Podcasts about Navan

Nick is back with the popular daily racing podcast alongside racing post lead writer Lee Mottershead. With the news the State Man is out for the season still fresh, Nick gets the latest on two horses whose careers have intertwined with his: Gordon Elliott tells us Brighterdaysahead will to run at Navan this weekend, while Jeremy Scott says that Golden Ace may yet make the Fighting Fifth after her disappointing comeback. Plus, Ben Pauling reflects on an excellent day yesterday with Diva Luna, while updating us on several stable stars. In Bahrain, Nick catches up with Godolphin boss Hugh Anderson, and handicapper Phil Smith as the kingdom seeks Group One status for its biggest race. Plus TPD's Adam Mills tries to find a tactical angle into the Bahrain Trophy. With Magic Millions the next major Australian staging post, MD Barry Bowditch explains how this event has become such a phenomenon in recent years.

Nick is joined by ITV's Oli Bell to canter through this morning's racing headlines. With a whole host of stars set to take to the stage this weekend in Ireland and the UK, Nick talks to Charlie McCarthy - owner of Kopek des Bordes - about the return of last season's star novice hurdler, set for his chasing debut at Navan this weekend. Also on the show, James Owen spins through a host of smart horses bound for Cheltenham, including Ambiente Friendly, Trad Jazz, Hallelujah U, Burdett Road and more. In Bahrain, Nick catches up with Thady Gosden, Ralph Beckett and Dan and Clare Kubler, while JA McGrath has the latest from Hong Kong, including a tribute to jockey Brian Rouse, who has died aged 85.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AGENDA: 04:27 Navan's IPO: Winners, Losers and 20% Crater 12:55 Harvey Raises $150M at an $8BN Valuation 35:36 Was Sam Altman Wrong to Snap at Brad Gerstner 41:25 Why GOOG is a Buy and Amazon is a Short 47:43 Meta Down 10%, Buy or Sell?  51:12 If You Have Not Accelerated with AI, You Are Dead 01:05:20 Why Now is the Best Time for Series A and Worst for Seed    

In this episode of The Data Chief, Ilan Twig, co-founder and CTO of Navan, shares why large language models will revolutionize our relationship with technology—just like the mouse did for the keyboard. From pushing AI to its limits to launching Navan Cognition, built for zero critical hallucination, Ilan reveals what it really takes to lead through change and build AI that people can trust. He also dives into a critical question every company must face: Will you build AI from scratch, or build with AI partners?? And if you're curious about the next frontier, Ilan paints a bold vision of agent-to-agent communication—where AI services talk to each other and your admin work disappears into the background.  A must-listen for anyone building the future of AI-powered user experiences.Key Moments:Agent-to-Agent Communication (A2A) (17:00): Ilan envisions a future where dedicated AI services communicate with each other in natural language, without the need for an API. This "mother of all bots" would manage administrative tasks by talking to other bots, simplifying complex tasks for the user.AI as a "Human" Experience (27:16): Ilan was surprised by the release of ChatGPT in 2022 because it was the first time a technology felt human. This led him to spend four months building and testing the technology's boundaries, including its ability to lie or be "jailbroken" with creative prompts.Identifying the Core Business (31:43): Ilan advises companies to decide if they want to become an "AI company" or simply use AI. He explains that building a core AI platform requires a huge commitment.A Case Study in Building (35:32): The conversation furthers, as a light is shed on the building of “Navan Cognition”, because no solution existed at the time to prevent critical hallucinations in AI models. This system includes a supervisor agent that works to catch and correct undesirable responses, creating a "zero critical hallucination" experience for its users.Key Quotes:"LLMs would do to the mouse what the mouse did to the keyboard when it comes to how humans interact with computers."  - Ilan Twig“My role is to always apply the best technology in order to drive, to create the best product and best experience. That's my role. And it is not technology for the sake of technology. It is technology for the sake of creating value for the users." - Ilan Twig“We ended up using ThoughtSpot. We also applied the generative AI capabilities that you guys have built into your product. That's build versus buy. That's the benefit of buy.”  - Ilan TwigMentionsNavan Introduces World's Smartest T&E Personal AssistantNavan CognitionAI jailbreak method tricks LLMs into poisoning their own contextSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)  - Richard P. FeynmanGuest Bio Ilan Twig is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Navan, the leading modern travel and expense management platform, globally. As CTO, Ilan drives Navan's product development and engineering efforts, leveraging cutting-edge technologies — including AI — to enhance user experience and operational efficiency. This is Ilan's second successful venture with Navan CEO Ariel Cohen, following their previous company, StreamOnce, a business multimedia integration platform acquired by Jive Software. With nearly two decades of engineering experience, Ilan has a proven track record of leading innovative research and development teams. He previously held key roles at Hewlett-Packard and Rockmelt, where he managed large-scale engineering initiatives. Ilan holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Academic College of Tel-Aviv, Yaffo. As a forward-thinking technologist, Ilan is passionate about integrating AI-driven solutions to redefine the future of corporate travel and expense management. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

