This story originally appeared on Forbes.com Back in August 2022, when Cardinal Health, Inc.’s finance chief, Jason Hollar, succeeded CEO Mike Kaufmann as the healthcare giant’s top executive, among the immediate challenges facing new CEO Hollar was filling the company’s CFO vacancy. At the time, an activist investor with an eye toward management change had […]
The Mentoring Round | Bob Houghton, CFO, Pivot Bio
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Bob Houghton’s first investor relations role at General Mills highlights the importance of external representation and engagement with investors in shaping a finance leader’s career. Houghton’s observation that well-rounded experiences attract proactive recruitment efforts for CFO and other finance leadership roles illustrates the market value of a broad and diverse […]
988: The Quest for Sustainable AgTech | Bob Houghton, CFO, Pivot Bio
In the heart of a bustling paper mill, where the scent of fresh pulp intermingled with the hum of machinery, Bob Houghton kicked off his finance career. Fresh out of college and a number of states removed from his Minnesota roots, Houghton understood the intricate dance of departments working in unison to produce everyday essentials.…
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987: May the Road Rise to Meet You | Jennifer Loo, CFO, Tala
Back in 2009, with a law degree in hand along with a smattering of frontline consulting experience, Jennifer Loo swung open the door at LegalZoom—where in short order she was tasked with architecting the fast-growing company's FP&A function from the ground up. For Loo, the responsibilities that would quickly surface at LegalZoom did not necessarily…
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986: Blending Finance With Operational Ingenuity | Erin Sawyer, CFO, Certinia
Reflecting on her career choices, Erin Sawyer tells us that one pivotal point stands out—a decision that involved moving her family across the country. This step triggered not only a geographical shift but also a change in Sawyer's professional life, when her work alongside a CEO ultimately fueled her aspirations to become a chief financial…
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The Mentoring Round | Sarah Alper, CFO, Pactum AI
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Sarah Alper emphasizes the necessity of a collaborative approach to growth, underscoring that “Finance can’t just tell you what you need to do. It’s a conversation with the business on how to do that, on how to get there.” She explains how experiences at GE and UiPath have endowed her […]
985: A World Where Everything Is Negotiable | Sarah Alper, CFO, Pactum AI
As Pactum AI embarks on a pivotal phase of commercialization, the arrival of Sarah Alper in the AI-driven company’s CFO office is by no means a coincidence. Having transitioned from structured finance roles at General Electric to the dynamic environment of UiPath, Alper now brings to the table a blend of experience in operational finance,…
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984: The Building Blocks of CFO Success | Bob Purcell, CFO, Billtrust
Bob Purcell's leap into the unknown was not a misplaced step but a giant stride toward his future as a CFO. Early in his career, he faced a daunting choice: To join a distressed company teetering on the brink of failure or to play it safe. Driven by an unshakable belief in his abilities and…
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The Mentoring Round | Aaron Alt, CFO, Cardinal Health
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Aaron Alt highlights Cardinal Health’s ongoing comprehensive review of its business portfolio, involving an assessment of healthcare trends, competitive strengths, and economic forecasts to determine the best ownership of assets. This process has led to strategic decisions about retaining, investing in, and potentially divesting certain business units to maximize shareholder […]
982: Blending Alcohol and E-commerce | Matt Wolf, CFO, DRINKS
Twelve years ago, when Matt Wolf was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, he likely would have been alarmed to learn that his future finance career would be largely impacted by drinking and driving. Such was his destiny, though, as after a 5-year stint with the investment bank in London and New York he began…
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The Mentoring Round | Jakson Peters, CFO, Tour Radar
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Jakson Peters shares his philosophy of swift decision-making, and sheds light on the common pitfall many finance professionals face: over-analysis. Transitioning through roles in diverse geographies, from Sao Paulo, to Malaysia, to Dubai to Vienna, he emphasizes the value of understanding and integrating into new cultures without prejudgment. Fluent in […]
981: Bridging Continents: A Finance Leader’s Journey | Jakson Peters, CFO, TourRadar
Jakson Peters's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global CFO is a tale adaptability, and continuous learning. Born in Brazil, he had initial career expectations far removed from the finance world that had their roots in the start of his working life as part of the family's milk delivery business. This early experience, so…
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