Jim Rogers applied lessons from Groupon’s rapid growth by steering Tempus toward disciplined expansion. He prioritized oncology as the core focus, deferring broader disease or international moves until sustainable, long-term growth could be assured—ensuring strategy aligned with impact without disrupting day-to-day operations. Now Watch the Complete Episode Featuring CFO Jim Rogers of Tempus AI Jim […]
1123: From Accounting Rigor to Strategic Leadership | Jim Rogers, CFO Tempus AI
The pivot began when Jim Rogers raised his hand. Groupon was shifting from mobile daily deals to a goods business in Europe, and—still early in his career—he volunteered to help lead the finance work. That step, he tells us, bridged his path from technical accounting into FP&A and set a pattern: seek out the build…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:38:16)
Why the AI Revolution Won’t Look Like the Cloud | Eric Brown, CFO, Cohesity
Facing an existential crisis at MicroStrategy, Eric Brown led a massive restructuring—cutting two-thirds of staff and shifting operating margins from -40% to +30% in under three years. Market cap rebounded from $55M to over $1B, proving that decisive, sweeping change can revive a company against impossible odds. Now Watch the Complete Episode Featuring CFO Eric […]
When the Role is Earned by Leading | Amanda Whalen, CFO, Klaviyo
In her first CFO role, Amanda Whalen revamped cost accounting, restructured sales incentives, and overhauled P&L reporting—driving a 10% profit increase in one year. The experience revealed finance’s power to align teams, influence decisions, and shape business outcomes—ultimately convincing her to pursue finance leadership as her long-term path. [ssp-player] Now Watch our Complete Episode Featuring […]
1110: When Leadership Mattered | Amanda Whalen, CFO, Klaviyo
Amanda Whalen’s first CFO role began with a question. “You’re not a finance technical person,” her company’s president told her, “but you’re the strongest leader on my team. Will you be willing to be the CFO and help me transform the finance function?” She accepted. Over the following year, Whalen tells us, her team tackled…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:52:58)
Riding the AI Wave: Revenue Strategy at Gong | Tim Ritters, CFO, Gong
A Finance Strategic Moment Facing rising downgrades, Tim Ritters led Gong’s finance team to deeply analyze product usage patterns by persona and behavior. These insights empowered customer success efforts and cut churn and downgrade rates by half within two years—proving that in tough markets, usage data can be a powerful lever for retention. Now Watch […]
1106: Scaling Smarter: Inside the Finance Revenue Engine | Tim Ritters, CFO, Gong
During his decade at Google, Tim Ritters worked at the intersection of product and finance, helping to launch financial systems in collaboration with engineering, marketing, and product teams. The role gave him early exposure to cross-functional work and large-scale data environments. “Day one, you’re working cross-functionally,” Ritters tells us. He adds that this mindset became…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:39:37)
1091: Making Finance the Force Multiplier | Chris Greiner, CFO, Zeta Global
It was a morning commute Chris Greiner had made hundreds of times before. Living in old Shanghai and working in the city’s sleek business district, Greiner’s daily drive to the Jin Mao Tower often stretched well beyond an hour. But on this particular day, his driver told him they’d arrive in just 30 minutes. Puzzled…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:38:50)
The 60 Seconds That Changed the Conversation
Faced with a complex tax strategy and an overwhelmed board, Tony Jarjoura cut through dense technical jargon and distilled thousands of hours of work into two simple sentences. The clarity shifted the conversation instantly—highlighting his belief that finance leaders must translate complexity into insight that moves decisions forward. Now watch our complete episode featuring CFO […]
CFO David Morris on Guardian Pharmacy’s Road to IPO and Growth Strategy
In this episode of “The Mentoring Round,” Guardian Pharmacy CFO David Morris reflects on decades of growth and persistence, emphasizing the importance of human capital, data-driven decisions, and patient, long-term strategy. Morris shares insights into Guardian’s journey from a single pharmacy to 50 nationwide, discussing the strategic milestones of investing in talent, data infrastructure, and […]
The Mentoring Round | David Freeman, CFO, Starburst
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO David Freeman recounts the challenges faced during the financial crisis, highlighting the tension between investor advice to retrench and the company’s growth trajectory. Freeman reflects on the gaps in his expertise, particularly in taxation, emphasizing the need for finance leaders to recognize their limitations and bring in experts early on. […]
977: Unlocking Rep Performance for Sales Success in Tech | David Freeman, CFO, Starburst
Joining Intel Corp. in 1999 as a recent college graduate, David Freeman began his finance career as part of the tech giant’s plus-size finance team that supported various business groups. Looking back, Freeman finds that few aspects of the tech giant’s business were more influential in shaping his early career years than the company’s direct…
Listen to the Episode Below (0:47:55)