Send us a textWelcome to What's Up in Business Travel for Week 44 of 2025.  This is a weekly podcast where we update you on what's up this week in the world of business travel.  This podcast is great for those who need to know what's happening all in under 15 minutes.On this week's podcast, we covered the following stories:Navan shares open on Nasdaq, Price dropsHotel industry implores Congress to end the shutdownAir Traffic Controllers miss 1st full paycheckJetBlue Q3 yields up in Q3Alaska Q3 corporate revenue upDOT terminates 13 Mexican routes to USAirlines close deal for shares of WestJetSouthwest raises international profileAlaska & Hawaiian secure a single operating certificateAvis Budget pledges 'hard reset'Wizz Air revives $580 Pass IndiGo's India-China flight takes offCornerstone launches UpstreamAmex GBT launches 'Freemium' consulting for SMEsAmadeus Cytric launches 'Prime' TMC Partnership ProgramYou can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.comThis podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!Support the show

Today, we're joined by Trevin Chow, Chief Product Officer at Big Cartel, an ecommerce platform for independent creators to turn their art into income. Previously, Trevin held product leadership roles at Nike, Microsoft, Axon, and more. In this episode, Trevin shares: How they thread the needle between brand history and innovation — respecting a 20+ year legacy while still driving towards the future His process for creating “simple magic” by making features so simple, they delight users — even if that trades less customization for better ease of use How AI is transforming product and design workflows by drastically cutting down the time between idea and innovation And what product leaders can learn from rethinking simple as a benefit rather than a constraint Links LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevin/ Navan: https://www.bigcartel.com/ Resources Lovable: https://lovable.dev/ Unblocked: https://getunblocked.com/ Chapters 00:00: Intro 03:22: The product journey that led Trevin to Big Cartel 05:55: Big Cartel's 20+ year legacy and how they look at innovation 12:28: Why simplicity can trump complexity in software 13:26: Products and features that delight ft. an example from Alaska Airlines 18:03: Why Big Cartel launched a "pause subscription" button, and the value it drove 21:09: What makes features appear "magical" in today's product landscape 23:06: The overlap between product management and product design 23:40: Trevin's guide to hiring for curiosity and grit 33:17: Conclusion Follow LaunchPod on YouTube We have a new YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@LaunchPodPodcast)! Watch full episodes of our interviews with PM leaders and subscribe! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket's Galileo AI watches user sessions for you and surfaces the technical and usability issues holding back your web and mobile apps. Understand where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr). Special Guest: Trevin Chow.

