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AI integration

1079: Staying Ahead of Growth: How Finance Powers Proactive Scaling | Brandon Sullivan, CFO, 2X

The moment 2X secured private equity backing in March 2023, CFO Brandon Sullivan knew expectations would shift overnight. “There’s gonna be a press release,” he remembers thinking. “Our new PE partners will open up a treasure chest of relationships for us—we need to be ready.” In anticipation, Sullivan and his team ramped up hiring, ensuring…
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 From Black Box to Control Tower

A former customer turned advocate, Stuart Leung joined Flexport when it was still a fast-growing startup lacking formal finance structures. In just a few months as CFO, he oversaw a thorough margin-improvement effort involving 15 “big rock” initiatives, uniting cross-functional teams to boost efficiency and profitability. He now focuses on AI-based automation, using new technology […]

1078: From Black Box to Control Tower | Stuart Leung, CFO, Flexport

Stuart Leung had occupied the CFO office at Flexport for only a few months when he realized the supply chain management company’s growing margin pressures stemmed not from a single root cause but from many. From pricing misalignment to invoice errors, Leung had compiled a lengthy list of snags. Along the way, he began empowering…
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1077: Unleashing Innovation: Strategic Insights into AI Integration | Omar Choucair, CFO, Trintech

Trintech CFO Omar Choucair is increasingly turning to AI as a strategic advantage—building teams, refining data “plumbing,” and automating time-consuming processes. His strategic mindset, honed by years of thriving in unpredictable environments, drives him to embrace AI as a catalyst for operational efficiency and transformative growth. Choucair tells us that his approach centers on leveraging…
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1075: Mastering Recurring Revenue: The Next Chapter Unfolds | Kevin Rhodes, CFO, Extreme Networks

Kevin Rhodes recalls one of the earliest lessons in his finance career. “I wanted to understand the business,” he tells us, describing his decision to ride along with a Waste Management truck crew. Clipboard in hand, he meticulously recorded stop distances, tonnage collected, and time spent at each location. By the end of the week,…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:42:33)
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1074: Balancing AI Innovation with Post-IPO Expectations | Bill Koefoed, CFO, OneStream

It began with a tense stretch of weeks that Bill Koefoed tells us he won’t soon forget. As OneStream’s CFO, he was juggling the details of going public when a small AI startup called DataSense caught his attention. “We didn’t even have a formal corporate development function,” Koefoed explains, but he threw himself into researching…
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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 […]

1072: Numbers, Narratives, and Navigating Change | Amy Butte, CFO, Navan

It was a phone call Amy Butte tells us she will never forget. Lifting the receiver, she heard the familiar voice of her father—an accountant who had always championed her career. But this time, his words were tinged with a curious mixture of praise and amazement. He simply couldn’t fathom how his daughter, who had…
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1071: Empowering Finance: Lessons from the Automation Edge | Ashim Gupta, CFO, UiPath

Ashim Gupta, who has evolved from a pre-IPO CFO to now serving as both CFO and COO, is busy redefining the role of finance in driving growth and innovation. Initially focused on strict financial discipline, Gupta’s responsibilities have expanded to integrate long-term growth initiatives with day-to-day operational execution. In our discussion, Gupta explains that funding…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:40:33)
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1069: Driving Value Through Agile Finance Leadership | Lior Maza, CFO, Priority Software

Early in his career, Lior Maza chose to immerse himself in smaller, venture-backed startups rather than large enterprises—a move that exposed him to a range of responsibilities, from fundraising and recruiting to crisis management. “When you’re in a small team,” Maza tells us, “you end up doing everything, and that’s where the agility mindset really…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:57:07)
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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 […]