In this episode of Planning Aces, we spotlight FP&A insights from three CFOs leading innovation with discipline: Chris Sands (InvoiceCloud), Steve Sutter (Celigo), and Niels Boon (Cint). Each shares how finance is shaping AI, go-to-market models, and data-driven transformation without losing rigor. From building an “AI Ops” function and embedding finance in sales strategy, to piloting AI tools in small, staged experiments, these leaders treat innovation as a managed process. Our resident thought leader joins to connect the dots, emphasizing structure, clear metrics, and portfolio thinking as the new essentials of FP&A.
We’re excited to welcome author and former CFO Glenn Hopper into the co-host seat. Glenn joins us as a resident thought leader, bringing a deep well of experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and AI. We’re thrilled to have his voice and perspective guiding this next chapter of Planning Aces.
This episodes Planning Aces:
CFO Chris Sands leans into organizational design, reallocating talent into a formal AI Ops team and emphasizing change champions.
CFO Steve Sutter focuses on commercial mechanics, tying FP&A to sales economics, talent mix, and scale-up guardrails.
CFO Niels Boon emphasizes risk-staged innovation, using small pilots for operational wins while ring-fencing bold synthetic-data bets as long-horizon R&D.
ABOUT GLENN HOPPER (our cohost)
Glenn Hopper has spent the past 20 years at the crossroads of finance and technology—first as a CFO, now as an author, educator, and AI strategist. He wrote Deep Finance and AI Mastery for Finance Professionals to help finance leaders understand and apply AI inside their organizations. Glenn teaches at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, leads AI efforts at VAi Consulting, and hosts both the FP&A Today and Future Finance podcasts. He is the host of the FP&A Today and Future Finance podcasts.
Glenn holds a master’s degree in finance with a graduate certificate in business analytics from Harvard University, and an MBA from Regis University.