Finance has come a long way in the Internet Age. Modern metrics didn’t exist even ten years ago. It’s hard to keep up. The Chief Future Officer Podcast has a simple goal. We want to bring out the tools, techniques and learnings from the finance’s smartest
In Season 2, Episode 11 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Karan Chadha, Senior Manager of Strategic Finance at Noom - the world's leading behavior change company disrupting the weight loss and healthcare industry. In this episode, Karan shares his inspiring career journey, starting in M&A and investment banking and pivoting into high-growth startups. Karan shares how finance roles are rapidly evolving with AI, key lessons on pivoting companies toward profitable growth, his 12-month outlook on the tech landscape, and he also discusses the #1 book that has influenced his perspective on behavioral economics. If you're interested in finance, technology, startups, behavioral economics, or personal development, don't miss this episode of the Chief Future Officer podcast!
In this episode, Adam shares his unique career journey, starting from a trader at a hedge fund to a fractional CFO for startups. He provides an inside look into managing multiple clients, advising founders, and investing in startups. With decades of experience scaling startups, Adam offers candid insights on the current funding environment and outlook for startups. He compares today's market to the 2000 dot-com crash he witnessed early in his career. Tune in to hear Adam's stories and advice gleaned from his varied career working with and investing in successful startups like Peloton. Whether you're a founder, investor, or finance leader, you'll enjoy Adam's predictions for what's ahead and learn from his strategic perspective.
In Season 2 : Episode 09 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Janelle Gorman, Chief FInancial Officer at York IE. In this episode, Janelle shares her career journey in finance, from accounting to leading the CFO function at high-growth startups. Listen in to discover Janelle's unique approach to venture capital. She discusses how York IE is reinventing VC with a founder-first, pragmatic growth model rather than chasing “power law” returns. Janelle stresses the importance of bringing your authentic self to leadership and embracing vulnerability, inspired by thought leaders like Brené Brown. As a seasoned finance professional with deep expertise, Janelle's insights are invaluable for anyone interested in the finance domain. This episode is a must-listen!
In Season 2 : Episode 08 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Taylor Otstot, VP of Finance at Dashlane. In this insightful conversation, we navigate through Taylor's experiences and invaluable insights, shedding light on the evolution of modern finance roles. Listen in to discover Taylor's expertise in remote team leadership, data-driven decision-making strategies, and the art of building high-performing teams. As a seasoned finance professional with a wealth of experience, Taylor's insights and expertise are sure to be invaluable to listeners. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the finance domain.
In Season 2 : Episode 07 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Navpreet Randhawa CFO at Minna Technologies. From his beginnings as an engineer to his current role as a CFO, Navpreet shares his unique experiences navigating the fintech landscape and the ever-evolving world of subscriptions. Discover the valuable lessons he's learned about raising capital, telling compelling stories, and understanding investor perspectives. Join us as we delve into his entrepreneurial ventures, the challenges he's faced, and his expertise in scaling companies. If you're intrigued by the dynamic intersection of technology, finance, and entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-listen.
In Season 2 : Episode 06 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Ashwath Bhat, CFO at Fractal. Fractal is one of the most prominent providers of Artificial Intelligence to Fortune 500® companies. With over 2 decades of experience across various finance roles, Ashwath provides unique insights into the evolution of the CFO role and the impact of AI on the finance industry. He shares sage advice for balancing growth and profitability as a CFO, along with tips for maintaining sanity amidst the challenges and more. As a seasoned finance professional with a wealth of experience, Ashwath's insights and expertise are sure to be invaluable to listeners. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in finance domain.
In Season 2 : Episode 5 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Kurt McFarland, Interim CFO at FLINTpro and Managing Director at Regen Impact. With an impressive background in finance and strategic leadership, Kurt brings a unique perspective to the table. Throughout his career, he has held numerous finance and strategy leadership roles within venture capital and private equity-backed companies. As we dive into the episode, Kurt will explore the fascinating intersection of finance and sustainability. He will share his invaluable insights on how CFOs can become catalysts for positive change, leading the way towards a more sustainable and prosperous future. As a seasoned finance professional with a wealth of experience, Kurt's insights and expertise are sure to be invaluable to listeners. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in finance domain.
In Season 2 : Episode 4 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Scott Meyers, CFO of React Gaming Group.In this captivating episode, Scott shares invaluable insights and lessons learned from his diverse career path.From navigating the financial landscapes of multinational juggernauts to fueling the growth of cutting-edge startups, Scott has mastered the art of balancing strategy, risk, and innovation.But hey, don't let the numbers fool you! Scott's journey is filled with thrilling plot twists and unexpected pivots. He's the financial superhero who once dreamt of joining the FBI, but fate had other plans in store for him.Scott's strategic decision-making and risk management have set him apart as a true leader in the industry. As a seasoned finance professional with a wealth of experience, Scott's insights and expertise are sure to be invaluable to listeners.
