At PlaceIQ, an unexpected acquisition inbound forced Matt Novick to deeply assess unit economics and true revenue and cost synergies. The experience reshaped his strategy: always be transaction-ready by understanding the business end-to-end, so finance can quickly evaluate opportunities, avoid misfits, and operate with strategic precision. Now Watch the Complete Episode Featuring CFO Matt Novick […]
1150: Making AI Practical in Finance, Not Theoretical | Matt Novick, CFO, Triplelift
Matthew Novick traces one of his earliest business lessons not to a boardroom, but to a furniture store in Portland, Maine. Growing up in his family’s business, he learned how to read credit reports, price products, and assess who was “credit worthy,” skills that showed him how decisions affect a business long before he ever…
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Pilot, Learn, Scale What Works | Troy Anderson, CFO, Kelly Services
Troy Anderson stepped into a troubled $2B Xerox unit and uncovered mispriced contracts, communication gaps, and failing operations. After renegotiating key agreements and restoring transparency, he recommended shutting down an unsalvageable business. His decisive analysis saved years of wasted investment, restored credibility, and allowed the company to plan with clarity and confidence. Now Watch the […]
1143: Building a Transformation-Ready Finance Function | Troy Anderson, CFO, Kelly Services
When Troy Anderson accepted the CFO seat at Kelly Services in 2024, he stepped into an organization that, as he tells us, “had done a number of acquisitions … and really invested in the business.” The legacy staffing firm had spent nearly $1 billion to expand its reach but had yet to fully integrate those…
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When Finance Teaches Innovation How to Scale | Michael Levine, CFO, Fireblocks
Upon joining Fireblocks, Michael Levine discovered engineers building “$400,000 cars” without ROI discipline. He introduced a financial lens to product development—teaching teams to balance innovation with economic viability. By reframing decisions around capital allocation and scalability, he aligned engineering excellence with business outcomes, turning finance into a shared growth language. Now Watch the Complete Episode […]
1138: Stablecoins, Real Utility, and the Next Curve | Michael Levine, CFO, Fireblocks
On a quiet afternoon in Punta Cana, Michael Levine sat alone on a stretch of white sand. The turquoise water and silence offered the perfect scene for rest—until he realized what was missing. “I didn’t have my phone and I didn’t have my laptop,” he tells us. “That’s what makes me happy… I love doing…
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Focus Where Advantage is Durable | Ben Gammell, President & CFO, Brex
Six months into his CFO role, he led Brex’s rapid response to the 2023 SVB collapse—designing a payroll-bridge product, securing $1B in lending commitments, and rallying 1,000 employees. Customers ultimately regained access to funds, but the moment underscored finance’s power to protect ecosystems and deliver outsized impact in crisis. Now Watch the Complete Episode Featuring […]
1128: Capital Discipline in a Usage-Based World | Ben Gammell, President & CFO, Brex
In 2018, Brex made a defining decision: rather than rely on middleware providers like Stripe or Marqeta, it built its own payments infrastructure from the ground up. That move, Ben Gammell tells us, gave the company a direct integration with MasterCard and the ability to issue corporate cards in “over 50 plus local currencies.” The…
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The Power of Relationships in Driving Enterprise Value
Amid a competitive, banker-led acquisition during COVID, he insisted on traveling to meet the founder in person. That relationship-building shifted perceptions, secured the deal, and underscored how trust can decisively shape enterprise outcomes. Now Watch our Complete Episode Featuring CFO Chris Miorin of apexanalytix Chris Miorin traces a leadership-first path to finance, forged at West […]
1122: Capital Allocation as a CFO’s North Star | Chris Miorin, CFO, apexanalytix
Chris Miorin’s path to the CFO office began in a crucible of leadership. At West Point, and later at Ranger School, he was forged in environments designed to test resolve. Commissioned shortly after 9/11, he knew combat was certain. Leading an infantry platoon in Iraq, he found himself working side-by-side with a colonel “30 years…
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Ep 47: The Prove-It Mentality: Rethinking ROI in the Age of AI
In Episode 47 of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and resident thought leader Brett Knowles explore the evolving role of FP&A through the lens of three forward-looking CFOs. Dan Zhang (ClickUp), John Rettig (Bill), and Josh Schauer (insightsoftware) share how they’re driving enterprise agility, leveraging AI to eliminate inefficiencies, and rethinking capital allocation. From Zhang’s battle […]
ON LOCATION: AI on the Frontlines – Live Insights from Planful Perform25
Broadcasting from Planful’s Perform 25 conference in Miami, CFO Thought Leader presents frontline finance insights in an on‑location special. CEO Grant Halloran rejects the narrative that generative AI replaces people; instead he calls it the only viable antidote to a looming three‑million‑professional accounting shortage and collapsing CPA pipeline. Halloran outlines a 30‑second, company‑wide forecasting experience that lifts…
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