What will be OpenAI's IPO price? Place ya bets! | EXXX*Polymarket's sharps are already placing bets on when ChatGPT maker OpenAI will go public… and Jason and Alex want in on this action. They're placing side wagers on how the House that Sam Altman built will be valued once it finally goes public.PLUS find out why Amazon is Jason's stock pick for the next five years… Why startups are starting to release their own foundation models, and what this means for major players like OpenAI and Anthropic… AND Producer Oliver stops by with an in-depth look at the music-generating Suno app.Friday shows don't get any bigger than this.Register for Founder University's Japan Kickoff!https://luma.com/cm0x90mkToday's show:*Timestamps:(0:00): Jason doesn't trust Sam Altman... Stay tuned!(2:24) Jason's been using Tesla FSD's “Mad Max” Mode and it's a SPICY ride!(8:54) Jason and Alex checked out Higgsfield's new Face Swap tool… Jason thinks this will revolutionize the movie casting process(10:39) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit.(14:03) Here's what Jason thinks: there are acceptable uses of Higgsfield's tech but some are OVER THE LINE(17:23) Here's why Jason says the music industry deals with startups like the Mafia(19:59) Northwest Registered Agent - Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!(21:02) Producer Oliver has been playing around with AI music app Suno… here's a live demo(22:47) We're using Suno to make a Dire Straits song about JCal!(30:11) PaperOS - Whether you're raising a round, launching a fund, or managing a venture portfolio, PaperOS can unlock simplicity and scale across your empire of capital, contracts, and companies. Claim your $10,000 credit at https://paperos.com/twist(39:42) IT'S EARNINGS WEEK! What Jason and Alex make of the fresh numbers from Amazon, MSFT, and Alphabet(40:58) Jason's checking out his Grokipedia page… could this be the internet's new go-to resource?(45:15) Why Amazon is Jason's pick of THE stock for the next 5 years(46:42) Three startups made their own AI models! Is the era of paying big co's for their LLMs coming to an end?(50:09) Jason's warning for anyone “dumb enough” to use OpenAI's API… they are studying you!(57:16) It's a new Jason-Alex bet… What will OpenAI's IPO price be?(59:35) What happened with Navan's IPO? Jason and Alex dig into the numbers.(1:07:37) Why Jason compares some later investors to Wormtongue from “Lord of the Rings”

welcome to wall-e's tech briefing for friday, october 31st! here's a snapshot of today's key tech developments: navan's ipo turmoil: the ipo of navan, formerly tripactions, faced a 20% fall on its debut, closing with a valuation of approximately $4.7 billion. navan is notable for being the first to use a new sec rule allowing ipos during a government shutdown without direct sec approval. google and reliance partnership: google partners with mukesh ambani's reliance industries to provide ai pro access free for 18 months to millions of jio users in india, aiming to penetrate a vast untapped market for ai technology. figma's expansion: figma acquires ai-driven media generation company weavy, which will be integrated into figma as figma weave, enhancing ai media generation capabilities for users. canva's new features: canva introduces a foundational design model and ai features, including 3d object generation and an enhanced ai assistant. launching canva grow, a marketing platform with embedded ai tools for asset creation and analytics. join us tomorrow for more exciting tech updates!

Hotel pricing turns from instinct to algorithm, Kayak blames Google for a $457 million hit, and Navan makes its Wall Street debut. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy recaps the biggest travel business stories of the week — from AI reshaping hotel revenue strategy to Google's growing grip on discovery and the next big test for corporate travel tech. Articles Referenced: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Navan Priced IPO at $25 Per Share and Is Slated to Go Public Today The New Science of Hotel Pricing Kayak CEO on $457 Million Writedown: Google Squeezed the Travel Industry Again Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast⁠⁠⁠ Honorable Mention: ⁠⁠⁠@AskAConcierge on IG⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Send us a textLinking the Travel Industry is a business travel podcast where we review the top travel industry stories that are posted on LinkedIn by LinkedIn members.  We curate the top posts and discuss with them with travel industry veterans in a live session with audience members.  You can join the live recording session by visiting BusinessTravel360.comYour Hosts are Riaan van Schoor, Ann Cederhall and Aash ShravahStories covered on this podcast episode include -Virgin Atlantic has confirmed that their CEO Shai Weiss is leaving the company. He's been in that role since 2019.Navan sets a valuation of up to $6.45 billion and plans to raise about $960 million in its initial public offering.Revolut acquires AI travel agent startup Swifty.The travel technology publication Travolution.com is acquired by travel tech firm Travelsoft.Shares in easyJet jumped by as much as 12% after reports that MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company was considering a takeover of the airline.The most engaged post of the week goes the one by Erika Armstrong, in which the truth behind the "close door" sign in US elevators is revealed.Extra Stories:Finnair washes plane with water?Enterprise Wins the JD Power SurveyDelta has a great Q3 performance You can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.comThis podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!Support the show

