A former customer turned advocate, Stuart Leung joined Flexport when it was still a fast-growing startup lacking formal finance structures. In just a few months as CFO, he oversaw a thorough margin-improvement effort involving 15 “big rock” initiatives, uniting cross-functional teams to boost efficiency and profitability. He now focuses on AI-based automation, using new technology […]
1078: From Black Box to Control Tower | Stuart Leung, CFO, Flexport
Stuart Leung had occupied the CFO office at Flexport for only a few months when he realized the supply chain management company’s growing margin pressures stemmed not from a single root cause but from many. From pricing misalignment to invoice errors, Leung had compiled a lengthy list of snags. Along the way, he began empowering…
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1063: From Banking to Building: One Leader’s Shift to Operations | Eugene Wong, CFO, Clara Analytics
It was shortly after Eugene Wong exited the banking world to advance into a senior operations role that he realized the importance of a holistic view. At one meeting, he uncovered a disconnect between product and sales teams that threatened a strategic initiative. By stepping in and aligning priorities, he emerged as a “quarterback,” bridging…
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1057: Building Strategic Value: Inside the Finance Engine Room | Georgy Egorov, CFO, ZeroAvia
“Maybe it was a little bit of beginner’s luck,” Georgy Egorov tells us, reflecting on his first CFO appointment at a biotech startup. Although the life sciences firm’s blend of knowledge-driven resources and AI placed it at the forefront of drug discovery innovation, Egorov identified a critical vulnerability: the company’s model depended too heavily on…
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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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1,046: Transforming Finance from Reactive to Proactive Leadership | David Eckstein, CFO, Vanta
When David Eckstein inherited a struggling business unit earlier in his career, there was little question he faced an uphill battle. The unit wasn’t one he had built, nor had he developed the frameworks or discounting policies in place. Who was responsible for the unit’s troubles? And shouldn’t this problem child belong to someone else?…
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How Isabelle Winkles Built a CFO Career Toolkit | Finance Leadership Insights
Inside The Mentoring Round, Isabelle Winkles, CFO of Braze, reflects on her deliberate and evolving path to becoming a CFO. From her early career as an investment banker to 18 years at Morgan Stanley, Winkles emphasizes the importance of building a diverse finance toolkit through roles in corporate FP&A, treasury, and equity research. She discusses […]
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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1,035: Balancing Growth and Sustainability: The Financial Strategy Behind Health Innovation | Daniel Welch, CFO, Kate Farms
In 2018, Daniel Welch made a life-altering decision when—after having spent a decade in investment banking working on high-profile IPOs and M&A deals at Morgan Stanley—he found himself at a crossroads. The birth of his daughter and a health scare involving his father led him to question the career path that he was on. “I…
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1,013: The Curious CFO: Crafting the Future of Space | Muhammad Shahzad, CFO, Relativity Space
Mo Shahzad is not one for trivial conversations. At Relativity Space, he’s known for a deep curiosity that is often manifested by his engagement with team members in discussions about their interests and passions. This intellectual curiosity is not just a personal trait—it’s a vital tool toward empowering his role as CFO. Shahzad's ability to…
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979: The Changing Stripes of Finance Leadership | Chermaine Hu, CFO, Episode Six
At the very beginning of our talk with CFO Chermaine Hu, she revealed an irony about the CFO title that we rarely get to expose. To wit: The very title toward which any executive has invested so many illustrious career years conveys ownership of what might seem to be a less than illustrious role—or at…
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901: The Welcome Box | Scott Healy, CFO, Fortera
It’s perhaps appropriate that Scott Healy’s finance career began at an airport. With a boarding pass in hand, Healy thought that he was ready for takeoff—only to have his new boss board with a mystery box under one arm. “He was carrying a package that I thought was some sort of welcome gift for me…
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