Inside The Mentoring Round CFO Doug Potvin reflects back at his time at the National Marine Fishery Service, where Potvin had a pivotal moment that shaped his career aspirations. Frequently told to “talk to the owner” when discussing business and financial matters, Doug realized the importance of being deeply involved in all aspects of a […]
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The Mentoring Round | Shelagh Glaser, CFO, Synopsys
Inside The Mentoring Round, CFO Shelagh Glaser discusses how AI is transforming Synopsys Inc. at multiple levels, from accelerating engineering solutions to enhancing internal operations and forecasting. CFO Glaser also shares insights for new CFOs on how to navigate organizational dynamics in a remote work environment and preparing for market shifts.
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…
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1,014: Passion and Purpose: Building a Vibrant Finance Culture | Karen Williams, CFO, American Express Global Business Travel
Karen Williams's journey to becoming a successful CFO began with a crucial lesson learned early in her career at the UK headquarters of candy giant Mars. As a young professional, she tells us, she had failed to grasp the importance of relationship-building and expressing her passion for the business. At times, this void had kept…
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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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1,011: Balancing Agility and Structure for Strategic Growth | Carol Lee, CFO, LogicMonitor
Beginning her career as an analyst, Carol Lee honed her technical skills both in pre-revenue start-ups and a multinational corporation with over $10 billion in revenue. These contrasting environments, she tells us, equipped her with a unique perspective on what it takes to be both scrappy and scalable. CFOTL: Tell us about LogicMonitor … what…
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