Ask any CFO about their career-building years, and they will likely attribute their success to their adaptability and ability to render strategic insight. This tendency was recently amplified for us when we heard about the experience of Naresh Bansal, a seasoned finance executive who during a pivotal chapter early in his early career discovered that his company was about to be acquired by a larger one, Sage.
Read MoreHis company at the time—initially an independent entity focused on aggressive growth and innovation—offered a vibrant but challenging environment that tested the mettle of its leadership. As a finance executive, Bansal was responsible for providing some of the routine financial insight required to steer the firm through rapid growth phases and was instrumental in preparing it for its public offering—a task that involved rigorous financial restructuring and compliance readiness. However, when they were acquired, the trajectory changed—and began to present a new set of challenges.
Post-acquisition, about 80% of the leadership team departed within the first 6 months, which of course is a common scenario in acquisitions that can often lead to significant cultural and operational shifts. Bansal, however, not only stayed on but thrived. He navigated through these turbulent waters by leveraging his deep understanding of the company’s financial backbone and by building strong relationships with the new management. His strategic insight was crucial in bridging the gap between the old and new cultures, ensuring continuity and stability.
The tenets of his approach were twofold: Maintain rigorous financial discipline to ensure the financial health of the company and work diligently to gain the trust of the new leadership. By aligning the company’s strategic objectives with those of the new parent company and demonstrating the intrinsic value of the strategic vision, he not only secured his position but also played a critical role in the integration process.
This chapter of his career highlights a key lesson for finance professionals: Success often depends on the ability to manage not just numbers but also change. In the face of new corporate landscapes, it is the strategic, adaptable CFO who can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and learning.
Made Possible By
CFOTL: Tell us about Menlo Security … what does this company do, and what are its offerings today?
Bansal: At Menlo Security, our goal is to secure enterprise browsers in order to stop all of the phishing, malware, and other highly evasive adaptive threats that are out there. The Menlo Security enterprise browser helps you in three different ways: It helps you to manage the browser; it helps you to protect your users; and it helps you to get secure access to your application and thus your enterprise data—providing you zero-cost access from any browser anywhere.
Read MoreMenlo’s unique story is that we’re agnostic about which browser you want to use. Whether you want to use Chrome or Edge or something else, we can help you to secure any of these browsers. We’re not coming to the market and saying, “We have this secure Menlo browser that you have to use, and you’ll have to ditch any other existing browsers.” Instead, we’re saying not only that we’re going to enable you to be successful within your existing framework but also that at the same time we will still provide you with all sorts of extra security capabilities.
When you think about it today, we’re all spending 75% of our workday time on browsers—that is, when we’re not on Zoom calls, which themselves require a browser 100% of their usage time. And you know what? The browser is the least protected attack surface in most organizations today. This is why they have become the primary point of entry for cyber criminals to launch their attacks. In just the past 6 months alone, there has been a 200% increase in browser-based phishing attacks.
So, this is where Menlo comes in. We help you to block all of these attacks and provide you with a secure browsing experience regardless of which browser your company or your employees want to use. In terms of download activity today, we protect over 8 million active daily users and handle more than 400 billion Web sessions each year globally. We have locked down clients like some of the largest financial services firms, institutions, and government organizations. For example, even the Department of Defense—which includes the Army, the Navy, and all of the bigger national security operations—relies on Menlo to secure its users there. All of these users rely on Menlo for their browser security and more. jb
“From the beginning, it is imperative to prioritize the following three fundamental pillars: people, systems, and processes. Simultaneously, it is essential to develop a strategic mindset and establish robust relationships with other stakeholders both within and outside the organization. Given that the financial landscape is constantly evolving, it is crucial to remain updated on industry trends, regulations, and emerging technologies in order to be able to make informed decisions. Furthermore, it is advisable to seek guidance from folks who have faced similar challenges in the past. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate both minor and significant achievements. –Naresh Bansal, CFO, Menlo Security
Menlo Security | www.menlosecurity.com | Mountain View, CA