In Season 2 : Episode 3 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Mitesh Popat, CFO for Citi Global Equities Sales and Trading Business. From Civil Engineer to CFO extraordinaire, Mitesh's career will leave you mesmerized and inspired. In this episode, he unveils the secrets of angel investing and shares invaluable insights on navigating successful career transitions. Whether you're contemplating a professional pivot or have found yourself in a series of serendipitous events, Mitesh's wisdom will empower you to reach new heights of achievement. As a seasoned finance professional with a wealth of experience, Mitesh's insights and expertise are sure to be invaluable to listeners. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in finance domain.
In Season 2 : Episode 2 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, hosts Glenn Hopper, Director and CFO of Eventus Advisory Group, and the author of "Deep Finance: Corporate Finance in the Information Age." Glenn has a diverse background that includes journalism, business school, and product management for a telecommunications company during the late 90s and early 2000s. He shares his experience managing a product that was ahead of its time, a template-driven website builder, and how he leveraged his budgeting knowledge to secure more funding for the product. Throughout the episode, Glenn draws on his varied experiences to discuss the importance of effective communication, leveraging technology, and staying ahead of the curve in finance. As a seasoned finance professional with a wealth of experience, Glenn's insights and expertise are sure to be invaluable to listeners.
In Season 2 : Episode 1 of the Chief Future Officer podcast, Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, interviews Nikhil Agrawal, Head of FP&A at BrowserStack. An IMI Graduate with more than 2 decades of Experience across GICs, E-Commerce, SaaS/PaaS, Tech product companies. Nikhil shares his journey in finance and how his consulting experience has given him a broader perspective on various industries. He also discusses his decision to join BrowserStack, a new-age tech business, to prepare for the future. As the commercial consciousness of BrowserStack, Nikhil describes his role in ensuring that decisions are commercially thought through, and how his team focuses on revenue and predictive analytics to achieve BrowserStack's financial targets. The discussion also covers the impact of the ongoing funding winter and the SaaS industry as a whole. For young finance professionals, Nikhil advises them to focus on adding value to their jobs and think about what value they can bring to the table. He emphasizes the importance of investing time in an organization to learn the business and find ways to add value. He also mentors young finance professionals, is quite active on LinkedIn and can be reached there for any questions related to finance career roles or problems. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in finance and tech domain.
Greg Saunders is the CFO of Ygrene Energy Fund.A Harvard MBA, he witnessed the most remarkable journey early on seeing rapid growth, then bankruptcy, helping them up again, and finally completing a successful merger. What also sets him apart from CFOs is his love for smart spending and using money as a lever for revenue growth. Stand by for a fascinating conversation about more than a decade and a half in the profession, working with marketing and sales, and smart spending in the current downturn. The conversation is hosted by Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum, a pioneer of smart spending and all young finance professionals must hear this one.
Viktor is a CFO of Atos, Hungary and has previously held leadership roles at Viacom and KPMG. To say that he has a remarkable journey is an understatement. From wanting to be an engineer, to listing on the Paris Stock Exchange, managing large teams and having deep insights on the productivity space, this one is a gem. For finance professionals looking for words of wisdom, this is a must. Join Viktor with Indus Khaitan, CEO of Quolum (The best tool for finance to manage tech and SaaS spends).
Intekhab is the CFO of WEKA, which has been recognized as a Visionary for a second year in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Distributed File Systems and Object Storage. Intekhab has directed finance at several different tech startups over the last two decades, sits on the board of various non-profits, and serves as an advisor to many startups. In this episode we take a dive into Intekhab's personal journey - from crucial mentorship experiences, plenty of advice he received and is now passing on to younger generations, and the role music has played in his journey and success. For all finance professionals looking to upskill - as well as young people looking to get a foot in the door - this episode is for you.
Casey is the Co-Founder and Managing Member of Operators Guild - an invite-only group that hosts the world's top finance and operations leaders to share knowledge and best practices. Casey has had a storied career. Previously the CFO of landing, Global Head of Strategic Finance for WeWork, and CFO of various A-B-C stage growth companies. But we begin with a few stories from West Point Military Academy - where Casey began learning leadership at a young age. For all finance professionals looking for the next step in their careers, this episode is for you. Come for the insights, stay to hear Casey's spectacular journey, hosted by Indus Khaitan.
