan
The CFO’s Reading List
The best leaders are insatiable learners, constantly seeking knowledge to fuel their growth. They forge connections with peers, stay attuned to industry trends, and eagerly embrace fresh perspectives.In this special episode, host Melissa Howatson shares three of her top book recommendations, complemented by a curated selection of favorite reads from some past CFO Show guests.Discover what CFOs and
Finance and Legal: A Winning Team-Up With the Jacksonville Jaguars CLO Megha Parekh
Compliance and risk management thrive on a robust partnership between finance and legal departments. When CFOs and CLOs collaborate effectively, they cultivate a culture of trust and ethical business practices that enhance corporate governance and drive superior business outcomes.This episode explores the crucial alliance between finance and legal departments, focusing on the CFO and Chief Legal O
Navigating the ESG and Sustainability Landscape Part 2
As the global push for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and sustainability gains momentum, CFOs face the challenge of translating complex mandates into actionable strategies that simultaneously satisfy regulators, investors, and the company's bottom line.Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Partner and Head of Sustainability at MHA (an independent member of Baker-Tilly International) guides U
Navigating the ESG and Sustainability Landscape Part 1
As the global push for ESG and sustainability gains momentum, CFOs find themselves translating complex mandates into actionable strategies that satisfy regulators, investors, and the bottom line alike.Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Partner and Head of Sustainability at MHA (an independent member of Baker-Tilly International) guides UK and global business leaders through the process of integrating environmen
The CFO As Compass: Navigating Turbulent Times With EY’s Myles Corson
During times of uncertainty, CFOs must serve as the guiding compass for their organizations, helping business leaders move beyond reactive decisions toward sustainable, long-term strategies. Myles Corson, leader of EY’s Global and Americas Strategy and Markets, Financial Accounting Advisory Services and the host of The Better Finance Podcast, has engaged with numerous CFOs about the complexities o
The Accounting Talent Crunch
A severe talent shortage is threatening the foundation of the finance function: accounting. The accounting profession is facing a critical talent shortage, threatening the foundation of financial operations across accounting firms and businesses of all sizes. Mark Maurer, reporter for The Wall Street Journal’s CFO Journal team, joins host Melissa Howatson to explore this pressing issue. Drawing fr
Charting the Story: Navigating Change with Financial Data Storytelling
Financial data alone can’t drive a company’s success; it’s the CFO’s ability to turn that data into a compelling narrative that moves the needle. Whether engaging investors, rallying the board, or inspiring internal teams, the power lies in transforming raw data into stories that align with the company’s vision and steer it through both challenges and opportunities.In this episode, Stephen Bates,
Unlocking Excellence: Insights from Finance Leaders
Filmed at Vena’s Excelerate Finance 2024 Summit, this episode features insights from FP&A and accounting leaders about the demands and rewards of their work. Join us as we dive into the importance of cross-functional collaboration, the art of balancing strategic vision with daily tasks, and the leadership skills that make a difference. Discover how teamwork and a purpose-driven mindset are sha
The C-Suite Sweet Spot: CFO and CEO as Indispensable Partners
The CEO-CFO partnership is arguably the cornerstone of an organization’s success, shaping not only its financial health but its strategic trajectory. This relationship is a delicate balance of mutual respect, candid dialogue, and aligned vision. A thriving CEO-CFO dynamic goes beyond simple collaboration; it involves a continuous cycle of challenging each other’s perspectives, reinforcing financia
Building a Strong GDPR Compliance and Data Privacy Framework
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in effect since 2018, reshaping how businesses handle personal data across the globe. While many view GDPR as solely a legal or IT challenge, its impact ripples far beyond those departments—it touches every aspect of an organization. For CFOs, GDPR isn’t just about compliance; it’s about safeguarding the financial health of the company, m
How Finance Leaders Are Preparing for What’s Ahead
Filmed at Vena’s Excelerate Finance 2024 Summit,we had the opportunity to engage with a range of FP&A leaders, discussing the current state of business operations and their financial priorities as they strategize for 2025 and beyond.Learn what’s top of mind for CFOs, finance leaders and Microsoft, and how they plan to support business growth in the year ahead.Featured Guests in Order of A
CFO’s Balancing Act: Productivity and Efficiency
Today's CFOs must excel at both driving organizational productivity while ensuring operational efficiency.Brian Krause is the CFO at Community First Solutions, brings more than 20 years of experience building and leading financial teams, having served as a VP of Finance, Controller, and three-time CFO. He joins host Melissa Howatson to break down the difference between producti
