Podcasts about cfos

Marketing's leadership gap is widening across Fortune 500 companies. Kathryn Rathje, partner at McKinsey, reveals why only 66% of Fortune 500 companies retained CMOs last year and how marketing budgets dropped to 7.7% of revenue. She explains how CMOs can rebuild credibility by aligning metrics with CEO priorities, establishing clear ROI definitions with CFOs, and implementing full-funnel marketing measurement systems that connect brand investments to revenue outcomes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marketing's leadership gap is widening across Fortune 500 companies. Kathryn Rathje, partner at McKinsey, reveals why only 66% of Fortune 500 companies retained CMOs last year and how marketing budgets dropped to 7.7% of revenue. She explains how CMOs can rebuild credibility by aligning metrics with CEO priorities, establishing clear ROI definitions with CFOs, and implementing full-funnel marketing measurement systems that connect brand investments to revenue outcomes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discover 5 dividend-paying stocks where CEOs and CFOs are buying shares with their own money—including $5 million in purchases at one company in a single week. When executives put their personal cash into their own stock, especially when the CFO oversees all the finances, it's worth paying attention. This video breaks down Blue Owl Capital (OWL), TriplePoint Venture Growth (TPVG), Hershey (HSY), Energizer (ENR), and Dorchester Minerals (DMLP)—all with recent insider buying activity. Not financial advice, but a great starting point for your own research into these dividend stocks. Check out the ⁠⁠YouTube video⁠⁠!Dapper Dividends Recommendation Tracker SpreadsheetCheck out my current portfolio on

Mostly Growth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostlyGrowthMostly Growth on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-growth/id1842238102Mostly Growth on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3KDtaLaXx1obFp5PUhZ6V3In this episode of Mostly Growth, CJ Gustafson and Kyle Poyar explore the hidden mechanics behind focus, competition, and value creation across both consumer culture and B2B SaaS. They unpack why point-solution companies like Untuckit and Raising Cane's can outperform diversified rivals, examine how competition actually strengthens category demand, and break down the gray zone of mid-market venture exits where founder incentives and investor expectations diverge. The conversation ranges from private equity roll-ups to the realities of cold-calling returning as a top-performing growth channel, to pricing transparency, algorithmic price discrimination, and how everyday behaviors—from mall Santas to $12 club water—reflect deeper strategic forces. It's a fast, practical look at how operators can stay focused, understand market pressure, and avoid chasing the wrong game.—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com—LINKS:Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comCJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Growth Unhinged: https://www.growthunhinged.com/Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-poyar/Slacker Stuff: https://www.slackerstuff.com/Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slackerstuff/—RELATED EPISODES:Building AI-Native Software With No Rules | Christopher O'Donnellhttps://youtu.be/Fr1027kZyC0SaaS Founder or Pop Star? CJ Gets Schooledhttps://youtu.be/LMZq_DwVmkYThe Layer-Cake Playbook for Vertical SaaS Growth | with Roland Ligtenberghttps://youtu.be/yPxWvhPISKoThe One Use Case for Venture Debt That Most Founders Never Think Abouthttps://youtu.be/XxH_Y9OH_i0—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:01:42 Sponsors – Pulley | Metronome00:04:02 Mall Fashion & Nostalgia00:05:50 The Modern Mall Santa Reinvented00:06:52 Untuckit & the Platform vs. Point Solution Debate00:08:31 The Power of Category Focus00:09:56 Obsession, Craft, and the Raising Cane's Lesson00:10:46 Germany's “Hidden Champions”00:12:44 Competition: When to Care and When Not To00:14:05 OpenAI, Gemini & the “Code Red” Mindset00:15:34 Competition to Category Education00:17:00 Pricing Pages as Competitive Battlegrounds00:18:05 VC Deck Theater & Competitive Grids00:18:54 Rise of B2B Newsletter Advertising00:19:48 Awkward Exits: The Venture “Gray Zone”00:21:46 Founder Life-Changing Exits vs. VC Math00:23:04 Why Secondaries Exist (and When They Help)00:24:58 Why $100–500M Is the Most Common SaaS Exit Range00:26:14 Structural Misalignment in Venture Exits00:27:20 How Much Secondary Is Too Much?00:30:25 Business Blunders: Justin Bieber the PM00:31:54 Voice Notes, Etiquette, and Chaos00:33:23 Cold Calling Makes a Comeback00:35:50 Catherine Jhung Still Cold Calls CFOs00:37:44 Algorithm Pricing Labels & Data-Driven Pricing00:41:11 Why Clubs Charge $12 for Water00:42:40 Closing Credits#MostlyGrowthPodcast #keepitsimple #focuswins #businessstrategy #operatorsmindset This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

In this episode of The Metrics Brothers, Ray “Growth” Rike and Dave “CAC” Kellogg take on one of the biggest challenges facing modern SaaS and AI-Native companies: how to measure NRR and expansion when pricing isn't fixed anymore.With the rise of usage-based, user-based-but-variable, and outcome-based pricing, the traditional world of ARR - long the backbone of SaaS metrics has been turned on its head. Contracts no longer tell the story. Spend does.Dave breaks down how to rethink ARR proxies using quarterly or monthly revenue (“implied ARR”) and why longer intervals help smooth volatility, especially for “humpback” or highly seasonal customers whose spend fluctuates dramatically month-to-month.Ray digs into what NRR was originally designed to measure and why many teams misinterpret it—especially in variable-pricing environments where a backward-looking metric can't serve as a forward-looking forecast. The brothers explain why sequential expansion, usage behavior, and real spend patterns now matter far more than traditional ARR bridges.Key topics include:Why ARR no longer maps cleanly to revenue in a variable pricing worldHow to calculate implied ARR using quarterly or monthly software revenueWhy NRR must be interpreted differently—and why survivor bias still mattersHow volatility and seasonality distort short-interval metricsWhy usage is the real leading indicator, not invoicesHow to rethink “expansion ARR” when base + variable spend changes continuouslyPacked with examples, including sinusoidal customers, misleading GRR math, and the dangers of splitting base versus variable revenue, this episode gives operators and investors a practical framework for measuring customer growth when pricing is anything but predictable.A must-listen for CFOs, RevOps leaders, and anyone trying to modernize SaaS metrics for the AI era.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Die Structured FINANCE 2025 war mit über 2.750 Teilnehmenden die größte Veranstaltung ihrer Geschichte. Wir haben CFOs, Treasurer und weitere Finanzentscheider vor Ort gefragt, was sie derzeit wirklich umtreibt – und die Antworten zeichnen ein klares Bild: Geopolitische Unsicherheiten sind mit 49 Prozent die größte Herausforderung, noch vor Liquiditätsmanagement und Zinslast.In dieser Episode teilen wir die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse: Wie reagiert die Finance-Community auf die Trump-Ära? Warum setzen 45 Prozent auf „Global diversifizieren und diplomatisch lächeln“? Und welche Lehren ziehen Finanzverantwortliche aus 2025 für die Zukunft?Plus: Peer Steinbrück und Carsten Brzeski (ING) ordnen ein, wo Europa im globalen Machtgefüge steht und welche Risiken wirklich dringend sind. Das Fazit der Community: Pragmatisch bleiben, agil handeln – die Zeit fürs Aufregen ist vorbei.

An amazing panel discussion from a recent ACT-IAC CX SUMMIT, focuses on the synergy between financial management and service delivery. Moderated by Steven Boberski, with experts Clarence Crawford, Thomas Coleman, and Sarah Cunningham. They explore the role of CFOs in enhancing customer experience, strategic advising, and leveraging technology, like AI, for efficiency. They also discuss challenges like unfunded mandates and the evolving role of CFOs in the federal government. The episode highlights the importance of collaboration and creative problem-solving in achieving agency goals.Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode! For more from ACT-IAC, follow us on LinkedIn or visit http://www.actiac.org.Learn more about membership at https://www.actiac.org/join.Donate to ACT-IAC at https://actiac.org/donate. Intro/Outro Music: See a Brighter Day/Gloria TellsCourtesy of Epidemic Sound(Episodes 1-159: Intro/Outro Music: Focal Point/Young CommunityCourtesy of Epidemic Sound)

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Glenn Snyder and Rosemary Linden to talk about the important role of FP&A in today's business world. They share stories from their careers, including lessons learned from failures, unique requests they've received, and their experiences navigating the complex world of finance.Glenn Snyder brings years of experience in finance and FP&A, focusing on budgeting, strategy, and improving financial processes. Rosemary Linden is the founder and president of Momentum CFO, where she provides fractional CFO services and FP&A consulting. With over 25 years in the industry, she recently won CFO of the Year from the San Diego Business Journal and is passionate about mentoring women in finance.Expect to Learn:How clarity, influence, and foresight define great FP&A workThe importance of empathy and communication in leadership rolesReal-world lessons from career failures and how to bounce backBest practices for budgeting and data governanceHow to make sure your financial forecasting is both transparent and trustworthyHere are a few quotes from the episode:“FP&A is all about helping leaders make better, faster decisions.” – Glenn Snyder“The way you say things can matter just as much as what you say in FP&A.” – Rosemary LindenGlenn and Rosemary shared valuable insights on the strategic role of FP&A, the importance of empathy in leadership, and how to learn from failures. Their stories and advice will help anyone in finance make a greater impact within their organization. Tune in for more practical tips on navigating the world of FP&A!Campfire: AI-First ERP:Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation, close management, and more, all in one unified platform.Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguyFollow Rosemary Linden:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemarylinden/Company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/momentumcfo/Follow Glenn:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder/Earn Your CPE Credit For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FP&A Certificate, take the quiz on Earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.In Today's Episode:[02:04] – What makes great FP&A[07:00] – Glenn's career failure and lesson[11:06] – Rosemary on empathy and tone in FP&A[19:09] – Managing failure[26:00] – Unusual FP&A requests[38:40] – Streamlining budgeting and setting targets[45:30] – Importance of data governance[49:40] – FP&A's role in raising capital[54:35] – Final thoughts on FP&A's impact

As AI reshapes the modern business landscape, one truth is becoming unmistakable: the partnership between CFOs and CIOs has never been more essential. In this episode of CPM Customer Success, we explore why Finance and IT are being pulled into tighter alignment, and how the organizations that embrace this collaboration are setting themselves up for speed, clarity, and long-term strategic advantage. We look at: Why CFOs and CIOs increasingly overlap in decisions around data, automation, forecasting, and governance How AI exposes gaps in cross-functional alignment, and accelerates the need for shared vision The role OneStream's expert ecosystem plays in creating a common language between Finance and IT A real-world customer example where better collaboration cut a 10-day consolidation issue down to just 3 days Why ongoing guidance matters after implementation, and how Nova Advisory's SMART Services help organizations sustain momentum with proactive, expert support Whether you're a CFO looking to modernize your close, a CIO responsible for data integrity, or a finance leader navigating AI-driven transformation, this episode offers a grounded, practical view of what strong collaboration looks like, and why it's becoming a defining factor in enterprise success.

