A Finance Strategic Moment During his first Salesforce meeting with the Chief Product Officer, Naeem Ishaq pitched new pricing ideas without solid data. Sent away to “figure out the (numbers) first,” he refined the fundamentals, persevered, and ultimately earned a trusted seat at the strategy table—opening doors for bigger initiatives and long-term growth. Now Watch […]
1088: Driving Growth with a Builder’s Mindset | Naeem Ishaq, CFO, Checkr
It was a first meeting Naeem Ishaq tells us he’ll never forget: stepping into the Chief Product Officer’s office at Salesforce, he began pitching a bold new pricing model. Yet the officer cut him off, bluntly telling him to “figure out the (numbers) first, then we can talk strategy.” Ishaq admits the numbers he had…
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1086: M&A, AI, and the Art of Integration | Adam Ante, CFO, Paycor
“It wouldn’t surprise me. No, it would be exciting.” That was Adam Ante’s initial response when asked if five years from now, he could imagine himself still in the C-suite—but not as a CFO. The comment seemed to linger in the air, hinting at a deeper current in his career journey. Ante, who had led…
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Ownership, AI, and M&A Execution | Adam Ante, CFO, Paycor
Failing to integrate a newly acquired Colorado firm taught CFO Adam Ante the critical gap between operating a business and merely managing financials. Embracing “extreme ownership” transformed his approach, prompting deeper collaboration with business leaders. Now watch the complete episode featuring CFO Adam Ante of Paycor In this episode, Jack is joined by Adam Ante, […]
1084: Reading the Signals, Not Just the Statements | Brian Carolan, CFO, SailPoint
It was a late-night meeting room lit by the glow of Excel spreadsheets and cluttered with half-empty coffee cups. Brian Carolan, then a rising finance leader, looked around the table and saw not just fellow accountants and analysts but a collection of people relying on him to bridge data and strategy. In that moment, he…
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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…
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Simplify, Measure, Accelerate | Jason Lee, CFO, Faire
FINANCE STRATEGIC MOMENT | CFO JASON LEE At Faire, Jason redefined how the company measured growth by simplifying customer behavior analytics. Initially, the company tracked broad volume and percentage-based growth metrics, but Jason shifted the focus to two core drivers: discovery volume (new product trials) and reorder rate (repeat purchases). Now Watch the Complete Episode […]
1080: Reframing Your Drivers of Growth | Jason Lee, CFO, Faire
It was a moment of “shock and awe” that Jason Lee says shapes his strategic mindset. Soon after joining Square, he discovered a major partnership with Starbucks that was quietly bleeding millions of dollars and threatened Square’s financial runway. “We had to swarm the problem,” Lee tells us. The team renegotiated terms and preserved the…
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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…
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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…
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