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CFO journey

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 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, […]

1065: The Accidental CFO: From Entrepreneurial Leader to the CFO Office | Stacy Tumarkin, CFO, Kubecost

Stacy Tumarkin unexpectedly found herself stepping into the CFO seat—twice—earning the moniker “The Accidental CFO.” Early in her career, she worked at a hedge fund, diving headfirst into uncharted responsibilities when a mentor urged her to stretch beyond strict accounting roles. “I was only 26 when I first became CFO,” Tumarkin tells us, recalling how…
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1064: Cybersecurity, AI, and the Evolving Finance Frontier | Russ Keefe, CFO, Corelight

Back in the mid 1990s–when Russ Keefe decided it was time for a career pivot–he got behind the wheel. With a Jeep packed full of his belongings, he drove from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco, father riding shotgun, to explore fresh opportunities in Silicon Valley. He had just completed a stint at the U.S. Securities…
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Leading Through Windfalls: CFO Guidance on Secondary Transactions

Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Kfir Lippmann dives into the lesser-known yet critical impact of secondary transactions. While IPO preparation is high-stakes, these transactions can dramatically affect morale—especially when younger employees receive large sums quickly. Lippmann emphasizes coaching them on responsible spending and long-term thinking, rather than letting sudden wealth create divisions. Balancing transparency, fairness, […]

1061: Innovate, Scale, Repeat: A CFO’s Blueprint for Rapid Expansion | Kfir Lippmann, CFO, Salt Security

CFO Kfir Lippmann began his career at Ernst & Young in Tel Aviv, auditing high-growth tech clients and navigating the intricacies of IPO-bound businesses. The experience gave him a deep understanding of strategic finance early on, Lippmann tells us. Later, he joined Monday.com when it was still a small startup, helping scale the organization through…
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1053: Strategic Financial Alignment for Enhanced Transparency and Growth | Cyrus Lam, CFO Orion Innovation

For Cyrus Lam, the aspect of the CFO role that sets it apart from all others is the weight of non-negotiable priorities. Despite years spent closely collaborating with CFOs as an investment banker, Lam tells us he quickly discovered a new lesvel of accountability in the role. Managing cash flow and ensuring payroll, he says,…
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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…
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1,045: Cash Flow Focus: Building a Sustainable Growth Strategy | Brian Hogeland, CFO Packer Fastener

In his three years as CFO of Packer Fastener, Brian Hogeland has led a milestone transformation of the company’s financial operations. Joining in 2021 during a period of rapid growth, Hogeland tells us he quickly identified opportunities to streamline processes, align business goals, and introduce technology-driven solutions. With Packer Fastener’s quirky culture—known for slogans like…
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1,044: Driving Sustainable Growth: How to Align Business Goals with Profitability | Isabelle Winkles, CFO, Braze

In January 2020, most finance leaders were seeing ASC 606 as a closed chapter. However, for Braze’s newly appointed CFO, Isabelle Winkles, this new revenue recognition standard would quickly move to front-and-center. While ASC 606 was merely a speedbump for seasoned professionals—especially for a 25-year finance veteran like Winkles—it posed a notable challenge within Braze.…
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1,041: Rethinking How Metrics Can Align with Business Evolution | Josh Schwartz, CFO, Medidata

By the time Josh Schwartz arrived at Medidata, the life sciences innovation company had found itself entering unfamiliar waters. Having just gone public, the firm was shifting away from being a fast-growing start-up to welcoming life as a more structured, scalable organization. For Schwartz, who initially led revenue recognition, this was the beginning of both…
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