A Finance Strategic Moment Kent Hoskins helped redirect Boosey & Hawkes’ focus from low-margin sheet music—50% of revenue but just 15% of EBITDA—to high-value IP. By outsourcing distribution and reallocating resources, the company increased profit margins and revenue, reinforcing Hoskins’ lasting belief: strategy must prioritize profitability, not just top-line growth. Now Watch our Complete Episode […]
Ep 43: The ROI Equation for AI Starts Here
In this episode of Planning Aces, three forward-looking finance leaders share how they’re transforming planning and forecasting inside their organizations. CFO Kevin Rhodes of Extreme Networks discusses the dual lens through which he evaluates AI—external monetization and internal productivity. Brandon Sullivan, CFO of 2X, reveals how a post-PE investment reality check led him to pioneer…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:45:31)
Aligning Finance with Go-To-Market Strategy | Brian Robins, CFO, GitLab
During a turbulent market downturn, CFO Brian Robins led a critical divestiture of non-core assets. Now watch the complete episode In this discussion, CFO Brian Robins outlines GitLab’s strategic approach to leveraging AI across both product development and finance operations. He describes three key AI initiatives: duo Pro offers real-time code suggestions; duo Enterprise integrates […]
1073: AI, Agility & Ambition: The Making of a Data Center Powerhouse | John Wilson, CFO, Sabey Data Centers
It was a puzzle that John Wilson simply couldn’t resist. Intel had long sold processors to the federal government on a commercial basis, but the rising importance of High Performance Computing (HPC) demanded a new approach. Undeterred by the maze of federal acquisition regulations, Wilson volunteered to stand up a dedicated government unit, a move…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:55:21)
1066: How Language Barriers and Data Shortfalls Propelled a Life in Numbers | Cosmin Pitigoi, CFO, Flywire
Arriving at a high school in Cape Town, South Africa, without speaking English, Cosmin Pitigoi faced an immediate communication challenge. Yet he refused to be deterred, immersing himself in language studies and expanding his vocabulary so he could thrive in the classroom. Years later, that same resolve reemerged in eBay’s IR function, where Pitigoi realized…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:59:37)
Hydrogen Electrolyzers Explained: CFO Derek Warnick on Industrial Decarbonization
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Derek Warnick of Electric Hydrogen explores how the company is revolutionizing industrial-scale decarbonization by producing powerful and efficient hydrogen electrolyzers. These massive machines use renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, providing a cost-effective substitute for natural gas in heavy industry. CFO Warnick emphasizes the critical role of […]
1051: Building a Greener Future: A CFO’s Journey in Climate Tech | Derek Warnick, CFO, Electric Hydrogen
From day one of his professional life, Derek Warnick knew his career would be driven by a purpose greater than mere career advancement. As an undergraduate studying finance and international business, he contemplated how his professional life could make a meaningful impact. Upon graduation, he joined the World Bank's International Finance Corporation, focusing on empowering…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:51:31)
1,040: Partners in Leadership: How the CFO, CEO, and CIO Shape a Successful Future | Mark Partin, CFO, BlackLine
Twenty-seven years ago, while in his late twenties, Mark Partin arrived inside the C-suite largely unprepared for the flood of challenges that would quickly breach his desk. Or so Partin tells us as he recounts the circumstances surrounding the first of five CFO appointments that have thus far punctuated his finance leadership career. “I can…
Listen to the Episode Below (1:03:48)
1,039: Driving Alignment Across Finance, Technology, and HR for Operational Success | Laura LaPeer, CFO, Plante Moran
It wasn’t long after Laura LaPeer left public accounting to climb the corporate career ladder that she encountered her first delicate challenge as a controller. Just a year into her new role, her employer was acquired, and LaPeer was unexpectedly asked to explain complex working capital issues to the new owners. The head of finance…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:50:20)