Inflation is a brutal, immediate pressure point on corporate finance, forcing CFOs and analysts to completely overhaul their operating models. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained on FinPod, we break down how inflation erodes profit margins, manage debt structures, and the radical countermeasures companies employ to maintain financial resilience.The Dual Attack on the Income StatementInflation hits corporate profits from multiple angles, magnifying instability in the supply chain and labor markets:Gross Margin Erosion: Driven by surging input costs (materials, components, logistics). Companies with long, complex supply chains saw freight costs spike by as much as five times during the 2021-2023 surge.Wage Inflation: A tight labor market forces labor-intensive businesses (retail, hospitality) to increase wages, often outpacing revenue growth and becoming the number one variable cost driver.Operating Expense (OpEx) Creep: Rising costs for utilities, commercial rent, insurance, and IT services further compress the overall operating margin.Structural Impact on the Balance SheetPersistent inflation triggers central bank rate hikes, making the cost of capital structural and damaging long-term valuation:WACC Escalation: Higher interest rates raise the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), instantly reducing the Net Present Value (NPV) of future projects and shrinking the list of profitable opportunities.Variable Debt Risk: Companies caught with large amounts of variable rate debt face an exploding interest expense, which can quickly become the single largest line item on the income statement.Working Capital Discipline: Cash loses purchasing power daily. Finance teams must use strict working capital discipline (accelerating AR, optimizing inventory) as an inflation insulator to preserve purchasing power.The Strategic Countermeasures PlaybookThe corporate response to inflation is a mix of strategic offense and defense tailored to the industry:Offense (Pricing Power): Utilizing Strategic Staging of price hikes, adjusting package sizes (shrinkflation), and introducing premium tiers to shift focus to perceived value.Defense (Resilience): Forging tighter partnerships with procurement to negotiate long-term contracts and implementing Supply Chain Resiliency by nearshoring production or building inventory buffers.Financial Hedging: Proactively managing debt by shifting from variable-rate to fixed-rate debt and deploying Dynamic Pricing algorithms that adjust prices daily based on real-time cost and demand inputs.Key Takeaway for Finance Leaders:Inflation is a powerful forcing function that pushes finance teams out of the accounting chair and into the cockpit as strategic operators. True success requires financial agility and the ability to adapt radically.

Chris Maslin, a speaker at The Finance, Accounting and Bookkeeping Show (FAB), joins the podcast to discuss selling a controlling stake in his firm to an employee ownership trust (EOT). He explains why he chose this route, how the transition worked, adjusting to reduced control and the alternatives he considered. Maslin also talks about launching Go EO, his consultancy helping other businesses explore EOTs, and gives his reaction to the Budget announcement cutting capital gains tax relief on EOT disposals from 100% to 50%. He'll be going more in-depth into his journey at FAB on 11-12 March at the NEC. Tom Herbert covers ICAEW's new tech hub for ACA students, created to close the skills gap by giving graduates free access to industry-standard apps. He and Maslin share their thoughts and what's still missing. Finally, Matthew Ord discusses Grant Thornton data showing CFOs and FDs often being left out of the loop. Drawing on chats with FAB speaker Clare Elliott and fractional CFO Marc Obrart, the team explore the risks of poor communication and why alignment across finance teams matters.

Welcome back to another episode of The Richer Geek Podcast. Today we are joined by Chris Hervochon, CPA, CVA, a numbers-driven advisor who helps growth-minded entrepreneurs make smarter financial decisions. Chris shares how good accounting goes far beyond tax season, why advisory-based CPAs can save you tens of thousands, and the real difference between bookkeeping, controllers, and fractional CFOs. He also breaks down how to prepare your business for a future sale and the hidden risks most founders never check. If you're ready to run your business like the asset it should be, this episode will help you get there. In this episode, we chat about… Chris shares how his career went from accounting to pro golf and eventually to running his own CPA firm. He explains why traditional CPAs focus on volume and often can't offer real advisory or proactive support. Breakdown of the differences between bookkeeping, controllers, and fractional CFOs. Discussion on how upcoming tax law changes may impact business owners in the next few months. Chris talks about what makes a business valuable and how owners can reduce risk to increase that value. Key Takeaways: A strategic CPA gives advice year-round, not just during tax season. Growing businesses need consistent check-ins, quarterly at minimum, monthly if possible. Your finance function should stay within 1–3% of your revenue to stay effective. Entity structure and tax planning are major sources of missed savings for entrepreneurs. Buyers pay for stable, low-risk cash flow, not a business that depends on the owner.   Resources from Chris LinkedIn  | Better Numbers Resources from Mike and Nichole Check out our latest project here: Barcelona Hotel Fund LinkedIn  | Gateway Private Equity Group | Nic's guide

In this episode of The Lending Brief (sponsored by Allocore), former SBA CFO and Associate Administrator Kate Aaby joins to unpack what it really takes to manage and modernize one of the federal government's largest loan portfolios. Drawing on experience at OMB, in the private sector, and on the front lines of pandemic lending, Kate reflects on lessons learned from moving $1 trillion in assistance to small businesses, and what's still holding federal credit programs back.She discusses why performance and risk management should be inseparable, how fragmented eligibility systems erode trust, and why true modernization will require CFOs, CIOs, and program leaders to work together across agency lines. The conversation explores the need for shared platforms, better data transparency, and a cultural shift toward collaboration, all to better serve borrowers and safeguard taxpayer dollars.Want more from The Lending Brief? Check out The Lending Brief Newsletter

In this episode of The Future Finance Show, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Cindy Vindasius, an expert in accounting and process transformation with over 30 years of experience in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Cindy, the founder and CEO of her advisory practice, shares her expertise on ERP implementations, system transformations, and how AI is reshaping the finance landscape. They discuss her experiences with ERP failures, her new online course for ERP readiness, and the challenges companies face when navigating ERP transformations and adopting AI tools.Cindy Vindasius is a CPA and MBA with over 30 years of experience guiding high-growth technology and manufacturing companies through complex ERP, finance transformation, and AI-readiness initiatives. As the founder of Vindasius Advisory, she has led 12 ERP implementations, 8 IPO and M&A, and numerous SOX compliance projects. Her clients include industry leaders such as Tesla, Apple, 23andMe, and TenX. Through her ERP Preparedness Master Workshop and executive advisory programs, Cindy helps CFOs and CIOs align systems and processes for scale, resilience, and efficiency.Expect to Learn:Why legacy ERP systems are fundamentally flawed in designCindy's journey into ERP transformations and system implementationsThe complexity of ERP migrations and why they're often harder than expectedHow AI is changing ERP systems and the finance industryCindy's ERP readiness course, which helps businesses prepare for successful ERP transformationsJoin hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:AI Readiness Assessment: Take the free 3-minute AI Readiness Assessment to clearly identify your strengths and weaknesses across Finance and Operations: https://cindy-tooq6nwx.scoreapp.com/AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist:Evaluate smarter and avoid costly mistakes with this AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist packed with key criteria: https://www.vindasius.com/opt-inFollow Cindy:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-vindasius/Website: https://www.vindasius.comFollow Paul: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyFollow QFlow.AI:Website - https://bit.ly/4i1EkjgFuture Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[00:29] - Cindy's Background and ERP Experience[03:30] - The Challenges of ERP Implementations[07:00] - AI's Role in Changing ERP Systems[10:10] - Lessons from AI-Native ERP Platforms[12:00] - Cindy's ERP Readiness Course[16:30] - Closing Thoughts and Thanks

The number one complaint isn't pricing, it's confusion..Big 4 TransparencyBy Dominic Piscopo, CPAFor CPA TrendlinesFor many business owners, finding the right accountant feels like an impossible task. You're trusting someone with your finances, your future, and sometimes even your peace of mind. But in an industry dominated by word-of-mouth and vague Google listings, Sam's List has emerged as a game-changing alternative: a review-based directory for CPAs, bookkeepers, fractional CFOs, and financial advisors, designed to make trust and transparency easier for everyone.  MORE Dominic Piscopo | MORE Private Equity | MORE Pay & Compensation In this episode of Big 4 Transparency, host Dominic Piscopo speaks with co-founder Kimi Green, who shares the wild story of how the viral idea from entrepreneur Sam Parr (of My First Million) turned into a thriving lead-generation platform - and how she found herself leading it with no prior experience in accounting. “I despised accounting,” Green laughs. “I didn't even ask follow-up questions when someone told me they were a CPA.” 

Most owners in the trades do not have a revenue problem. They have a profit problem. Ben Hansen, the Profit Doctor, joins me to break down why you are working harder than ever with nothing to show for it and how to fix it.   In this episode, I sit down with Ben Hansen, the Profit Doctor, to dig into why so many blue collar entrepreneurs are incredible operators and terrible CFOs for their own company. We talk about the gap between turning wrenches and understanding your numbers, why most bookkeepers and CPAs are not setting you up to win, and what to do if your revenue is climbing but your profit is stuck.   Ben walks through his 4-part profit prescription, the difference between profit, revenue, and cash, how to think about pricing in the trades, and why you should stop doing the jobs that always lose you money. We also get into profititis, the 50–20 rule, and how cutting the worst 20 percent of your customers and work can be the fastest way to double what you keep. __ ► Free resource: 90 Day ROI Playbook — Multiply Your Profits with the Skills No One Trains https://bitnw.academy/roiplaybook   __ Guest: Ben Hansen, Profit Doctor Topic(s): Scale lean, boost margins, and build a business that actually gives you freedom, not just bigger numbers. https://profitdoctor.com/   Music Licensing by Audiio License #: 0981896904 #profit #profitability #smallbusiness

Most nonprofit leaders want more unrestricted revenue - but few have a strategy for building it.In this episode, The Charity CFO's Tosha Anderson and Aaron Landis explain why unrestricted funds are the true fuel behind nonprofit growth, stability, and innovation. Drawing on conversations with hundreds of CEOs and EDs, they highlight why organizations with the highest unrestricted percentages are often the most resilient and mission-aligned.You'll learn: • Why unrestricted revenue is essential to scaling programs • The risks of relying on restricted grants or government funding • How unrestricted dollars improve staffing, operations, and long-term planning • How boards and CEOs can shift the fundraising mindset • Practical ways to increase unrestricted support in your next budget cycleA must-listen for CEOs, CFOs, development leaders, and board members serious about financial health.Follow Us Online