Send us a textWelcome to What's Up in Business Travel for Week 42 of 2025.  This is a weekly podcast where we update you on what's up this week in the world of business travel.  This podcast is great for those who need to know what's happening all in under 15 minutes.On this week's podcast, we covered the following stories -Navan reports $6.45B Valuation Ahead of IPODelta's Amex Income Keeps GrowingAir Ticket Sales Hit Record $8.7 BillionEurope saw 50% rise in flight cancellationsDelta, Aeromexico Challenge DOT OrderVietnam Airlines reports a customer data breachEU's Entry-Exit System starts long-awaited implementationLyft Acquires TBR Global ChauffeuringJuno partners with Direct TravelRevolut acquires Swifty Cathay Pacific to Expand Free Wi-FiBritish Airways Debuts LoungesASTA launches tool to address late hotel commissionsSouthwest Airlines debuts new aircraft interiorKayak rolls out AI ModeYou can subscribe to this podcast by searching 'BusinessTravel360' on your favorite podcast player or visiting BusinessTravel360.comThis podcast was created, edited and distributed by BusinessTravel360.  Be sure to sign up for regular updates at BusinessTravel360.com - Enjoy!Support the show

Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta predicts a new growth phase for the U.S. hotel sector, citing easing inflation, stable tax policy, and upcoming events like the World Cup, though corporate travel remains below pre-pandemic levels. Navan, a corporate travel and expense company, counts major AI firms OpenAI, Perplexity, and Anthropic among its clients as it prepares for a $960 million IPO and a $6.45 billion valuation. Meanwhile, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky believes AI tools like ChatGPT won't replace online travel agencies but sees potential for future integration once the technology matures. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An analyst argues Booking.com and other OTAs are well-equipped to withstand AI challengers like ChatGPT and Gemini thanks to deep behavioral data and robust payments networks, even as Booking acknowledges real disruption risks. Delta posted record Q3 revenue powered by its loyalty engine and a 12% YoY jump in American Express proceeds—$2B in the quarter and $7.4B year-to-date—with leadership leaning into high-income travelers who drive ~95% of revenue. Corporate travel platform Navan filed to IPO at up to a $6.45B valuation—about 30% below its 2022 private mark—seeking up to $960M as filings show improving margins and 34% growth in first-half 2025 gross bookings to $4.1B. Will AI Disrupt Booking and Other OTAs? One Analyst Says They're ‘Well-Positioned' Navan Seeks $6.45 Billion IPO Valuation — a 30% Haircut From 2022 Delta's Amex Numbers Show Its Growing Bet on Wealthy Travelers Connect with Skift LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

welcome to wall-e's tech briefing for monday, october 13th! today's episode covers key developments in tech and beyond: marc benioff's unexpected stance: salesforce's ceo advocates for national guard presence in san francisco, surprising many with his political shift and support for the trump administration and elon musk. massive ai infrastructure investments: nvidia's jensen huang predicts $3-$4 trillion in ai spending by 2030, with microsoft boosting its openai investment to $14 billion, alongside oracle's $30 billion contract. navan's ipo amid turmoil: the corporate travel firm, formerly tripactions, pushes forward with a bold ipo strategy, targeting a $6.45 billion valuation during a government shutdown. google's notification solution: chrome introduces a feature to silence disruptive alerts from low-engagement websites, enhancing user experience across android and desktop platforms. boring company's regulatory challenges: elon musk's tunneling venture faces nearly 800 environmental violations in nevada, yet continues progress on the expansive las vegas tunnel project. stay tuned for tomorrow's tech updates!