Strategies for Impactful Financial Data Storytelling
The ability to transform raw complex financial data into a compelling narrative has become a critical skill. Mastering the art of finance data storytelling enables finance professionals to distill complex information into strategic insights, driving pivotal boardroom decisions and shaping business strategy.Akash Kapoor is the CFO at ColdBlock Technologies and has been advising finance leaders on o
Investing in Customer Success: The CFO-CCO Business Partnership
In today's customer-centric business landscape, a leadership team that truly understands its customers is crucial. Everyone in the C-Suite should be learning from one another and challenging one another to be more customer-focused.April Oman, the Chief Customer Officer at Resilinc, brings a unique perspective to the leadership team. While her primary role is championing customer success, she's gai
Agile Finance: Strategies for Streamlined Annual Budgeting and Planning
Agile isn't just a buzzword—it's the key to unlocking your finance team's full potential in a changing market.While annual budgeting and planning can be daunting, adopting Agile methodologies can transform this process into a dynamic, collaborative effort that propels your business forward, replacing rigid forecasts with flexible, data-driven strategies that adapt to market shifts in real-time.Dom
AI-Powered Finance: Developing Your Implementation Roadmap
The Office of Finance is on the cusp of a transformative evolution, driven primarily by advancements in AI.While finance professionals often find themselves bogged down with manual tasks, leaving little room for strategic thinking and data analysis, AI provides critical data and time efficiencies enabling the Office of Finance to focus on business strategy.Rishi Grover, Co-Founder and Chief Soluti
Mastering Finance Through Continuous Learning
Continuous learning is not just a nice thing to have; it’s a critical necessity in Finance. As regulations, finance tools, and technologies evolve, finance professionals must stay up to date to move at the pace of business. Bryan Lapidus helps financial professionals match that change. Bryan is Director of the FP&A Practice at the Association for Financial Professionals, where he leverage
Data Skills for the Modern Office of Finance
Finance teams that want to be more data-driven need both technology that can consolidate mountains of data, and skilled professionals who can interpret what it all means.Thomas Ho serves as the Vice President at ProLytics Consulting Group, guiding clients through the digital transformation in finance. Thomas discusses how data gathering methods are revolutionizing finance roles, necessitating new
Navigating the AI-Driven Future of Business with Microsoft
AI is poised to revolutionize the way we work. Businesses across the globe are investing resources into the development needed to make AI an everyday reality. Leading the charge, Microsoft is pioneering the incorporation of AI into business and daily workflows.Melissa Howatson sits down with Ahmed Adel, the Director of Data, Apps & AI Cloud Solution Architecture at Microsoft to discuss Microso
Soft Skills for the Modern Office of Finance
New technologies are changing finance roles, freeing up time for more analysis, strategy, and storytelling. As these roles evolve, so too do the soft skills financial professionals need to do their jobs well. Meg Bear, Controller at Turner Enterprises, has more than 20 years of experience leading finance teams and redesigning business processes. Meg sits down with host Melissa Howatson to dis
Breaking Point: Fighting Burnout in Finance
Employee burnout is on the rise, fueled by shrinking budgets and mounting pressure for employees to achieve more with less. But how can CFOs and finance leaders gauge the breaking point for their teams?Ruchi Kasliwal has been building and guiding finance and accounting teams for over 15 years. With a deep passion for optimizing human and system resources, Ruchi joins Melissa to share vital strateg
The Hidden Power of CFO-CRO Collaboration
If a CRO is expected to understand the balance sheet, shouldn’t the CFO be just as familiar with the sales playbook? A strong partnership between these roles is critical to a company’s financial health, and each must be able to support the other. In this installment of our better business partnering series, Puneet Arora, President at Yellow.ai, joins Melissa Howatson&
Navigating the Digital Financial Transformation Journey | Stacy Brown
FP&A professionals spend so much of their time gathering data, and only a small portion analyzing it. Integrating digital transformation in finance has the potential to shift this dynamic by automating data collection and allowing more time for in-depth analysis and interpretation.Stacy Brown is VP at CBIZ (Formerly Marcum Technology) and has more than 15 years of experience advising
Staying Sharp as a CFO: Insider Tips from Melissa Howatson
CFOs are experts in growing a business, navigating volatile economic environments, and acting as leaders inside and outside the organization. But as they focus on these big-picture problems, they naturally become removed from many day-to-day operations. It can be a challenge to stay sharp on basic skills and be informed about new trends and technologies. Thomas Krol