Hiring remote staff is not a new concept.  Companies get access to a wider talent pool. Can oftentimes arbitrage wages and find people who are eager to work with you.The downside is managing those people.  The fact that are often not even in the same country adds complexity.  Especially when it comes to payroll or even basic HR functions.Today we are joined by Richard Hogben, founder of Worldwide VA, a company that helps businesses recruit and manage virtual staff - from assistants to CFOs.  In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Richard will be discussing:Best practices for managing virtual staff or remote workersThe key advantages of sourcing talent from outside your local areaSome of the biggest mistakes companies make when working with virtual staff - and how to avoid them.So let's sit down with Richard and find out why we might want to look at the global talent pool for our next hire.USEFUL LINKS:Connect with Richard Hogben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-hogben-23723b2/Website: https://www.worldwideva.comLiving the Dream with CurveballOn the living the dream with curveball podcast I interview guests that inspire.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

Geopolitische Konflikte, US-Zollpolitik und das Kräftemessen mit China stellen international agierende Unternehmen vor enorme Herausforderungen. Wie sich diese Unwägbarkeiten auf das Geschäft der Handelsfinanzierung auswirken, erläutert Jochen Müller, Head of Cash Management und Trade Finance International Sales bei der Commerzbank bei Finance-TV. Seine Diagnose ist eindeutig: „Ein Kunde hat das ganz gut beschrieben. Er sagte zu mir, er sieht das Umfeld als Volatility im Quadrat.“ Diese Unsicherheit präge derzeit die Entscheidungen in den Unternehmen.In Zeiten zunehmender Sanktionen und fragmentierter Märkte setzen CFOs und Treasurer laut Müller verstärkt auf zwei Strategien: Risikoabsicherung und Liquiditätsoptimierung. „Diversifizierung ist sicherlich das Wort und die Strategie, die im Vordergrund steht“, betont der Banker. Nearshoring und Friendshoring helfen, Bezugsmärkte sicherer zu gestalten, während alternative Absatzmärkte neue Chancen eröffnen – als Beispiel nennt Müller etwa Indien. Entscheidend dabei: Die Bank muss überall dort präsent sein, wo sich die Lieferketten ihrer Kunden neu formieren. Trotz aller Umbrüche bleiben dabei die bewährten Instrumente gefragt. Bestätigte Akkreditive, Exportgarantien und Supply-Chain-Finance-Lösungen erleben eine Renaissance. Beim Ausblick auf das kommende Jahr gibt sich der Commerzbanker zugleich optimistisch als auch realistisch: „Ich glaube, dass wir bei den klassischen Instrumenten bleiben, die sind global anerkannt und akzeptiert.“ Gleichzeitig sieht er in der aktuellen Volatilität auch Chancen für Unternehmen, neue Märkte zu erschließen. Mehr zu Finanzierungskosten, Risikomanagement und digitalen Trends, berichtet Müller im Gespräch bei Finance TV.Hinweis: Dieser Talk von FINANCE TV wird präsentiert von der Commerzbank.

Episode 57 How CFOs Can Use TReDS Optimally | Insights from India's TReDS CFO Guest: Kailash Varodia, CFO of RXIL TReDS  Welcome back to MSME TALK® with Industry Expert. Industry Expert segment brings Industry Expert who discusses on specific topic relevant for MSMEs, Startup to scale up and build long-lasting Businesses.  Why did we do this episode: In earlier episode 56, we spoke to CFOs of medium and large companies to understand their real experience of using TReDS and the benefits they're seeing across cash flow, vendor relationships, and treasury efficiency. In today's episode, we flip the perspective. We sit down with Kailash Varodia, CFO & COO of RXIL TReDS, one of India's leading TReDS platforms to know how we will use TReDS as CFO of other enterprises.  

Mostly Growth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostlyGrowthMostly Growth on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-growth/id1842238102Mostly Growth on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3KDtaLaXx1obFp5PUhZ6V3In this episode of Mostly Growth, CJ Gustafson and Kyle Poyar bounce between sharp SaaS insights and delightfully weird internet culture. They start with an unexpected dive into competitive bird-watching apps, then break down recent software mergers like Superhuman + Grammarly + Coda and what they signal about scaling, cross-sell strategy, and private equity mechanics. CJ and Kyle explore why PE portfolios are becoming powerful distribution channels for AI solutions, how niche data “signals” are outpacing generic ones in sales, and share hedge-fund-style tactics for uncovering proprietary business information. The conversation rounds out with “business blunders” — from Y-axis chart crimes to clickbait headlines — and a lively discussion on Spotify's pricing power and how companies should (and absolutely should not) communicate price increases.—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com—LINKS:Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comCJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Growth Unhinged: https://www.growthunhinged.com/Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-poyar/Slacker Stuff: https://www.slackerstuff.com/Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slackerstuff/—RELATED EPISODES:The Layer-Cake Playbook for Vertical SaaS Growth | with Roland Ligtenberghttps://youtu.be/yPxWvhPISKo—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:01:43 Sponsors – Pulley and Metronome00:04:05 Birding, Big Year & AI Bird Apps00:06:42 Software M&A Trends in SaaS00:08:57 Superhuman–Grammarly–Coda Reverse Merger00:10:34 How Larger Valuations Attract a New Investor Class00:11:55 Streaming Wars & Platform Consolidation00:13:20 Private Equity as a Distribution Channel for AI00:14:48 How PE Firms Drive Multi-Company Expansion00:15:56 AI for Efficiency: The PE CFO Playbook00:17:44 When AI ROI Really Matters in PE00:19:23 Signal-Based Selling: High-Intent Buyer Detection00:21:15 Signal Fatigue & the Hunt for Better Data00:22:50 Why Proprietary Signals Win00:24:05 Creative (and Creepy) Data Tactics00:26:09 Pinterest vs. Google: Aspirational vs. Actual Behavior00:27:17 Blurring Work & Personal Signals in AI Tools00:27:46 The Michael Jordan of Y-Axis Crimes00:30:33 Notion Agents Billboard: “Let Them Cook”00:32:31 Pricing in the Real World: Spotify00:34:60 → 00:35:00 How to Communicate a Price Increase00:35:40 Closing Credits#MostlyGrowthPodcast #PricingStrategy #AIGrowth #GoToMarket #PrivateEquity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

Episode 93 of Astonishing Healthcare features Susana Villegas Spillman, who brings over 20 years of health benefits plan management experience to the studio for a discussion about what works, what's broken, and what employer plan sponsors deal with day in and day out. This “unfiltered perspective” from the plan sponsor's seat is welcome and timely. If you're one of the increasingly large percentage of benefits directors, CHROs, CFOs, et al. out there looking to transition from a traditional benefits experience to a new, transparent, aligned, unified model, this episode is for you!Susana explains how a fragmented system fails members, and while we've evolved from the default “call the number on the back of the card” - which directs you to the emergency room - point solutions create more silos, and data is too scattered and stale to drive meaningful change. This forces employers to take control, which leads to her “most astonishing thing,” which is a critical reminder for every benefits leader: “Know what's in your contracts.”Episode 93 covers:The importance of centering the strategy around long-term goals and member experience (with ruthless accountability).The upside of unbundling services from carriers and using independent navigation partners to guide members to high-quality care; why culture fit and flexibility matter when evaluating vendors.Why qualitative measures of success offer a better gauge of program effectiveness vs. empty promises of ROI.The evolving role of benefits consultants, and how to evaluate consultant relationships.The outdated RFP processes and how to run a better RFP.GLP-1 coverage for weight loss.Related ContentHealth Benefits 101: The Importance of a Transparent PBM ModelWhy this benefit leader switched to a more modern, transparent PBMReplay - Unifying Medical and Pharmacy Benefits: The Blueprint for Better Employee Health and WellnessAH078 - More About Judi Health™ & the Unified Benefits Experience, with Dr. Sunil Budhrani and Mike TateCheck out our Health Benefits 101 ContentFor more information about Capital Rx and this episode, please visit Judi Health - Insights.

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Pam Meissner discuss:Aligning strengths with strategyAddressing operational challengesClarifying compensation and career pathsMaximizing long-term firm value Key Takeaways:Successful firm growth depends on matching personal strengths to business goals. Chasing clients or revenue alone does not ensure satisfaction or long-term success. Intentional planning creates a foundation for sustainable growth and fulfillment.Lawyers often face cash flow issues, staff management, and unclear compensation. These operational gaps can lead to stress and sleepless nights if unchecked. Recognizing and addressing challenges early safeguards both firm and personal well-being.Open conversations about pay and partnership tracks motivate legal professionals. Transparency fosters equity and encourages long-term commitment from team members. Clear structures help attorneys understand their role in firm growth and success.Profitability, efficient systems, and reducing single-owner dependency matter most. External guidance, such as fractional CFOs, can help firms overcome growth plateaus. Strategic planning ensures the firm remains valuable for exits or future opportunities. "Everybody wants more money, and they don't realize it comes with problems, and they don't realize that we all get paid for solving problems, but you have to pick the problems you're really good at solving, because if you're solving problems that you're not good at, you're going to be miserable." —  Pam Meissner Check out my new show, Be That Lawyer Coaches Corner, and get the strategies I use with my clients to win more business and love your career again. Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don't miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsor!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/HireParalegals: https://hireparalegals.com/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Pam Meissner: Pam Meissner is the COO, Director of Client Services & CFO at CathCap. She is a seasoned CPA and financial executive whose career spans public accounting, multinational corporations, and entrepreneurial ventures. She has served as a CPA, CFO, COO, CEO, and even a stay-at-home mom, bringing a rare combination of technical expertise and real-world business insight to every role. Now at CathCap, Pam leverages her decades of experience to guide clients in financial strategy, operational excellence, and coaching, helping businesses achieve sustainable growth and success. Connect with Pam Meissner:Website: https://cathcap.com/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Omar Choucair, the CFO of Trintech, to discuss the evolving role of the CFO, the importance of technology in finance, and the strategic value of FP&A teams. Omar shares insights on how AI is transforming financial operations, the need for technical skills in FP&A, and the shift in CFO responsibilities over the years.Omar Choucair brings over 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, governance, and FP&A. His background spans private equity, public company software businesses, and M&A deals, having successfully navigated over 40 major transactions. With expertise in financial software solutions, he leads Trintech in helping businesses automate and streamline critical financial processes.Expect to Learn:The evolving responsibilities of CFOs and the strategic value they provide in today's organizationsHow AI and technology are revolutionizing finance and FP&A functionsThe critical role of FP&A in helping companies understand and act on dataWhy intellectual curiosity and technology expertise are essential for modern FP&A professionalsKey insights on hiring and developing top FP&A talentHere are a few quotes from the episode:“To be successful in FP&A, you have to be technically savvy. If you are afraid of technology, you will not do well in FP&A.” – Omar Choucair“The CFO is the voice of reason, objective under pressure, and the protector of the company and its employees.” – Omar ChoucairOmar discusses the increased pressure on CFOs, the growing reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT, and the importance of being inquisitive to drive better financial insights. He also touches on the importance of collaboration between FP&A and other departments to drive business success and better decision-making.Campfire: AI-First ERP:Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation, close management, and more, all in one unified platform.Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguyFollow Omar:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-choucair-cpa-80264815/Company - https://www.trintech.com/Earn Your CPE Credit For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FP&A Certificate, take the quiz on Earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.In Today's Episode:[02:04] - Omar's Career Journey and Experience in Finance[04:41] - Defining Great FP&A and What It Looks Like in Practice[07:19] - The Role of Technology in Modern FP&A[11:40] - Leveraging AI to Drive Efficiency in Finance[14:04] - The Key to Unlocking FP&A Success[26:21] - Best Practices for Building and Leading an FP&A Team[33:13] - Integrating Business Intelligence into FP&A Workflows[38:55] - Managing the Budgeting Process and Alignment with ELT[44:27] - Key Skills for Future FP&A Leaders and Career...