Baron of Dunsany Randal Plunkett joined us to reflect on aspects of his "Wild Thing" memoir. Gerry enjoyed a wander down memory lane with Showaddywaddy's original drummer Romeo Challenger as the bank mark 50 years on the road with a special concert at the TLT Theatre in Drogheda. It'd Fire Safety week and Alan Lawes recalled a near fatal blaze at his home in Navan. Ellen Rochford expressed annoyance at the ending of classes for people with autism, which her son attends, at Enfield Community Hub in Meath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Reilly from Kilmessan believes no young player should have to choose between hurling and football. Young entrepreneur Bobbie Gamble is going places with his 17 Vending & Events business. Celebrity Chef Catherine Fulvio is doubling down on food waste ahead of her visit to Navan. David Sheehan previewed the weekend's sporting action and we enjoyed classic comedy from the Golden Girls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AGENDA: 00:00 Why I am 100% Equities and 0% Cash 04:35 Nvidia's Massive $100BN Investment in OpenAI 08:39 Is Anthropic Negatively Positioned by OpenAI Gaining NVIDIA Investment 27:30 Is Triple, Triple, Double, Double Dead 44:00 Navan Files to Go Public at $8BN 49:31 Lockup Periods and Liquidity 50:35 Impact of H-1B Visa Changes on Startups 01:02:42: Notion Hits $500M ARR Re-Accelerating 01:09:42 Why Founder Friendly is Total BS Today  

In the early days of a startup, forecasting isn't about nailing the numbers, it's about setting the course. In this episode, the world's most interesting CFO describes the art of “Cowboy forecasting” and how this back-of-the-envelope model can be far more valuable than a complex simulation. Kevin Drost started his career as a musician and talent scout for Sony before becoming the chief strategy officer of the music gear marketplace Reverb. Now, as the CFO of New Era ADR, he explains how the company is disrupting the notoriously expensive legal industry by replacing the billable hour with flat fees, and making dispute resolution faster and more predictable for businesses. The conversation also covers why simplicity often beats complexity in financial modeling, how a hands-on understanding of the product and customer builds real financial confidence, and how finance teams can empower every employee to understand and drive the business.—LINKS:Kevin Drost on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevindrostNew Era ADR: https://www.neweraadr.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Secrets to Scaling a Marketplace Business with Jack Greco, VC and Co-founder of ACV Auctions — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:40) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(07:18) Kevin's Music Background & A&R at Sony(12:09) Record Labels Versus Venture Capital(17:01) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(20:53) Finding Motivation After Success(21:34) Building Reverb & the Etsy Acquisition(25:33) Stacking Skillsets & Interests(27:11) Cowboy Forecasting at Reverb(32:01) The Importance of Simplicity in Forecasting in the Early Stages(35:46) The Art and Science of Making Estimated Guesses(41:42) Building Firsthand Customer & Product Knowledge(45:36) Teaching Finance Across the Company(50:44) New Era ADR & Legal Industry Disruption(57:35) Legal Strategy Versus Financial Strategy(1:01:30) How New Era Gets Parties To Use the Platform(1:05:27) Other White Hot Use Cases for New Era ADR(1:09:25) The Long Ass Lightning Round: Kevin's Biggest Mistake(1:12:41) Advice to a Younger Self(1:14:01) Finance Software Stack(1:15:21) Life as an A&R Rep—SPONSORS: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 personalized demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metrics#CowboyForecasting #FinanceLeader #StartupFinance #LegalTech #StartupForecasting 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 a world increasingly dominated by software and automation, how vital are human relationships in banking and finance? In this episode, CJ sits down with Meghan McKenna, founder of Females in Finance (FIF) and a seasoned banker with experience at JPMorgan, HSBC, and Stifel, to explore how trusted connections continue to drive success. As a community builder and banker, Meghan has a unique perspective on the intersection of human connection and capital markets. She explains the philosophy behind her community, which is based on generosity and genuine connection rather than a transactional mindset, and how this has become her competitive advantage. The conversation also covers sales as an essential leadership skill, the rise of the modular banking stack, changes in private credit, the evolving ERP landscape, how a personal touch proved invaluable during the SVB crisis, and career lessons Meghan learned along the way.—LINKS:Meghan McKenna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-curtin-mckenna-%F0%9F%94%A5-66a5022b/FIF Collective: https://www.fifcollective.comMeghan McKenna email: meghan@fifcollective.coCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Venture Debt for Growth With Ruslan Sergeyev of Hercules Capital — The One Use Case for Venture Debt That Most Founders Never Think About — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:30) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(06:41) Connecting People as a Skill(08:03) Sales as an Essential Leadership Skill(12:07) The Power of In-Person Community & Events(14:39) FIF's Ideal Customer Profile(15:42) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(20:05) The Evolution of the Banking Ecosystem(22:00) Modular Banking Stacks and Fintech Challengers(24:37) The Rise of Private Credit(27:32) Banks Adapting to Companies That Stay Private Longer(30:06) Fintechs vs. Traditional Banks(31:54) Current Trends in AI and ERP in Finance(35:07) Importance of Human Relationships When Software Fails(36:09) Reflecting on the SVB Bank Run & Facing New Risks in Tech(37:59) Building a Personal Brand in Finance(39:42) Community Spirit, Giving Back, & Sharing Your Network(43:25) Meghan's Early Career and Mentors(46:15) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Staying Too Long in a Role(47:49) Advice to Younger Self(48:24) A Memorable Deal & Client Story(50:07) Wrap—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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/run#FemalesInFinance #FinanceLeadership #BankingInnovation #Networking #FinanceCommunity 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

