The Source for CFO Thought Leadership

finance

1,023: How Finance Propelled a Tech Enthusiast Into the C-Suite | Doug Potvin, CFO, Trinity Logistics

Doug Potvin's journey to becoming the CFO of Trinity Logistics reveals the power of adaptability and continuous learning. Initially captivated by technology in high school, he pursued a degree in computer science—only to discover a passion for finance during a college course. This pivot led him to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), where he…
Listen to the Episode Below (1:06:45)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

The Mentoring Round | Todd Patriacca, CFO, BVI Medical

Inside The Mentoring Round CFO Todd Patriacca emphasizes the strategic implementation of technology automation, focusing on areas that enhance efficiency and reduce internal costs. He advocates for leveraging automation to handle routine tasks, allowing teams to concentrate on strategic exceptions. Todd also champions Lean methodology, applying its principles of continuous improvement and waste elimination to […]

1,022: The Power of Lean Thinking | Todd Patriacca, CFO, BVI Medical

Todd Patriacca was more than a dozen years into his finance career when two things happened that accelerated its trajectory. The first was that he found a mentor—or, rather, that his future mentor found him. The second was that he became immersed in Lean culture. Starting his career at Arthur Andersen, Patriacca spent nearly 10…
Listen to the Episode Below (1:01:42)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

The Mentoring Round | Larry White, Commanding Officer (emeritus), U.S. Coast Guard Finance Center

Inside The Mentoring Round, Larry White looks back on his U.S. Coast days and spotlights the shift from a rigorous budget-focused approach to a more strategic, mission-oriented model. He empowered his team, decentralizing budget responsibilities and cutting excess spending by 70% to better align resources with actual needs. His philosophy fostered transparency and trust, emphasizing […]

1,021: A Taste for Professional Growth: How the U.S. Coast Guard Granted Larry White an Expansive Finance Career

The year 1986 was a pivotal one for Larry White’s career in the U.S. Coast Guard. After entering the Coast Guard Academy in 1976 and graduating in 1980, White advanced through a series of operational roles before deciding to pursue an MBA at Columbia University. The Coast Guard agreed to underwrite this move, enhancing his…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:51:02)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

1,020: A Savvy Investor Cracks the Operator’s Code | Seth Wunder, CFO, Acorns

At a recent executive team dinner, several Acorns executives were reminiscing about their childhood professional aspirations. While many had had career dreams that had lost their luster—to be an astronaut and such—Seth Wunder shared that his early focus on the world of investing was not only unwavering but also formative. "I grew up in a…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:46:08)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

Ep 37: Navigating Communication Challenges

This episode Jack an Brett discuss the commentary of the three Planning Aces, CFO Sandeep Aujla from Intuit, CFO Shelagh Glaser from Synopsys, and CFO Seth Wunder from Acorns. Each Planning Ace highlights their distinct approaches to strategic finance, organizational structure, communication, and business growth. Interestingly, while all three CFOs highlight the importance of strategic…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:51:12)
1x
0:00
0:51:12
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

1,019: The Rewards of Making an Early Exit | Josh Schenker, CFO, Aditude, Inc.

Josh Schenker may well be the only CFO we've interviewed who claims to have dropped out of high school—which he actually did, sort of. In order to accelerate his academic ascendance, Schenker passed the General Educational Development (GED) test, which in turn allowed him to enroll at college ahead of schedule. "I never received a…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:42:53)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

1,018: From Complexity to Clarity: Simplifying Business Segments for Investor Insight | Shelagh Glaser, CFO, Synopsys

When asked to share a single career chapter that has influenced her strategic mind-set as a finance leader, Synopsys CFO Shelagh Glaser knew exactly what to cite. She described a period that had unfolded during her 29 years at Intel Corp., when—seemingly overnight—consumer appetite for tablets had begun to upend Intel's enduring PC chips business.…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:55:03)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn

An Entrepreneur Leverages AI to Revolutionize Finance Operations | Tal Kirschenbaum, Co-Founder & CEO, Ledge

In this special Trouble Shooter episode of CFO Thought Leader, we speak with Tal Kirschenbaum, CEO and founder of Ledge. Together, we delve into his career journey and the foresight that led him to identify a significant opportunity in finance automation. Tal’s path, starting from his finance education at the University of Chicago and Tel […]

The Mentoring Round | Eric Emans, CFO, Nintex

Inside the Mentoring Round, CFO Eric Emans emphasizes the importance of overcoming the fear of failure early in one’s career, as learning often comes from making mistakes. He fosters an expectation-based culture where finance professionals are encouraged to engage with the business, challenge assumptions, and drive insights. Emans believes this approach distinguishes great organizations from […]

1,017: Two Hands, One Vision: A Balanced Approach to Finance | Eric Emans, CFO, Nintex

Eric Emans, CFO of Nintex, tells us that his career has been built upon learning from mistakes and driving an expectations-based culture in finance: "I see the fear of failure as being so detrimental to so many people early in their career. In their mind, failing is often outsized, but most of the time, the…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:42:28)
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsPlayer EmbedShare Leave a ReviewListen in a New WindowDownloadSoundCloudStitcherSubscribe on AndroidSubscribe via RSSSpotifyWhere to ListenSurveyLinkedInLinkedIn