Sparrow automates employee leave management—a compliance nightmare that consumes thousands of HR hours annually at companies with distributed workforces. With $64 million in total funding through their recent Series B, Sparrow has achieved 14x revenue growth between their Series A and Series B by solving what became an "insurmountable problem" as states, counties, and cities each passed conflicting paid leave regulations over the past decade. In this episode of BUILDERS, Deborah Hanus shares how she scaled from $1.2 million in her first year while running everything part-time by discovering that the path to enterprise adoption wasn't solving employee frustration—it was quantifying the hidden costs of compliance risk, payroll errors, and retention that director-level HR leaders were desperately trying to contain. Topics Discussed: The regulatory explosion that made leave management unsolvable in-house: overlapping federal, state, county, and city requirements across distributed teams How Sparrow pivoted from a $50-per-leave consumer product to enterprise software after discovering director-level buyers saw a fundamentally different problem than employees Why Sparrow's biggest competitor is internal management rather than other vendors, and how this shaped their entire go-to-market strategy The 4-10x ROI framework: how preventing paperwork errors that cost customers $1 million+ justifies $100K platform investments Scaling from founder-led sales with zero sales background through systematic hiring processes—including reaching out to 100+ candidates for their first sales hire Customer qualification strategy: vetting prospects not just for current pain, but for alignment with the product roadmap 2-3 years forward   GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Map pain perception across org levels to find economic buyers: Employees experienced leave management as "taking me a lot of time"—roughly 20 hours of taxes-level complicated paperwork. Director-level HR leaders, CFOs, and employment lawyers saw something entirely different: retention problems from employees leaving after bad leave experiences, litigation risk from compliance gaps across jurisdictions, thousands spent on employment lawyers for each leave event, and payroll calculation errors when state programs cover partial wages. Deborah's initial consumer product hypothesis failed because employees would only pay TurboTax pricing (~$50), requiring massive volume. The enterprise motion succeeded because strategic buyers owned the full cost stack. Map how pain manifests at each organizational level, then build your ICP around whoever owns the aggregate business impact rather than the tactical workflow friction. Build ROI models around error prevention, not efficiency gains: Sparrow doesn't sell time savings—they sell payroll accuracy. Their typical customer sees 4-10x financial ROI because the platform prevents mistakes that cost significantly more than the subscription. When paperwork is filed incorrectly, employees miss 60-70% of pay for 12-20 weeks, and with 70% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, employers often make up the difference to prevent attrition. A $100K Sparrow investment typically saves $1M+ in payroll corrections alone, before counting the thousands in hours HR spends with employment lawyers for each leave event. Calculate the true cost of the status quo—including error correction, compliance penalties, and retention impact—not just the labor hours your product eliminates. Design qualification frameworks for roadmap fit, not just current pain: Deborah emphasizes that "everyone has this problem, but not everyone is going to be a fit for the product today and where it's going to be two years from now." Sparrow deliberately vets whether prospects will be excited about their product evolution 3-4 years forward, not just whether they have leave management pain today. This drives retention and customer advocacy as capabilities expand. Build qualification criteria that assess prospect-product alignment across the entire customer lifecycle—including future module adoption, integration depth, and use case expansion—rather than optimizing only for closing deals on current functionality. Treat hiring as systematic sourcing, not urgent gap-filling: Despite being in "back-to-back calls all day" unable to "send order forms fast enough," Deborah took time to reach out to approximately 100 candidates to make their first sales hire. She emphasizes defining what each role should accomplish 5-10 years out, then building sourcing strategies to achieve 50% confidence in that long-term outcome. This intentional approach—coupled with her value of "scaling intentionally"—enabled efficient growth without typical scaling chaos. Resist the startup default of "just hire someone fast." Instead, invest upfront in role definition (including the 5-year trajectory), source systematically rather than opportunistically, and accept lower short-term velocity for higher long-term scaling efficiency. Recognize emotional volatility as statistical artifact, not signal: Deborah reframes the classic startup "highs and lows" through a data science lens: with sparse early data, founders overfit to individual signals. One person saying "your product is stupid" triggers existential doubt; one saying "everyone should use it" creates irrational exuberance. As companies scale and data accumulates, the noise averages out—70% neutral-to-good outcomes with 30% fires becomes manageable rather than anxiety-inducing. She found scaling "much easier than that first year" because "you can sort of plot out your trend line and you can see where you're going." Build systems to accumulate data points faster (more customer conversations, more experiments, more leading indicators), recognize that early-stage emotional swings reflect sample size rather than reality, and make decisions based on trend lines rather than individual data points. // Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM

In this Provocateurs podcast special recorded at the 2025 Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala, creativity strategist Natalie Nixon discusses how organizations can harness creativity as a strategic business competency.Challenging the misconception that creativity belongs only to artists, Natalie uses her “wonder-rigor” framework to demonstrate that the best engineers, scientists, CFOs, and leaders toggle between imaginative exploration (wonder) and disciplined execution (rigor). This chaordic balance between chaos and order is essential, she says, for driving sustainable innovation.Turning to AI and the future of work, Natalie contends that technology offers an opportunity for more distributed, improvisational ways of working – which appeal in particular to Gen Z – and AI can actually humanize organizations by creating liminal space for deeper collaboration and wonder. Natalie is the author of The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work (Berrett-Koehler, 2020), and Move. Think. Rest. Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time (Balance, 2025).This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives' participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

