(Databricks) CFO Tenure: 5 yrs. CFO Appts.: 4 Career Span: 36 Yrs. C-Suite: 18 Yrs. BACK TO RANKINGS
1,008: Managing Change and Ensuring Stability | Erica Gessert, CFO, Upwork
In the throes of the Great Recession, Erica Gessert faced one of her first tests of leadership. As the head of investor relations for Virgin Mobile, she found herself navigating the collapsing financial sector. Key banks that were integral to the company's operations began to crumble, and the economic landscape was fraught with uncertainty. Keeping…
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1,005: From Salesforce Playbook to Start-up Strategy | Scott Henderson, CFO, DISQO
In the early years of Scott Henderson's career, the dotcom bubble burst, leaving the tech industry in turmoil and many young professionals uncertain about their futures. Despite this chaotic climate, Henderson decided to take a calculated risk by joining another dotcom venture. This time, the company was a modest enterprise with 300 employees and $25…
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The 20 Leading CFOs of AI
Representing many different types of firms, from AI giants to lightly capitalized disrupters, these 20 finance leaders are already answering some of today’s most daunting AI questions. The 20 Leading CFOs of AI | CFOs Who Lead
1,000: When Culture Informs Strategy | Tucker Marshall, CFO, The J. M. Smucker Company
At just 16, Tucker Marshall unsuccessfully sought a humble beginning at The J. M. Smucker Company—not in the back office but on its lush grounds, hoping to cut grass. Such an early rejection—due to a company policy favoring employees' families first—did little to deter him. Instead, it left with him an indelible admiration for the…
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999: A Bias for Action | Jason Godley, CFO, Xactly
On a remote Wyoming cattle ranch, young Jason Godley faced a dire situation: The baler attached to his tractor had suddenly caught fire. Alone, with no immediate help and devoid of modern conveniences like a cell phones 12-year-old Godley had to think quickly and act decisively. His decision to drive to a neighbor’s house to…
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Ep 34: From Rearview to Road Ahead
On our latest episode three forward looking Planning Aces shared deep insights into optimizing financial performance. The conversation highlighted the significance of predictive metrics and proactive financial planning, with a strong focus on leading indicators to guide business strategies. Detailed exploration of operational efficiencies, particularly in sales and marketing, was discussed as a method to improve…
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A CFO Helps Cardinal Health Find Its Value-Creation Groove
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 […]
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…
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The Mentoring Round | Eric Jenny, CFO, SOCi
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Eric Jenny recalls his strategic decision to shift focus from mid-market to enterprise clients based on data analysis. CFO Jenny tells us he aspires to a finance leadership mind-set that focuses on creating a supportive company culture, where the team is encouraged to think big and innovate.
970: Growing in Good Company | Dennis Johnson, CFO, Qlik
It's an all-too-familiar tale among the ranks of senior finance executives: A private equity firm acquires a company, reshuffles the finance team, and reserves the top finance spot for one of its own portfolio CFOs. At Qlik, though, this story had a less familiar ending—or at least one that did not include a portfolio CFO.…
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The Mentoring Round | Elizabeth Mann, CFO, Verisk
Inside The Mentoring Round, Elizabeth Mann emphasizes the critical integration of finance and human resources, highlighting the importance of team dynamics alongside financial metrics. Her approach champions continuous learning and revisiting initial understandings as business knowledge evolves. Mann also draws parallels between the challenges of parenting and her role as a CFO, recognizing decision-making complexities […]