Key Attributes of an A-Player Growth CFO
What makes an exceptional, growth-driving CFO? Vinny Prajka may understand this better than anyone. In his role at JMI Equity, he has worked with dozens of CFOs, helping portfolio companies accelerate growth and overcome operational challenges. He also serves on multiple boards and previously held CFO positions at SonaCare Medical and Blackbaud Inc. I
Hidden Threats: The Role of the CFO in Privacy and Security
CFOs wield significant influence in safeguarding a company’s financial data, but entrusting cybersecurity solely to their CIOs may jeopardize privacy and open the door to data breaches.As a Partner at Plante Moran, Joe Oleksak advises businesses on cybersecurity, IT audit, and technology compliance. He has more than twenty years of information systems security and information technology audit expe
The Future of Finance Leadership
Market volatility in the last few years has shifted the business landscape. We’ve gone from a “growth at all costs” mindset, to one that is hyper-focused on efficiency.This shift has had a huge impact on the Office of Finance. In this episode, recorded as a keynote onstage at Excelerate Finance 2024, host Melissa Howatson and Vena’s Director of FP&A, Thomas Krolak, discuss the ways the CFO’s r
The Evolution of Outsourced Finance and Accounting
A job description that is 40% controller, 20% bookkeeper and 20% Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is going to be near impossible to fill. But for many businesses, this is exactly the sort of hybrid role they need.Outsourced accounting, through fractional models, has emerged as an option for businesses seeking flexibility, cost-efficiency, and specialized expertise in their financial op
Better Together: Aligning FP&A and Accounting
Accountants work with certainties, recording and reporting on past financial transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance. FP&A professionals, however, are concerned with what-ifs, looking toward the future in the forms of forecasting and strategic planning. It’s no wonder these two sides of the finance team can sometimes feel their goals are incongruent. Davi
AI Revolution: Unlocking FP&A Potential
The transformative potential of AI for finance teams is extraordinary. CFOs need to educate themselves on how, where and when to adopt new technologies, and what they can be doing ahead of adoption to prepare their organizations. Howard Dresner is a technologist, researcher, and one of the foremost thought leaders in business intelligence. In this episode, Howard discusses the research his fi
Empowering Small Business Leaders: Tips From a Fractional CFO
Small businesses rarely have the budget to hire a full finance team, but they still need the same diverse range of support across payroll, accounting and financial planning as a large corporation. Some companies decide to outsource these functions to a dedicated finance and accounting partner as a more cost-effective and efficient way to handle their finance function needs and exped
New CFO Checklist: The First 90 Days
A CFO is expected not only to lead financial reporting and the Office of Finance but also to provide strategic insights and strategies that propel the business forward. As a new CFO, you might feel eager to start doing the latter as soon as possible. But you don’t need to build your long-term strategy in the first few months on the job. When starting a new role
Power Plays: Finance Insights from Florida Panther’s NHL CFO James Suh
If you like sports, you might say James Suh has one of the coolest jobs in the world. After 11 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, James became CFO of the NHLs Florida Panthers. What a first year he had, as the Panthers went from barely making the playoffs to the Stanley Cup finals! In this episode, James gives us an inside look at what goes into finance operati
Ready, Set, IPO: Preparing for Your Public Offering
Amid uncertain market conditions, many companies are adopting a cautious "wait and see" stance regarding their initial public offering (IPO) plans. However, instead of delaying, proactive planning for an eventual IPO launch is essential. By preparing in advance, companies can capitalize on market opportunities, mitigate risks, and position themselves strategically for a successful public offering
Strategies for Scaling Finance Operations
As your business grows, you may feel a lot of pressure to meet increasing operational demands. However, investing in new resources brings the company additional risk, especially in times of economic uncertainty. How do you strike the right balance between prioritization, creating operational efficiencies and hiring?Andy Young, CFO at Horwich Farrelly, has led finance teams through multiple acquisi
Staying Compliant While Keeping Finance Operations Lean
Startups in highly regulated industries must strike a tough balance — keeping operations both lean and compliant.Sruthi Lanka, CFO at Public.com, leans on her engineering background, as well as out-of-the-box thinking from her team, to meet both criteria. Sruthi explains why she made process efficiency a top priority for her team, and how a combination of high and low-tech solutions has created ef
ROI Roadmap: Business Partnering Strategies for Finance and Marketing