The Information's Sylvia Varnham O'Regan talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about the latest developments in the TikTok deal, including the Murdoch family's potential involvement and new details on the algorithm. We also talk with Mostly Metrics newsletter Founder CJ Gustafson about Navan's S-1 filing and what it reveals about the tech IPO market. Lastly, we speak to Cerebras' CEO Andrew Feldman about their delayed IPO and rivalry with NVIDIA.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/trump-sign-executive-order-week-details-tiktok-dealTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation4080/?sub_confirmation=1- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

In 2018, Brex made a defining decision: rather than rely on middleware providers like Stripe or Marqeta, it built its own payments infrastructure from the ground up. That move, Ben Gammell tells us, gave the company a direct integration with MasterCard and the ability to issue corporate cards in “over 50 plus local currencies.” The choice, he explains, was born of necessity at the time but has since become a structural advantage, offering customers greater control and global reach.That same principle of intentional investment extends to Brex's software strategy. The company designs its expense management platform to meet the demands of sophisticated, high-growth businesses such as Arm and Anthropic. The result, Gammell tells us, is a solution that not only competes with legacy providers like Concur but also improves accessibility for smaller firms “with aspirations of being the next DoorDash or Coinbase.”Partnerships further expand the ecosystem. Because Brex controls its processing stack internally, it can integrate with best-of-breed solutions—Navan in travel, Zip and Coupa in procurement—delivering the breadth that global enterprises require while keeping Brex at the center of the transaction.Looking outward, the company recently began expanding into Europe. Gammell tells us the first priority is to better serve U.S. multinationals with operations abroad. Only later will Brex pursue wholly foreign clients. Still, he emphasizes discipline: the U.S. remains “the largest market by a country mile,” and maintaining focus there is key to balancing growth ambitions with profitability and investor confidence.

* Navan Gaa State Of Affairs * Club Hurling Results - John Donoghue Kiltale * LGFA Results * Camogie * Cico Sports TOTW * The Central Navan Awards * Lottos * Talking Points

Racing in Ireland on Saturday is in Navan and Gowran Park (20th September 2025) Cross-channel, there are meetings in Newmarket, Ayr, Newbury, Chester and Wolverhampton. With his 'Saturday Six,' here's Galway Bay FM's George McDonagh.

On this episode we debated new statistcs which show that reported racist crime in Ireland has increased dramatically in recent years. It points to Ireland becoming a more racist country.