From jumping straight to deal structure to building repeatable acquisition programs that scale, Corey Kupfer shares the exact whiteboarding process he uses with clients to create successful deal programs across M&A, joint ventures, licensing, and any deal-driven growth strategy. In this solocast episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer walks through the five critical steps that must come before deal structure when building a repeatable deal program. Drawing on 35+ years of deal-making experience and countless whiteboarding sessions that have helped create platforms completing dozens of transactions, Corey reveals why most attorneys start in the wrong place and how proper planning separates successful programs from expensive mistakes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: In this episode, you'll discover why deal structure should be the sixth step in your process, not the first, and how to identify your personal and business motivations before pursuing any deal program. Corey shares the five whys technique from Honda's former CEO to uncover your real drivers, how to define your ideal target or partner profile to avoid wasting time on opportunities that don't fit your strategic criteria, and why your value proposition must differentiate you from competitors who may have more capital. You'll learn how to assemble the right deal team with both internal and external expertise, why building a repeatable model before doing individual deals prevents cap table nightmares and integration problems, and the power of having template documents ready to demonstrate you're a serious player. The framework applies whether you're pursuing acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing deals, franchising, or any other deal-driven growth approach. THE WHITEBOARDING PROCESS: Most clients come to Corey asking about deal structure. What should the terms be? Should they pay cash or offer equity? What about earnouts? These are important questions, but they're not where you should start. After doing whiteboarding sessions with countless clients over 35 years, Corey can say with complete confidence that every single one has gotten significant value from the process. The firms that skip these steps end up with inconsistent deal structures, cap table problems, and integration nightmares. The companies that do this right create efficient, repeatable processes that let them scale their deal programs. THE INTERNAL JOURNEY: Corey often talks about things other lawyers don't discuss. He focuses on the internal journey, making sure business leaders and executives move forward on deals from the right place. When you get to wherever you think you want to go, you should actually be happy and satisfied, and it should help you achieve your objectives and goals. Too many entrepreneurs pursue growth strategies based on external pressures or assumptions about what they think they should be doing, based on entrepreneurial wisdom out there. They grow and do things in ways that don't actually end up making them happy and satisfied and aren't necessarily best for their business. STEP ONE: START WITH YOUR WHY: The first question in every whiteboarding session is why. Not just the corporate why, although that matters. Corey wants to know your personal why as the founder or executive driving this strategy. If your why is geographic expansion because your clients need services in other markets, that's legitimate. If your why is adding capabilities that will create a better integrated client experience, that works too. If your why is increasing enterprise value before an exit in five or ten years, there's no judgment about that. You just need to be clear on what drives you, because that clarity will shape every subsequent decision. Corey uses the five whys technique, which comes from the former CEO or chairman of Honda. You ask why five times, going deeper with each question. Why do you want to grow? To get bigger. Why do you want to get bigger? To serve clients better. Why will that serve clients better? Because they have needs we currently send elsewhere, and integration would improve their experience. Why does that matter to you? Because I genuinely care about my clients and believe this will make them happier while helping our company grow. That depth of understanding separates deal programs that succeed from those that become expensive distractions. STEP TWO: DEFINE YOUR TARGET PROFILE: Once you know your why, you can determine who you should be targeting. This is where many firms waste tremendous time and energy. Doing deals is a distraction from running your business, especially if you don't have a dedicated corporate development team with finance people, legal resources, and integration specialists. You need to be surgical about who you pursue. Think about the wealth management space, which Corey works in extensively. There are huge numbers of buyers right now. The market is incredibly competitive. If you're trying to compete with private equity backed aggregators on their terms, you'll lose every time. They can pay top dollar, close fast, and offer the second bite of the apple through rollover equity and multiple arbitrage. If you don't have PE backing, you need a completely different value proposition. Maybe it's culture. Maybe it's the opportunity for advisors to expand their service offerings. Maybe it's taking administrative burden off retiring founders so they can focus on what they love. Your value proposition should be authentic to who you are and what you can actually deliver. STEP THREE: ASSEMBLE YOUR DEAL TEAM: Before you start actively pursuing deals, you need to know who will be on your deal team, both internally and externally. This includes whoever sources deals for you, whether that's an internal corporate development person, an investment banker, a recruiter, or a consultant. You need financial expertise, and it better be someone with deal experience. Accountants, CFOs, and controllers who have never worked on transactions are very different from those who have. The same goes for legal. Your general corporate lawyer is not the person to build your deal program. Then you have all the integration functions. Technology integration. HR and culture integration. Client communication and retention strategies. You might not have every person in place on day one, but you need to know what roles are required and have a plan for filling them before you close your first deal. STEP FOUR: BUILD YOUR MODEL: This is where most companies make a critical mistake. They do deals opportunistically without creating a consistent model first. Someone approaches them, they negotiate terms, they close. Then another opportunity comes along, they do it differently. After three or four deals, they have completely different structures with different equity classes, different earnout provisions, different everything. This creates massive problems. If you have different classes of equity, your cap table becomes a mess. If sellers talk to each other and realize they got very different deals, you have credibility issues and potential legal exposure. Integration becomes nearly impossible because you don't have standardized processes. The best acquirers find their model and make it repeatable. They have template legal documents. They have standardized financial analysis and underwriting processes. They have systems for due diligence and integration. Every deal follows the same fundamental structure with minor variations based on specific circumstances. When you build your model, you're deciding the big conceptual components. Are you doing all cash deals or creating an equity class for rollover? How much will you pay upfront versus over time? Will you have retention requirements tied to revenue or client retention? What about earnouts for partners who stay involved in growth? In service businesses where client relationships matter, you almost always want some backend money contingent on retention. If you're buying a manufacturing business with hard assets, the calculus is different. STEP FIVE: DRILL DOWN TO DEAL STRUCTURE: Once you have your model, you can determine the actual deal structure for individual transactions. What specific equity class will you offer? If you're an S corp, you can only have one class of equity. Will you restructure as a C corp or an LLC to offer different equity terms? What exact percentage will you pay upfront versus backend? Over how many years? If you know you're targeting retiring business owners who want to cash out, they probably want more money upfront and less backend risk. If you're targeting younger partners who want to stay and grow, they might prefer less upfront and more backend upside. All of these specific terms fit within your broader model. You're not reinventing the structure for each deal. You're applying your established approach with minor customizations based on the specific situation. THE POWER OF TEMPLATE DOCUMENTS: The ideal scenario is completing your whiteboarding session, building your model, and creating template legal documents before you start seriously pursuing targets. When someone expresses interest, you can immediately send a letter of intent. You can start due diligence with established processes. You can deliver definitive legal documents quickly. This makes you look professional and serious. It shows potential partners that you know what you are doing and have your act together. Speed matters in competitive markets. Corey understands the practical reality. Template documents cost legal fees before you have a deal in place. Some clients aren't willing to make that investment without more certainty. Others have already started conversations with potential partners before they come in for the whiteboarding session. Recently, a client did the whiteboarding session in the morning, then met with a potential seller that same afternoon. The seller was ready to move faster than expected. The documents got built for that specific deal, which also became the templates for future transactions. REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS: The framework works across any deal type. While Corey uses M&A as the primary example because that's what most clients ask about, the principles apply to licensing strategies, joint venture partnerships, franchising programs, or any other deal-driven growth approach. The key is understanding what the ideal process looks like and getting as close to it as circumstances allow. A lot of these factors depend on your industry and the types of relationships with clients and customers. The contractual length and other factors with those customers and clients help dictate what the model will be around things like retention requirements. If you're bringing in retired folks who are looking to get out of the business and will be gone after a consulting arrangement, that will dictate a different part of the model than somebody who is younger, coming in, going to stay with the company, and wants to continue to grow. THE PERSONAL WHY MATTERS MOST: Company objectives matter. Strategic rationale matters. Financial considerations matter. But your personal why as the founder or executive is equally important. Why are we entrepreneurs if we're not creating companies that let us build the lives we want? Too many business leaders grow based on external pressure or assumptions about what they should be doing. They read about how some company scaled through acquisition, so they think they need to do the same thing. They hear about the multiples PE backed platforms are achieving, so they assume that's the only path. Then they build companies they don't actually want to run. They create obligations and structures that make them miserable. They achieve financial success but personal dissatisfaction. Your personal motivations are relevant and legitimate. If you want to build a legacy company, own that. If you want to create enterprise value for an exit, be honest about it. If you genuinely care about providing better client experiences, let that drive your decisions. When your personal why aligns with your company strategy, you create something sustainable. PROVEN RESULTS: These whiteboarding sessions have helped build platforms that have completed dozens of acquisitions. The firms that invest in proper planning make deal-driven growth look easy because they've built proper foundations. The firms that skip these steps end up scrambling, making mistakes, and wondering why their deal program isn't delivering expected results. The process creates tremendous value for every client who goes through it, helping founders create businesses they actually want to run while achieving their financial objectives. Perfect for business leaders considering deal-driven growth, entrepreneurs building acquisition programs, executives exploring joint ventures or strategic alliances, and anyone who wants to pursue deals without wasting time and resources on opportunities that don't align with strategic objectives. • • •FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE:https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/dealprogram• • •FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER:https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/http://coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today! Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:00] - Introduction to the whiteboarding process for building deal programs [01:01] - Why this process applies to all deal types, not just M&A [01:53] - Five steps that must come before deal structure [02:43] - The passion for visioning, planning, and strategy sessions [03:24] - Why starting with deal structure is the wrong approach [04:18] - The internal journey and making sure deals align with happiness [05:24] - Step One - Starting with your why and getting clear on motivations [06:26] - Using the five whys technique to go deeper on your drivers [06:49] - Example of the five whys in action with client scenarios [08:02] - Step Two - Defining who you're targeting to avoid wasting time [09:54] - How to compete when you don't have PE backing in competitive markets [10:59] - Creating authentic value propositions that differentiate you [12:43] - Step Three - Assembling your deal team internally and externally [13:27] - Why you need the model before individual deal structures [14:08] - The mistake of doing deals opportunistically without consistency [14:44] - Problems created by inconsistent deal structures across multiple deals [15:02] - Step Four - Building a repeatable model that can scale [17:01] - Deciding conceptual components like cash versus equity structures [19:35] - Step Five - Drilling down to specific deal structure within your model [20:34] - Determining upfront versus backend payment percentages [22:17] - The ideal scenario of having template documents ready [22:38] - The practical reality when clients have already started conversations [24:56] - Socializing deals to key stakeholders after closing [24:58] - The importance of not skipping the process even under time pressure [25:25] - Why your personal why matters as much as company objectives [26:24] - The danger of building companies you don't want to run Host Bio Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes Episode 80 - Deal-Ready Foundations with Corey Kupfer: Explore the foundational elements needed before pursuing any deal strategy, including team building and internal preparation. Episode 84 - Business Partnerships Deals with Corey Kupfer: Understand how partnership structures work and how to create successful collaborative deals. Episode 90 - The BEST Of Company Founders with Corey Kupfer: Learn from multiple founders about their deal-driven growth strategies and what worked in building their companies. Episode 134 - Deal Preparation with Corey Kupfer: Discover the five steps toward deal-making success and how proper preparation prevents poor performance. Episode 138 - 5 More Steps Towards Deal-Making Success with Corey Kupfer: Building on the foundation of deal preparation, explore additional critical steps for executing successful transactions. Social Media Follow DealQuest Podcast: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ Website: https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Keywords/Tags deal program planning, M&A strategy, acquisition planning, joint venture strategy, licensing deals, deal structure framework, whiteboarding sessions, strategic deal planning, repeatable deal process, deal-driven growth, deal team building, value proposition for deals, target partner profile, deal legal structure, franchise strategy, strategic alliances, five whys technique, business motivation alignment, personal why in business, cap table management, template legal documents, integration strategies, corporate development, wealth management M&A, PE competition strategies, deal model building

In this episode, Sasha Orloff talks with Yogi Goel, Co-founder and CEO of Maxima, about raising $41 million from Kleiner Perkins and RedPoint Ventures to build an agentic AI platform for enterprise accounting that automates journal entries, reconciliations, and variance analysis for complex companies, helping them close their books 2-3 days faster with 98% automation while strengthening SOX controls and freeing accountants from mundane tasks. -- SPONSORS: Notion Boost your startup with Notion—the ultimate connected workspace trusted by thousands worldwide! From engineering specs to onboarding and fundraising, Notion keeps your team organized and efficient. For a limited time, get 6 months of Notion AI FREE to supercharge your workflow. Claim your offer now at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://notion.com/startups/puzzle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Puzzle

In her second week as CFO, Cristina Kim sat with Octaura's leadership team reviewing a three-year strategy and ambitious 2026 targets, she tells us. As the numbers appeared on the screen, her instinct was to do what she had done for nearly two decades: probe what might go wrong, stress-test assumptions, and look for what could break, she tells us. Mid-meeting, she experienced what she calls an “aha moment”—realizing she was no longer outside the story but inside it, responsible for helping the team achieve those goals, she tells us.That shift caps a career built on breadth rather than a linear ladder. Cristina began in investment banking in Hong Kong before spending 17 years in JP Morgan's strategic investments group across London and the United States, she tells us. There, she learned to sit at the center of technology innovation, translating between business needs, risk, and upside, and working closely with management teams and CFOs, she tells us. Over time, investing in Octaura and partnering with its leaders made her want to move from evaluating companies to helping build one, she tells us.Today at Octaura—an electronic trading platform and data company focused on loans and CLOs, she tells us—Cristina is applying that investor muscle in new ways. She is building frameworks for resource allocation, pushing for more granular, week-to-week metrics, and exploring how AI-enabled forecasting and internal data tools can sharpen decisions, she tells us. The discipline remains, but now it is in service of writing the story from within, she tells us.

