Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO John Wilson reveals how AI-driven demand has ignited explosive growth across the data center industry. He underscores the critical need to secure capital from both equity and debt markets, adapt growth plans, and maintain operational excellence. Wilson emphasizes proactive pre-leasing and strategic negotiations to maximize returns while balancing term, rate, […]
Building Networks & Nurturing Talent: Key CFO Insights from Amy Butte
Inside The Mentoring Round, Navan CFO Amy Butte recalls the unexpected responsibilities she faced at the New York Stock Exchange, underscoring how the CFO role extends beyond accounting. She reveals the importance of connecting with people—whether on a trading floor or in a finance function—and highlights the power of vulnerability in leadership. Butte also stresses […]
UiPath CFO Ashim Gupta on Strategic AI Investments & Agentic Automation
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Ashim Gupta of UiPath reveals how he balances R&D investments with strict operational discipline. Reflecting on UiPath’s rapid rise from its Romanian origins to global acclaim, Ashim explains that while R&D drives innovation, operational costs must be tightly managed. He also unveils UiPath’s strategic pivot to agentic automation—integrating AI, robotics, […]
Ep 5: Crisis, Clarity, and Command: CFOs in Action
This episode of CFO Journal 1 2 3! we bring you real-life insights from three remarkable CFOs who confronted crisis head-on. 🔹Sarah Spoja (Tipalti) recalls the intense moments when SVB’s collapse demanded rapid, decisive action, emphasizing the strength of strategic partnerships and proactive fund management.🔹Damon Fletcher (CEO, Caliper) shares his journey through a dramatic market […]
Optimizing Cloud Spend: The Future of Consumption-Based Pricing
In this episode of The Mentoring Round, former Tableau CFO and Caliper CEO Damon Fletcher shares insights on the challenges of customer acquisition as a startup and the growing trend of consumption-based pricing in software. He discusses how Snowflake’s billing model can lead to escalating costs and how Caliper’s analytics-driven approach helps businesses identify inefficiencies, […]
Untouchable ARR: How One CFO Transformed Finance Leadership
Inside the The Mentoring Round, CFO Lior Maza of Priority Software shares how he expanded a lean finance function alongside the company’s employee count (from 150 to 560). He explains the game-changing role of SaaS metrics—ARR, NRR, and churn—while emphasizing that ARR is “untouchable” in pricing negotiations. Maza also describes how NPS (Net Promoter Score) became […]
The Art of Smart Acquisitions: Bill Korn on M&A Strategy
In the The Mentoring Round, Bill Korn, Strategic Board Advisor and CFO-Emeritus, shares his expertise on M&A strategy. With 24 acquisitions under his belt, Korn emphasizes that the key to long-term value isn’t just execution—it’s having the right strategic fit. He recounts bold moves, including acquiring companies larger than his own, and reveals how calculated […]
Ep 4: Bold Moves, Big Impact: Lessons in Leadership
What does it take to lead and grow a company in today’s fast-changing world? In this episode, three top finance leaders share the defining moments that shaped their careers and the bold decisions that drove business success. This Episode:🔹 Michael Sumruld reveals why stepping outside your comfort zone is key to leadership, sharing his experiences […]
How Finance Drives Culture & Growth | Matt Collis, CFO, PairSoft
Inside The Mentoring Round, PairSoft CFO Matt Collis shares his leadership philosophy on transparency, communication, and cultural alignment. He believes employees want to add value but need clarity on expectations to stay engaged. Collis relies on finance as a cross-functional connector, ensuring teams understand why financial decisions are made. His approach—delivering “sermonettes” to provide context—ensures […]
The ‘Lego’ Approach to Data: Flywire CFO Discusses AI Strategy
Inside The Mentoring Round, Flywire CFO Cosmin Pitigoi emphasizes the critical importance of well-structured data in leveraging AI effectively. He compares unstructured data to a “big bucket of Lego,” highlighting that without proper organization and clear definitions—such as what constitutes a customer—AI models may fail to provide meaningful insights. Pitigoi advocates for robust data governance and […]
Ep 3: Building Networks, Managing Cash, Embracing Diversity
In our conversation with Karen Williams, CFO of American Express Global Business Travel lobal Business Travel, we learn how she navigated the leap from a family-owned businesse to a major corporation. She shares the critical lessons she gained about building relationships and networks, especially as an introvert, and how perseverance fuels career acceleration overall. Next, […]
From Generalist to Finance Leader: Lessons from an Accidental CFO
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Stacy Tumarkin shares how she was unexpectedly tapped—twice—to step into a CFO role. She explains that despite initial reservations, taking on “Strategic Finance” responsibilities at Kubecost allowed her to guide the company’s scaling efforts and shape its next phase of growth. Tumarkin highlights the value of a broad operational background, […]