Facebook is undermonetized, TikTok poses an existential threat to Amazon, and ChatGPT has probably already captured most of Google's high-value users. These are the opinions of today's guest, a venture capitalist deeply embedded in consumer networks and social product investing. In this episode, CJ chats with Turner Novak, the Founder and Managing Partner of Banana Capital, host of The Peel podcast, and a man who is known for his Twitter threads and podcast interviews as much as he is for his impressive portfolio. Turner breaks down the monetization models of some of the world's biggest platforms. Together, they discuss undervalued and overvalued business models, the long-term viability of subscription models, how platforms can identify and serve their highest-value users, and how to adapt acquisition strategies as AI reshapes the customer journey. Turner also reveals what excites him for future investments and the underestimated power of memes as a marketing tool.—LINKS:Turner Novak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakTurner Novak on X (@TurnerNovak): https://x.com/TurnerNovakBanana Capital: https://www.bananacapital.vcThe Peel: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePeelPodthespl.it: CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:09) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(06:15) Turner's Embarrassing Accounting Story(08:10) How Turner Became an Accidental Influencer(09:02) Monetizing Content(12:22) How Turner Built His Media Platform(16:02) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(20:26) From Fantasy VC Portfolios to Podcasting(24:30) Turner's Main Business: Media Versus VC(25:42) Monetizing Premium Experiences on Social Products(30:27) Finding and Targeting High-Value Customers(32:27) Memes as a Tool for Marketing(36:10) Identifying High-Value Users and Opportunities(41:00) Why Pinterest Is Undermonetized(42:57) TikTok Versus Amazon for E-Commerce(46:30) Is ChatGPT Coming for Facebook and Google's Cash Flow(48:36) Facebook as an Undermonetized Business(54:24) The Long-Term Viability of Subscriptions(1:00:31) Customer Acquisition in a Platform-Dominated World(1:04:09) Paid Acquisition in the Era of AI(1:06:23) The Increasing Cost of CAC(1:08:59) What Turner Is Investing in Now(1:15:25) Doing Hard Things as a Moat(1:19:12) Wrap—SPONSORS:Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.#VentureCapital #BusinessModels #GoogleVsChatGPT #ConsumerNetworks #SocialCommerce This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

Is it too soon to leverage agentic automation to drive AI transformation, streamline workflows, and boost productivity in finance? And how do you calculate the ROI of AI? Today's guest runs a high-functioning finance team at a company that's at the forefront of AI, where bonuses are tied to AI adoption. In this episode, CJ interviews Hitesh Ramani, Deputy CFO and Chief Accounting Officer at UiPath. After sharing wisdom from his years at Deloitte on the “muscle memory” that a company needs pre-IPO and mistakes to avoid after going public, he explains how his company is using its own technology to transform the finance function. He breaks down the difference between agents, robots, and workflows, describing what each does and how they interact. The conversation covers what it's like to manage org charts that include humans and AI agents, how to hire for the future of tech-savvy finance teams, and UiPath's vision for near-autonomous finance operations. Hitesh also reveals real-world AI use cases inside UiPath and offers lessons learned on embracing AI as a powerful productivity partner while maintaining trust and governance.—LINKS:LINKS:Hitesh Ramani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hitesh-ramani-a4a78118/UiPath: https://www.uipath.comMeghan Curtin McKenna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-curtin-mckenna-%F0%9F%94%A5-66a5022b/ FIF Collective: https://www.fifcollective.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:04) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(06:19) Going Public Versus Being Public(09:50) The Need for a Company-Wide Operating Rhythm Pre-IPO(12:30) Top Mistakes To Avoid Before Going Public(16:01) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(20:06) Common Foot Faults After Going Public(23:57) Robots Versus Agents(30:17) RPA Versus AI(31:09) Agents & Workflows(34:05) Accountability: Outsourcing Your Agency(39:46) How To Measure ROI on AI(45:06) Scaling With Robots & Agents(48:15) Budgeting for People and Automation(50:41) High-Impact Versus Low-Impact Ideas in AI Implementation(53:36) Hiring & Developing Tech-Savvy Finance Talent(57:36) Build Versus Buy & Building an Autonomous Workflow(1:00:15) The Future of Autonomous Finance(1:01:14) Use Cases for AI at UiPath(1:03:18) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Career Mistake(1:04:25) Advice to Younger Self(1:05:58) Finance Software Stack and the Future of In-House Systems(1:10:14) Craziest Expense Story—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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.#AutonomousFinance #IPOJourney #AIinFinance #FutureOfFinance #AIAdoption This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