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by systems and finance transformation expert Cindy Vindasius to explore why so many ERP implementations fail, and what companies can do to fix that. They discuss the often-overlooked groundwork needed before selecting a system or deploying AI tools, and why jumping straight to automation without strong data and processes is a recipe for chaos. Whether you're planning an ERP rollout or modernizing finance operations, this conversation is packed with practical guidance for long-term success.Cindy Vindasius is a CPA and MBA with over 30 years of experience guiding high-growth technology and manufacturing companies through complex ERP, finance transformation, and AI-readiness initiatives. As the founder of Vindasius Advisory, she has led 12 ERP implementations, 8 IPO and M&A, and numerous SOX compliance projects. Her clients include industry leaders such as Tesla, Apple, 23andMe, and TenX. Through her ERP Preparedness Master Workshop and executive advisory programs, Cindy helps CFOs and CIOs align systems and processes for scale, resilience, and efficiency.In this episode, you will discover:Why 70% of ERP implementations fail and how to avoid common misstepsWhat ERP readiness really means, and why it's often overlookedHow AI-native ERPs compare to legacy systems in real-world implementationsWhy scalable data governance and documented processes are essentialHow Cindy's ERP Preparedness Master Workshop helps teams succeedThis episode highlights the often-missed foundations of ERP and AI success: preparation, clarity, and scalability. Cindy Vindasius shares the roadmap finance leaders need to transform systems from a source of chaos into a driver of growth.Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.AI Readiness Assessment: Take the free 3-minute AI Readiness Assessment to clearly identify your strengths and weaknesses across Finance and Operations: https://cindy-tooq6nwx.scoreapp.com/AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist:Evaluate smarter and avoid costly mistakes with this AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist packed with key criteria: https://www.vindasius.com/opt-inFollow Cindy:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-vindasius/Website: https://www.vindasius.comFollow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyFollow QFlow.AI:Website - https://bit.ly/4i1EkjgFuture Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what

If your 2026 budget is starting to feel like a no-win puzzle—flat headcount, higher growth expectations, fewer resources—this episode is for you. Craig Moore of Forrester joins Drew to reveal the budgeting mistakes too many B2B CMOs are still making—and what to do instead.  From rethinking budget architecture to organizing around business outcomes, Craig shares the frameworks that enable CMOs to go beyond justifying their spend—and start leading the strategic conversation with CEOs, CFOs, and CROs.  Get ready to challenge your assumptions, realign your org, and turn your budget into a true lever for growth.  In this episode:  The big 3 budgeting mistakes CMOs make  Why campaign-based budgeting unlocks strategy  Areas of volatility in 2026  AI's Role in Budget Planning  This is just the first half of one of CMO Huddles monthly Bonus Huddles with B2B marketing strategists. To hear the rest of the conversation with Craig, visit CMO Huddles Hub on YouTube.  For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/

SHOW NOTES:In this powerful episode, Matt Zaun talks with Natalia Zacharin, founder of Zacharin Consulting—an “accounting firm on steroids.” They unpack how fractional CFOs turn messy books into strategic insight, why AI speeds analysis but never replaces human judgment, and how Natalia rebuilt her life (and business) from $7.10/hour to a multi-million-dollar firm.In this episode, they cover:✅ AI in finance (the truth) — great for speed and patterns; still needs humans to classify revenue vs. loans, deposits, and edge cases✅ A trust case study — “400 calls a month” salesperson with zero sales; the numbers exposed fabricated activity✅ Survival tactics when you feel stuck — slash to essentials, stack small wins, and re-engage your mind so you're not trapped in a negative loop✅ Why founders should sell more often — being in the sales process forces you to listen and shape services people actually want...and much more!BIOS:Natalia Zacharin is the founder & CEO of Zacharin Consulting, a full-service accounting firm with controller-level oversight, dedicated payroll specialists, fractional CFO services, and tax strategy. She and her team help clients improve revenue, profit, and cash clarity to build sellable companies. Zacharin Consulting grew 525% in three years (Inc. 5000) and surpassed $2M in annual revenue with a team of 12+.Matt Zaun is an award-winning speaker and strategic storytelling expert who helps leaders inspire action and drive results through the power of story. He's the author of The StoryBank, a practical playbook for using strategic storytelling to build culture, boost sales, strengthen marketing, and become a dynamic public speaker.

In episode #333, Ben answers a foundational SaaS metrics question: Should expansion revenue be included in your Lifetime Value (LTV) calculation? Ben walks through the correct LTV formula and highlights how misalignment between LTV and CAC can distort your LTV:CAC ratio. He also covers when expansion should be included. The episode provides a practical framework for SaaS founders, CFOs, and operators to ensure they calculate LTV accurately, compare it properly to CAC, and model unit economics using consistent, reliable inputs. Key Topics Covered The correct LTV formula using average new-customer MRR × subscription gross margin Why the churn input should align with dollar-based metrics using 1 – Gross Revenue Retention (GRR) Why expansion revenue is deliberately excluded from LTV in most SaaS models How including expansion artificially inflates the LTV:CAC ratio The cost mismatch between acquiring new customers (CAC) and generating expansion revenue When PLG motions justify including limited, time-bound expansion revenue in LTV How organic upgrades differ from sales-assisted expansion How SaaS+ businesses must adjust their LTV formula to account for usage revenue The role of gross margin in determining true unit economics The importance of aligning metric definitions when evaluating customer profitability Why This Matters This episode is essential for: SaaS founders calculating LTV for budgeting, pricing, and forecasting CFOs, controllers, and FP&A leaders managing unit economics and CAC payback Finance teams modelling customer profitability and revenue expansion Operators working in PLG environments assessing organic expansion patterns Investors reviewing LTV:CAC ratios in diligence and portfolio monitoring Anyone building SaaS Plus (subscription + usage) revenue models Resources Mentioned Ben's deep dive on SaaS+ LTV: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-calculate-ltv-with-variable-revenue/ SaaS Metrics course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation

Visa has announced a major overhaul of its commercial credit card data standards through its new Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP), and businesses should take notice in order to avoid paying significantly higher rates. Eric Cohen, CEO at Merchant Advocate, explains what this means for businesses and why CPAs need to be paying attention. Topics discussed:What CEDP is and why Visa is moving away from the old systemImpacts that controllers, CFOs and public accountants should be preparing forCommon system and data problems that could cause business to fall out of complianceWhat CPAs should be asking their payment processors nowPreview of another big pending issue in the credit card processing world Resources:Visa CEDP Explained: What Every B2B Merchant Needs to KnowLearn more about Merchant Advocate and their special offer for NJCPA membersBusiness Management Knowledge Hub #IssuesWatch #podcast #visa #cedp

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode SummaryIn this archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark sits down with Todd Miller — longtime NCUA expert, former Director of Special Actions, and member of the CU Exam Solutions team — to break down one of the most misunderstood and under-optimized tools in credit union governance: the board package.Boards get in trouble not because they don't care, Todd explains, but because they are often misinformed, overwhelmed, or kept in the dark. A well-designed board package solves that — if it's built with the right mix of clarity, consistency, and candor.Todd explains:What high-performing board packages includeWhy “size and complexity” shape reporting expectationsThe danger of data dumps, inconsistent formatting, and detail overloadHow to pair dashboards with strong qualitative narrativesThe one question every executive should answer in their reportsWhy peer comparisons matterHow risk appetite, strategic plans, and deviation explanations must tie togetherReal-world stories from troubled and well-run credit unionsHow to avoid examiner criticism by aligning reporting with actual riskThis episode is full of practical actions your board and leadership team can apply immediately.Key Themes & Takeaways1. Great Board Packages Balance Qualitative + Quantitative ReportingTodd outlines a simple principle: Board reports should demonstrate management's compliance with the business plan, board policies, and the credit union's risk appetite. transcript Board Packages Todd …Boards need both data and narrative to understand where the credit union is, how it got there, and where it's going.2. Consistency Builds Board TrustFrom formatting to color-coding to dashboards, consistency helps directors quickly understand risk without getting bogged down.Inconsistent layouts or disorganized reporting create confusion and can lead to micromanagement or oversight failures.3. Avoid the “Data Dump” TrapTodd highlights that many troubled credit unions had mountains of data… but no clarity. Board packets that keep expanding over time—without periodic pruning—bury critical insights.Annual reviews of what stays, what goes, and how information is summarized are essential.4. Dashboards Are Critical — But Must Be Thoughtfully BuiltDashboards should show:Where the CU has beenWhere it is nowWhere it's trending nextThey must also be paired with narrative analysis to flag:VariancesDeviations from strategic/annual plansNew risksNew opportunities5. The Biggest Blind Spot: Credit Risk ReportingCredit risk is the No. 1 cause of failures. Todd explains how to reduce hundreds of pages into 2–3 meaningful pages with:Risk migration visualsLTV + credit score overlaysPortfolio trendsBusiness loan concentration & large-borrower exposure6. Committees Create Risk — and Reporting ObligationsALCO, lending, IT, risk committees… Boards need visibility but not minutiae.Todd walks through how well-run credit unions:Summarize committee outputElevate red flagsKeep the board focused on strategy, not operations7. Real-World Stories—The Good, The Bad, The UglyTodd shares examples of:39 unprofitable branches hidden in an overly detailed packetBoards blindsided by marijuana banking risk and resulting finesA $4 million depositor walking out because the board lacked contextThese stories underscore the need for transparency, context, and prioritization.Why This MattersA strong board package:Improves governanceEnhances regulator confidencePrevents surprisesSupports faster, cleaner examsKeeps boards strategicHelps management demonstrate competence and controlThis episode is a must-listen for CEOs, CFOs, lending executives, and directors looking to elevate their governance culture.

Robin Page (TMI) sits down with Adam Taplinger (PwC) to explore why cash efficiency has become a strategic imperative for treasurers and CFOs in today's volatile markets. In this episode Adam unpacks what cash efficiency truly means and why it is now a value-enabling imperative. He considers how leading treasury organisations are driving positive change through AI-driven forecasting and centralised payment models to unlock trapped cash, optimise liquidity, and build enterprise-wide resilience.