Achieving optimal growth calls for collaboration between marketing and finance.Ruth Zive, CMO at LivePerson, joins Melissa Howatson to dive into data-driven decisions and the critical need for business partnering between the CMO and CFO. She shares insights on driving scalable growth, pipeline coverage and brand awareness in B2B SaaS marketing, as well as nuanced marketing metrics and the impact o
Quantifying Impact: Navigating Business Performance Metrics
When it comes to metrics, less is more. Host Melissa Howatson, is joined by Craig Schiff, Founder and CEO of BPM Partners. A pioneer in Business Performance Management, Craig helped create and define the field as it evolved from generic business intelligence and analytic applications into BPM.In this episode, we unpack the crucial components, dashboards, scorecards, KPIs, and metrics that drive bu
Essential Business Partnering Skills for Finance Professionals
Finance business partnering is crucial for aligning financial strategies with overall business objectives, but what are the essential skills that finance professionals need to make truly successful business partners?Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller discuss moving beyond finance and technical expertise to develop key skills such as empathy, communication, negotiation, leading with influenc
Apply The Lost Art of ROI to Your Finance and Business Strategy
How can you showcase value and ROI effectively when talking about your business with customers and with stakeholders across the business? In this episode, host Melissa Howatson sits down with Ian Campbell, CEO of Nucleus Research, to explore the complexities of financial collaboration and its role in driving business success. Ian, a Wall Street Journal best-selling au
From Data to Decisions: Tracy Edkins on HR-Finance Partnering
A strong partnership between finance and HR is crucial to the health of any organization, and yet, studies show that fewer than half of HR leaders believe their rapport with finance is productive. What hampers this relationship? And what can the CFO do to improve the quality of their rapport with HR? Tracy Edkins, CHRO, Board Member and Advisor, joins Melissa Howaston to detail what strategic alig
Raising Capital in Tough Markets With Peter Arrowsmith of JMI Equity
Securing funding and raising capital in today’s market can be difficult, but it's not impossible. In this episode, our host Melissa Howatson speaks with Peter Arrowsmith, Managing General Partner at JMI Equity, about businesses seeking capital in the current economic climate. Peter shares insights on what is most important when valuations are experiencing a downturn from previous years, and compan
Strategic Finance and Investments: More Than Just Trade Offs
Finance holds a unique and pivotal vantage within a company or organization and is much more than checks and balances. Finance is at the heart of optimizing the financial and operational performance of the organization on the whole and helps to guide leadership in making impactful strategic investments and aligning financial strategies with business vision and goals.In this episode, hosts Melissa
Decoding Market Trends for 2024 with Benjamin Tal of CIBC Capital Markets
We made it to 2024, not unscathed, but with a new year and fresh outlook on the economy. Yet what created the uncertainties in the markets these past several years is still driving uncertainty. To run our business and our lives, most of us want to know: when will interest rates start to drop? Will employment rates stay strong? And a big question, with big impact: are wage increases on the horizon?
CFO Superpowers: Building High-Impact Teams for Strategic Innovation
How can CFOs escape the daily grind to focus on strategic initiatives that are increasingly being asked of them? Our day-to-day financial responsibilities are constantly competing with the pressing need for organizational innovation from financial leadership.In this episode, Nicolas Herman, CFO, Microsoft Americas Enterprise, sits down with Melissa to discuss strategies for building and guiding te
The Tech-Finance Tango: Working as One for Success
How can organizations keep up with constant change in the digital landscape? Your CTO is a big asset in staying agile in an ever-changing business landscape. No longer are they primarily focused on technological needs, but key in working together with the CFO to drive strategic initiatives.Hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down with Joel Dolisy, Chief Technology Officer at WellSky, to
The Finance Velocity Paradox: How to Slow Down to Speed Up
Have you ever been frustrated with your work, putting in so much effort, hitting every deadline, to then feel stuck in a never-ending cycle? Never have the time or energy to make the systematic changes needed for more efficient processes?There are many reasons why we feel stuck, but there are also solutions to break the cycle. Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller sit down to acknowledge the frustra
Gen Z’s Influence on Work in the Digital Age
When you hear “Gen-Z,” what are the first words or characteristics that come to mind? Perhaps it’s a motley mix of terms like TikTok, climate change, transparency, honesty, and social responsibility. Now, apply all of those qualities to a modern workforce. Generation Z is defined as anyone born between 1997 and 2012, putting the eldest of the group in their mid-twenties. They are the only generati
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