1192: Building Through Disruption | Christina Spade, CFO, Catalant
In this episode, CFO Christina Spade discusses how disruption—particularly from AI and streaming—creates value rather than just posing challenges. Drawing on her two‑decade media background at Showtime, CBS, and AMC, she explains the importance of monetizing new distribution channels while preserving legacy revenue streams. At Catalant, she is building a lean, AI‑enhanced finance function focused on analysis and decision support instead of traditional number‑crunching. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes hands‑on problem solving, customer‑centric thinking, and rapid course‑correction during periods of change.
1190: Fixing What Growth Tries to Hide | Jaylene Kunze, LegitScript
In this episode, CFO Jaylene Kunze of LegitScript discusses how rapid growth can mask underlying operational and cultural issues, emphasizing the need for robust processes, systems, and cross‑functional insight. Drawing on her background in audit, ERP implementations, and compliance at...
1189: Why Finance Should Lead with “Yes, And” | Bruno Annicq, CFO, Wellhub
In this episode, CFO Bruno Annicq shares his unconventional journey from engineering to strategy consulting at McKinsey, operational roles at AOL, and ultimately to the CFO seat at WellHub, a platform that invests in employee wellness to curb preventable healthcare...
1188: Testing Assumptions Before Burning Capital | Kevin Hettrich, CFO, QuantumScape
In this episode, CFO Kevin Hettrich of QuantumScape discusses how a deep‑tech startup must treat its business as a series of testable hypotheses, using disciplined experimentation and frugal spending to validate solid‑state lithium‑metal battery technology before scaling. He shares how...
1187: Pattern Recognition: How CFOs See Around Corners | Alex Chun, CFO, NEOGOV
In this episode, CFO Alex Chun of NeoGov discusses how pattern recognition—honed from his private‑equity background—allows finance leaders to anticipate business trends before the numbers catch up. He explains his mission to transform NeoGov’s finance function into a central insights...
1185: Scaling Smarter in the AI Era | Sarah Riley, CFO, Dbt Labs
In this episode, CFO Sarah Riley discusses how modern software companies, especially data infrastructure firms like dbt Labs, are scaling in the AI era by leveraging trusted enterprise data and rapid, data‑driven decision making. She shares insights from her finance...
1183: Enter the Blockchain CFO: Reshaping Capital Markets | Macrina Kgil, CFO, Future
In this episode, CFO Macrina Gill discusses her journey from engineering and PwC advisory work to leading finance at Figure, where blockchain is being used to modernize lending and capital markets. She explains how blockchain can provide real‑time loan ownership...
AI, Trust, and the Expanding Role of Finance: A Sage Future Special
In this special CFO Thought Leader episode, Sage’s CTO Aaron Harris, SVP John Fasoli, and construction‑segment SVP Julie Adams discuss how AI is shifting finance from a manual, assistive tool to an autonomous, strategic engine. Harris emphasizes that trust and...
1181: What AI Means for the Future of Finance Leadership | Yuval Atsmon, CFO & Sr Partner, McKinsey & Company
In this episode, senior partner and new CFO Yuval Atsmon discusses how AI and shifting client expectations are reshaping finance leadership at McKinsey, a firm that advises the rest of the business world. He explains the need for real‑time visibility,...
1180: Where Finance Meets the Real World | Scott Thorell, CFO Benetrends
In this episode, CFO Scott Thorell shares his journey from public accounting at Ernst & Young and global audits at Campbell Soup to leading finance in mid‑market, founder‑led companies, most recently Benetrends Financial. He discusses the unique challenges of scaling...
1179: Why Trust Can Outperform Price | Thomas Baumgartner, CFO, Voestalpine Metsec
In this episode, CFO Thomas Baumgartner of voestalpine Metsec (UK) discusses how trust and certification outweigh price competition in the steel‑section market, and how he leverages data, AI, and a controller‑mindset to drive strategic transformation. He shares insights from his 20‑year journey—from...
1177: Navigating an Acquisition at the Edge of Change | Tom DiDesidero, CFO, SmartRecruiters
In this episode, CFO Tom DiDesidero discusses SmartRecruiters' acquisition by SAP amid a rapidly evolving AI-driven SaaS landscape, highlighting the challenges of fast integration, cultural alignment, and shifting business assumptions. He shares his unconventional career path—from early roles in small...
1174: When Finance Must Reset the Narrative | Aidan Viggiano, CFO Twilio
In this episode, Twilio CFO Aidan Viggiano discusses how the company pivoted from rapid growth to re‑establishing financial discipline amid slowing revenue, tighter cost structures, and the need to rebuild investor confidence. Drawing on her two‑decade GE background, she explains...
1171: How CFOs Rise by Learning Sideways First | Marc Mehlman, CFO, Ascensus
In this episode, CFO Marc Mehlman of Ascensus shares how a non‑linear career—filled with lateral moves, operational roles, and a stint in investor relations—prepared him for the CFO office. He emphasizes that deep business exposure, pattern recognition, and credibility often...
1169: Thinking Bigger on the Road to the CFO Role | Andrew Bender, CFO, BNI Global
In this episode, CFO Andrew Bender discusses how BNI Global transforms relationship‑driven networking into measurable financial performance, emphasizing the need to align KPIs with core business drivers. He shares his career journey—from investment banking to consulting and operational finance—and explains...