In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ sits down with Greg Henry, CFO of 1Password and one of the most commercially minded finance leaders in tech, to break down why he left the public-company grind at Couchbase for a PLG-driven security business and what he's relearning in the private sphere. Greg explains how forecasting changes when the product does the selling, how to think about comp and pricing in a usage-led world, and the early tells that a model is quietly over- or under-performing. He shares why CFOs should meet far more customers than they do, how finance can drive revenue without stepping on sales, and what it actually takes for a company to plan with clarity instead of reacting. Greg also recounts the near-derailing of the Couchbase IPO, reflects on the “back nine” of his career, and offers grounded advice for aspiring first-time CFOs.—SPONSORS:RightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Tipalti automates the entire payables process—from onboarding suppliers to executing global payouts—helping finance teams save time, eliminate costly errors, and scale confidently across 200+ countries and 120 currencies. More than 5,000 businesses already trust Tipalti to manage payments with built-in security and tax compliance. Visit https://www.tipalti.com/runthenumbers to learn more.Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runFidelity Private Shares is the all-in-one equity management platform that keeps your cap table clean, your data room organized, and your equity story clear—so you never risk losing a fundraising round over messy records. Schedule a demo at https://www.fidelityprivateshares.com and mention Mostly Metrics to get 20% off.Metronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.comMercury is business banking built for builders, giving founders and finance pros a financial stack that actually works together. From sending wires to tracking balances and approving payments, Mercury makes it simple to scale without friction. Join the 200,000+ entrepreneurs who trust Mercury and apply online in minutes at https://www.mercury.com—LINKS:Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greghenry23/1Password: https://1password.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:Behind the Earnings Calls: Couchbase CFO Greg Henry on Consumption Models & Analyst Relationshttps://youtu.be/o_pDfz5a-Hw—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:02:57 Sponsors – RightRev | Tipalti | Aleph00:07:03 Back in the Private Sphere: Why Greg Joined 1Password00:07:49 Greg's Four-Part Framework for a Great Role00:10:12 Thinking About the “Back Nine” & Legacy00:13:16 Transitioning to PLG & SLG at 1Password00:15:12 Blending PLG Efficiency with Enterprise Sales00:17:12 Sponsors – Fidelity Private Shares | Metronome | Mercury00:20:03 B2C vs. B2B ARPU Contrast00:22:41 Forecasting in PLG vs. Sales-Led Models00:24:18 Building Toward Chunky Enterprise Upside00:25:39 Comp Plans: Complexity, Pitfalls & the Alexander Group00:27:35 Keep Comp Plans Simple & Focused on ARR00:29:10 Why Mid-Year Comp Plan Changes Are Dangerous00:31:04 Governance & Guardrails for SPIFFs00:33:19 Using the CFO Network to Drive Revenue00:34:52 Why CFOs Must Meet Customers Directly00:36:19 Wallet Share & Being a Buyer AND a Seller00:38:08 Why He Avoids 3-Year+ Commitments00:40:20 How Much Discount Is a “Year” Worth?00:42:31 Greg's Structured Annual Planning Framework00:43:50 3–5% Upside/Downside Menu00:44:57 Comp Plans Must Go Out Early00:47:23 January Compensation & System Cutover Challenges00:48:31 Why Roadmap Alignment Must Kick Off Planning00:50:21 Sustain / Differentiate / Durable Growth / World-Class Teams Framework00:52:29 Couchbase IPO Almost Going Sideways00:54:59 How to Actually Become a CFO01:00:11 Legacy Greg Wants to Leave at 1Password#RunTheNumbersPodcast #CFOInsights #SaaSLeadership #PLGvsSLG #FinanceStrategy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

Live-Webinar am 11.12.2025, 18 Uhr: "Wie du aus dem Tagesgeschäft aussteigst & den Wert deiner Firma steigerst" - hier anmelden und kostenlos dabei sein! In dieser Episode sprechen Christoph und Tobias über eine akute Unternehmenskrise eines Kunden – und was wir alle tun können, um gar nicht erst in solche Situationen zu geraten. Sie zeigen, wie wichtig vorausschauende Planung und der klare Blick auf die Zahlen ist. Dabei geben sie konkrete Impulse für Prävention, finanzielle Steuerung, die Rolle des CFOs im Mittelstand und wie man durch gezielte Simulationen bessere Entscheidungen trifft. Diese Folge ist ein Muss für alle Unternehmer:innen, die sich gegen wirtschaftliche Unsicherheiten wappnen wollen!Was dich erwartet:Warum viele Unternehmen aktuell in Schwierigkeiten geratenWie du ein einfaches Finanzmodell in Excel erstellstDer Unterschied zwischen Hoffnung und HandlungsfähigkeitWas ein guter CFO leisten muss – auch in kleinen UnternehmenWie du gezielt Szenarien durchspielst und daraus ableitest, was zu tun istEmpfohlene Folge zum Thema Krisenmanagement: Hier anhören_______________________

In this Thanksgiving-week Mostly Growth episode, CJ Gustafson and Kyle Poyar ditch the serious finance talk for a looser, drinks-in-hand conversation with Ben Hillman, bouncing between CJ's nostalgic emo-punk concert adventure, the curse of vanity license plates, and the epidemic of “Y-axis crimes” in founder charts. They riff on Spotify Wrapped copycats, YouTube becoming living-room TV, kids' YouTube empires, and the game theory behind The Traitors and the Monty Hall problem before shifting into real-world pricing: newsletter perk economics, the pitfalls of hourly consulting, and why value-based packaging always wins. The episode stays playful but still sneaks in sharp insights on growth, psychology, and how weird the business world can be when you actually pay attention.—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com—LINKS:Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comCJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Growth Unhinged: https://www.growthunhinged.com/Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-poyar/Brian Balfour: brianbalfour.comBrian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbalfour/Slacker Stuff: https://www.slackerstuff.com/Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slackerstuff/https://x.com/parikpatelcfa/status/1992706757073023191?s=46https://www.wired.com/story/null-license-plate-landed-one-hacker-ticket-hell/https://x.com/im_roy_lee/status/1992692253257855261/photo/1https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/01/16/the-traitors-a-reality-tv-show-offers-a-useful-economics-lessonhttps://www.cdccard.com/https://nyulangone.org/news/one-third-americans-are-trying-avoid-gluten-it-villain-we-think-it-ishttps://x.com/techsalesguy3/status/1991585201601016161?s=46https://www.fletchpmm.com/https://paintvine.co.nz/blogs/news/the-legend-of-picassos-napkin-sketch?srsltid=AfmBOooiyTYGfUdKJZLpblbQAcJzQLg011Os_xeyaCgSpEIXrtIuD6hHhttps://cityfeedandsupply.com/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cj-gustafson-13140948_started-from-the-email-now-were-here-activity-7397607230600126465-iVPv/https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018731-buttermilk-brined-roast-chickenhttps://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026610-porcini-ragu—RELATED EPISODES:Is a weekly martini ARR? | with Dave Kellogghttps://youtu.be/Yb1lUQLJ6qw—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Special Message00:00:35 Preview and Intro00:01:41 Sponsors – Pulley & Metronome00:04:01 Mostly Drinks Episode00:05:14 Concert Stories & Pop-Punk Nostalgia00:08:05 Concert Parenting & Full-Circle Moment00:08:36 Business Blunders Begin00:10:26 License Plate Fails & Accounting Humor00:12:08 Y-Axis Crime Chart Review00:14:21 Global Podcast “Success” & Listener Jokes00:16:00 Spotify Wrapped: Retention vs. Acquisition00:17:04 YouTube as the Future of Podcasts00:17:56 Kids' Shows, Blippi & Creator Economics00:18:55 The Traitors Show Overview00:20:30 Game Theory & Winning as a Traitor00:22:46 Monty Hall Problem Setup00:24:27 Game Show Logic & Gambler's Fallacies00:26:09 Pricing in the Real World00:27:03 Community Discount Card Business Model00:29:09 Newsletter Perks & Subscriber Value00:30:34 Marketplace Discount Math00:32:01 Negotiating Like a CFO00:33:00 Gluten-Free Nights & Pricing Strategy00:35:24 Outbound Pizza as a Go-to-Market Play00:37:03 Outbound Pizza Tuesdays to Gluten-Free Tuesdays00:37:37 Pricing Services: Value vs. Hourly00:40:47 The Picasso Pricing Story00:42:55 Harvard Business School Case Study & Kim K Photo00:44:02 Thanksgiving Cooking: Roast Chicken & Porcini Ragu00:44:56 Wrap & Credits#MostlyGrowthPodcast #SaaSOperators #BusinessStrategyPod #CreatorEconomyTalks #FinanceNerds This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

This week, Steve Grzanich is joined by Thought Leader Doug McClure (Senior Vice President and Team Leader, Commercial Banking at Associated Bank) to discuss the increased optimism among CFOs on the U.S. economic outlook, as well as CEOs regaining confidence in the wake of tariffs.

How did auto allocation, AI, and smart planning help transform Bealls into a true off-price leader? In this episode, Matt sits down with Darrell Gold — Vice President of Merchandise Planning — to unpack the systems, decisions, and mindset shifts that reshaped the company.Darrell explains the early days of manual allocation, the leap to 90% auto allocation, and how tools like ProfitMind are now accelerating decision-making across thousands of classes and stores. Together, they explore how planning became a strategic engine for speed, accuracy, and off-price excellence.They discuss:• How auto allocation increased efficiency and improved store-level accuracy• Why ProfitMind's AI insights are reshaping the planning process• The partnership between merchants and planners — “the CFOs of the buyers”• The evolution from heavy inventory to fast turns and fresh receipts• The cultural transformation toward openness, listening, and shared leadership• Becoming One Bealls and leveraging scale across planning and buying• Darrell's personal story, passions, and lifelong devotion to learning and musicThis episode reveals the behind-the-scenes driving forces that helped Bealls move faster, think smarter, and operate as an off-price powerhouse.Interested in a Career at Bealls? – https://www.beallsinc.com/beallsinc/careers Follow Bealls Legacy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bealls-legacy/Episode Timeline:00:00 – Introductions06:34 - How has Technology Changed Planning?10:49 - ProfitMind12:55 - Leveraging AI20:04 - How are Stores Identified & Grouped?22:34 - Becoming One Bealls24:39 - Culture at Bealls32:47 - Practices41:49 - Darrell Gold Outside of Bealls45:18 - Closing#BeallsLegacy #Leadership #PeopleFirst #Culture #PurposeDriven #ListenLearnLead #Teamwork #Inspiration #GrowthMindset #BeallsInc

In this episode of Business Lunch, we dive into the critical 90 to 100-day period following a private equity acquisition, emphasizing the need for rapid, auditable value creation. It outlines a strategic framework for CFOs, detailing tactical moves to achieve immediate financial impact while integrating lean thinking principles to eliminate waste and enhance operational efficiency. The discussion also highlights the importance of human behavior in executing these strategies effectively.Chapters00:00 The Critical 90-Day Sprint10:05 Strategic Framework for CFOs18:37 Tactical Moves for Immediate ImpactSpecial AnnouncementAfter 5 years of teaching entrepreneurs how to build, buy, and sell companies, I'm retiring all Epic courses and educational content permanently. This isn't because they didn't work, thousands have built real wealth with these frameworks, but because AI, capital markets, and collaboration have changed the game. I'm shifting from teaching deals to doing deals. Want access to everything before it disappears forever? This is your last chance to grab 5 years of proven frameworks, strategies, and training materials before they're gone for good. See the full story and whats going into the vault here: Go to the vaultConnect with me on social:TikTok: Check out my TikTok HereInstagram: Check out my Instagram HereFacebook: Check out my Facebook HereLinkedIn: Check out my LinkedIn HereSubscribe to my YouTube

Show Summary: In this episode, William Spengler breaks down why traditional hiring continues to fail finance leaders—and what top CFOs are demanding instead. He reveals how outdated recruiting systems lack the data integrity, accountability, and measurable ROI that finance executives rely on in every other area of business. William explains why the best CFOs don't want résumé collectors—they want strategic partners who understand business drivers and build relationships before a job search begins. William also shares how Frederick Fox's performance-first hiring model, built on flexible, commission-based partnerships, delivers precision, speed, and long-term retention. He explores how finance leaders balance cost control, culture, and urgency when filling high-impact roles, and what Frederick Fox has learned from working with more than 700 clients. The episode closes with practical lessons any firm can use to improve leadership, growth, and talent strategy beyond recruiting.   Website:https://frederickfox.com/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-spengler-2193433a/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/frederick-fox/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederickFoxGroup/   Corporate Partner:Impressia Bank - https://impressiabank.bank/ Profit First App Version 2.0 is here!  More Education. More Functionality. More Profit!