Steve is the Owner and Managing Partner of Evergreen CFO Group, offering fractional CFO and financial management services. His clients range from $500m divisions at Fortune 100 organizations to Silicon Valley tech startups - both of which Steve has had experience leading prior. In this episode of the Chief Future Officer, we are able to dig into how anyone can find success in both professional and personal spheres of life. Despite the workload of servicing varied clients, Steve finds the time to block out the weekend to go mountain biking with his family - and shares the systems that can recreate this flexibility. This episode is for all finance professionals puzzling over upgrading their career while still keeping a balance - hosted by the founder of Quolum, Indus Khaitan.
Yiannis is the (now-ex) CFO of Sanofi for South Europe, and is currently on a break, pursuing further studies in philosophy. Yiannis has spent almost the last 16 years at Sanofi - and has amassed a great amount of wisdom over that time. We got to discuss the merits of commitment over moving jobs every few years, the story of finance upper-management and how it has changed in every large firm over the last decade, and how "mentorship should be 2-way". Come for Yiannis' wisdom & incredibly articulate insights, stay for a cracking conversation with Indus Khaitan, founder of Quolum.
Kurtis Hanni is the CFO of Cowan Group Engineering, and Founder of Frameworks & Finance. He has amassed a notable following through his writing on concepts in finance and accounting - both for businesses and for individuals. In this episode, we're very lucky to hear Kurtis' story of starting his online portfolio, mentors he has along the way, actionable advice, and a guide to how anybody can make time for profitable side projects alongside a full-time role. Check out Kurtis' writing on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KurtisHanni Listen to the podcast and sign up to the Frameworks & Finance newsletter: https://kurtishanni.com/
Chris is the Founder and CEO of Fresh FP&A - a consulting firm that aims to bring a fresh perspective to finance transformation & scale solutions. While Chris' journey started at E&Y on his resume, in this episode we get to hear tales of his childhood, early obstacles & how he overcame them to lead a highly successful organisation today. Chris' stories are inspiring, and his enthusiasm for finance is infectious - come for the insights, and stay for a cracking conversation hosted by Indus Khaitan, founder of Quolum.
Malvin is the CFO of Apollo.io - an all-in-one sales intelligence platform that helps businesses prospect ideal buyers. Apollo.io has recently ranked top 100 in the Y Combinator Top Companies list. He has over a decade of experience scaling various growth-stage tech companies - previously at Aircall, Andela & MongoDB. In this episode, we get a window into the life of a CFO, as well as great insights into the different strategies a finance manager needs to play quarter-to-quarter.
Brett is the Finance Director at Fingerprint for Success (F4S) - a personal development platform that provides coaching for individuals and teams. F4S employs both human & AI inputs to help customers achieve their OKRs and improve performance in all spheres. Over many years in various tech startups & SMBs, Brett has honed his acumen in all functions across FP&A. Come for the tales of Brett's travels, and stay for the insights in a brilliant conversation hosted by Indus Khaitan, founder of Quolum.
Omar is the CFO of ICM Stellar Sports – a multinational sports agency that takes part in the biggest deals from several different sports around the globe. Stellar Sports is one of the most valuable football agencies in the world, and enjoys prominent status in rugby, cricket, NFL and esports. Omar's perspective comes from a unique blend of sports strategy and his experience in M&A. Lots of novel insights in this episode - and a great conversation hosted by Quolum's founder Indus Khaitan.
Robert is the CFO of Life Cycle Engineering and the President & Founder of the Global CFO Council. From running ultramarathons to doing whatever it takes at work (including being willing to move thousands of miles from home) – calling Robert intense is an understatement. He recalls his stories with great humility, wit and humor. Plenty of insights from decades of experience in this episode, for finance professionals at any level.
The Chief Future Officer Podcast is proud to have Wailun Chan with us. Wailun is the CFO of Grafana Labs and serves on the Global Glimpse Board of Directors. Prior to Grafana Labs, he was the CFO of Plastiq and held senior management roles at LinkedIn and Electronic Arts. Having led various finance divisions & steered LinkedIn's team through its IPO, few are as well-equipped to discuss good strategies for hard times. Tune in for invaluable insights on how finance systems change as businesses scale, and actionable advice for professionals at each stage of their career.
The Chief Future Officer Podcast is proud to have Giridhar Premsingh with us. The CFO of DoiT International, Giri (as he is fondly called) has had an incredible journey. From accidentally becoming an auditor because he wanted to play sports, to leading IPOs and billion dollar M&A deals, it's an incredible story. The best part? He tells it with incredible humility, and in the process shares a ton of actionable insights for not just future CFOs, but anyone looking to achieve professional success. Come for the insights. Stay for a cracking conversation hosted by Indus Khaitan, the founder of Quolum.