From Armand Farrokh and Nick Cegelski, the duo behind the 50,000-copy best-selling cold calling book, this episode breaks down the exact playbook top reps use to consistently book meetings. Learn the highest-converting openers, how to tailor context to any persona, the tactics they use to disarm prospects, and the triple-bypass method for getting past gatekeepers. You'll also get strategies to avoid spam-tagging, boost connect rates, and keep momentum high during every dial block. Timestamps: 00:01 Current top cold call opener (Tailored Permission) 03:33 Adjusting your opener for CFOs and senior decision-makers 04:43 How to make prospects laugh & break telemarketer resistance 07:26 Triple Bypass: Getting past gatekeepers without sounding salesy 09:49 How much research to do before each cold call 12:12 Blind vs researched dialing: Which books more meetings 13:35 Handling “call me later” and “I'm too busy” objections 16:10 When to leave voicemails (and the voicemail that doubles replies) 17:15 Should you double dial? Smart tactic or spam trigger? 18:29 Tools to speed up dialing and increase conversations 19:10 How to boost cold call connect rates (4 proven tactics) 21:03 Getting accurate phone numbers using data waterfall 22:27 How to prevent no-shows after the meeting is booked 23:32 What to say when someone says “cold calling doesn't work” 24:59 The fastest way to instantly improve your cold calls 26:22 How to stay confident during a cold call losing streak 27:22 Most memorable cold call stories (good and bad lessons) These Courses Will Get You to President's Club

Want that in-person spark that only happens when firm owners get in the same room?

"Start telling your story really early. By the time the actual capital raise comes around, you can create something that's oversubscribed." This is a special episode only available to our podcast subscribers, which we call The Mini Chief. These are short, sharp highlights from our fabulous guests, where you get a 5 to 10 minute snapshot from their full episode. This Mini Chief episode features James Schofield, Founder of Insight Investor Relations. His full episode is titled Pitching your business, raising capital and winning investor trust. You can find the full audio and show notes here:

In this special retrospective episode, we revisit three standout conversations from our archives to explore how automotive CFOs have long shaped strategy inside some of the industry's most complex business models. From auctions to dealerships to early-stage EV manufacturing, these finance leaders reveal how they navigated scale, technology shifts, and operational risk. KAR Auction Services CFO Eric Loughmiller discusses turning massive transaction data into intelligence. Warren Henry Automotive CFO Erik Day explains the realities of margin compression and liquidity pressure. And former Electra Meccanica CFO Bal Bhullar shares how finance guides a young manufacturer from prototypes to production. Together, their insights form a timeless lesson in CFO leadership at high speed.

Brian Balfour, Founder & CEO of Reforge and former VP of Growth at HubSpot, joins Mostly Growth to explore why product-market fit is a moving target. He introduces the concept of the Product-Market Fit Treadmill, a state where rising customer expectations and competitive pressure make it harder than ever to stay ahead. Brian breaks down how AI has accelerated PMF collapse, explains the hidden costs of product adoption, and shares how Reforge shipped five AI-native products with a team of just 20 people. Packed with frameworks, strategic insight, and startup realism, this episode is essential listening for product leaders, operators, and founders navigating the next wave of GTM.—SPONSORS:Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.com—LINKS:Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comCJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Growth Unhinged: https://www.growthunhinged.com/Kyle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-poyar/Brian Balfour: brianbalfour.comBrian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbalfour/Slacker Stuff: https://www.slackerstuff.com/Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slackerstuff/https://brianbalfour.com/four-fits-growth-frameworkhttps://x.com/amasad/status/1981201454032703662?s=46https://getlatka.com/companies/firefliesaihttps://x.com/rowancheung/status/1988218743952916537?https://gamma.app/insights/how-we-built-a-usd100m-business-differently—RELATED EPISODES:When the marketing math doesn't math | with Emily Kramerhttps://youtu.be/sSuoV_YSrlwWhy Founders Are Posting Sad Dinnershttps://youtu.be/Zl6NSIHF2Gk—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Preview and Intro00:01:51 Sponsors – Pulley, Metronome00:04:11 Introducing Brian Balfour & Reforge background00:07:22 Evergreen frameworks & Four Fits resurgence00:11:01 PMF treadmill and rising expectations00:14:26 AI shocks and PMF collapse (Chegg)00:16:43 CRM expectations & AI-native workflows00:20:44 R&D as ongoing cost to serve00:22:26 Customers buying based on future product velocity00:24:32 Communicating rapid releases & driving adoption00:25:17 Reforge's expanding AI product suite00:27:52 Product delivery vs. product adoption bottlenecks00:29:32 Platform distribution shifts introduction00:30:51 Evaluating emerging platforms00:32:04 The open → close platform cycle00:33:31 Moats, escape velocity & platform dominance00:36:32 Choosing major vs. emerging platforms00:40:22 ChatGPT dominance in AI discovery00:42:16 Hiring, resumes & filtering AI-generated applications00:43:30 AI note-taking market & “Flintstoning”00:47:03 Trying Gamma & AI-generated presentation tools00:50:08 AI onboarding innovations (WhatsApp agent)#MostlyGrowthPodcast #ProductMarketFit #BrianBalfour #StartupStrategy #Reforge This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com

Matt Putra is a fractional CFO and founder of Eightx, specializing in helping e-commerce and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies scale profitably and sustainably. With over a decade of experience, Matt has supported businesses generating $5 million to $100 million in revenue, expertly managing cash flow, raising capital, and building financial systems that empower founders to make data-driven decisions confidently. On this episode we talk about: Matt's unconventional path to becoming a CFO, including working in manufacturing and private equity before founding Eightx​ The challenges and strategies for scaling a business that heavily depends on personal expertise and trust​ Why Matt chose e-commerce and CPG niches and how he built his client base primarily through LinkedIn and referrals​ The importance of setting and tracking key financial metrics tailored to each business team for proactive management​ Managing cash flow with weekly 13-week forecasts to foresee and handle financial challenges​ Taking calculated financial risks as a founder and balancing ambition with cash flow realities​ Advice for founders on understanding finance versus outsourcing critical financial functions​ How Matt continues to build and scale Eightx with a growing team of CFOs, analysts, and accountants​ Top 3 Takeaways 1.  Key financial metrics and consistent cash flow forecasting are crucial tools for business longevity and scaling.​2.  Scaling a fractional CFO business requires careful hiring and trust-building with skilled financial professionals.​3.  Founders should focus on core finance understanding but outsource complex financial functions to experts like fractional CFOs.​ Notable Quotes   "If you can figure out your top 20 financial metrics, you're very likely to succeed."​   "The most boring activity that exists in finance today is updating your 13-week cash flow forecast every week, but it makes you a better cash flow manager."​   "Charge enough to overdeliver for your customers because it will cost more to deliver on your promises than you expect."​ Connect with Matt Putra:   LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mattputra​   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattwjputra/​   Website (Eightx): https://eightx.co​ ✖️✖️✖️✖️

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst takes you inside the Campfire Finance Forward AI Summit in San Francisco, a one-of-a-kind event exploring how AI is transforming finance. Instead of one guest, this special edition features four conversations with top finance leaders and innovators who share what they're seeing, building, and doing with AI in real time. From ERP innovation to the EQ behind great CFOs, this episode delivers tactical advice and big-picture thinking from the forefront of modern finance.John Glasgow is the CEO and co-founder of Campfire, leading the charge in AI-native ERP innovation for modern finance teams. CJ Gustafson, the founder of Mostly Metrics and a former CFO, brings real-world insights on scaling, AI adoption, and the shift from executive to creator. Libby Francke, Head of Finance at Klarity, shares her experience modernizing data infrastructure and running a lean, high-impact finance function with Campfire. Kevin Neary, VP of Finance at Brainly, reflects on managing global finance operations and how AI is helping his team boost efficiency and productivity.Expect to Learn:Why Campfire is building an AI-native ERP with its own large accounting modelHow to identify when legacy systems like QuickBooks are holding your company backWhat makes great FP&A beyond technical skill: EQ, storytelling, and sniff testsHow to think tactically about AI adoption, agents, and automationHere are a few quotes from the episode:“Trying to make the most of AI and low-cost solutioning is how we're building the finance function of the future.” - Libby Francke“A lot of companies are stuck in pilot purgatory; they test AI, think it's cool, but don't know how to roll it out.” - CJ GustafsonThis special episode of FP&A Unlocked captures the momentum and insight from the Campfire Finance Forward AI Summit, showcasing how finance leaders are navigating the rapid shift toward AI-native systems. From foundational models to practical automation, the conversations with John Glasgow, CJ Gustafson, Libby Francke, and Kevin Neary highlight that the future of finance isn't just about technology; it's about strategic thinking, clean data, and bold leadership.Campfire: AI-First ERP:Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation, close management, and more, all in one unified platform.Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguyFollow John:LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/johnglasgow/Follow CJ Gustafson:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Follow Libby:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/libby-francke-cpa-831b4854/Follow Kevin:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-neary-cpa/Earn Your CPE Credit For CPE credit, please go to