How do founders and finance leaders prepare for the sale of their company when the other side of the negotiating table does this every day? In this episode, CJ interviews David Siegel, Partner at Grellas Shah LLP, a Silicon Valley law firm that guides some of the biggest names in tech through their most significant raises and exits. David shares insights from countless deals, revealing what it really takes to prepare for a sale, negotiate with buyers, and manage conflicting advice from bankers and lawyers. He unpacks investor dynamics, deal timelines, and why the $150 million to $350 million valuation range is the “awkward middle.” The conversation also covers how companies can de-risk themselves before going to market, how to spot a bad banker, what critical pitfalls to avoid in Letters of Intent (LOIs), the emotional realities founders face when selling their “baby,” and the shifting power dynamics in today's M&A landscape.—LINKS:David Siegel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-siegel-a271265Grellas Shah: https://grellas.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:06) Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev(06:41) The Average Time To Close M&A Deals Today(10:55) How To Start the Process of Selling a Company(13:09) Being Realistic About Your Valuation(15:13) Sponsor – Navan | Rillet | Pulley(19:08) VCs Versus Acquirers(20:12) The $150 Million to $350 Million Valuation Awkward Middle(23:17) Investor Behavior and Founder Incentives in Deals(24:59) The Banker Versus Relationship Route in Selling(27:46) What Makes a Bad Banker(28:43) PSA: Investment Banker Engagement Letters Are Negotiable(34:43) LOIs: What Sellers Should Push To Include Before Signing(39:43) What To Prioritise as a CFO in an LOI(43:21) The Worst Case Scenario for Vague Networking Capital Targets(46:22) De-Risking Your Company in the Eyes of an Acquirer(49:17) How Acquirer Risk Aversion Derails Deals(52:07) The Emotional Impact of Selling a Company(55:32) The Rules of Negotiation(57:19) Current State of M&A in Tech(1:01:30) Wrap—SPONSORS:Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.#TechAcquisitions #AcquisitionLaw #StartupExit #MergersAndAcquisitions #ExitStrategy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

Racing in Ireland on Saturday (6th September 2025) is in Navan. Cross-channel, there are meetings in Haydock, Kempton, Ascot, Thirsk, Stratford and Wolverhampton. With his 'Saturday Six,' here's Galway Bay FM's George McDonagh.

The Meath Film Festival takes place at the Solstice in Navan on 13-14 September 2025, full details are on the website at Meathfilm.ie In this Film Ireland podcast, shorts programmer for the festival and Film Ireland contributor Mick Jordan talks to director Steven Benedict about his new film A Lady of Paris, which is screening at the festival. Steven Benedict Steven Benedict is a multi-award-winning writer, producer, and director of several short films and co-director of an award-winning feature. Steven lectures part-time at the National Film School of Ireland, where, among other subjects, he teaches in the Masters in Screenwriting program.Steven also curates his own website, www.stevenbenedict.ie, hosting over 400 podcasts and several video essays. In addition, he is a regular contributor to RTE radio's arts program, Arena.

How do finance leaders enable growth while fostering a culture of partnership, positivity, and saying yes? In this episode, CJ interviews Ed Park, Head of FP&A at Facebook during its explosive hypergrowth years, Head of Finance and Internal Operations at Asana, the current CFO of Daffy, and a “glass-half-full” finance leader. Ed shares stories about working at Facebook in the early days, how he brought finance into the company's engineering and product-first culture, and how he built trust while navigating rapid user and infrastructure expansion. He talks about his role at Asana, why the company plans in episodes, not quarters, how they discovered their unique “three user” metric, and how they transitioned from bottoms-up to sales-led growth. Ed also gives an introduction to donor-advised funds and how Daffy, his current company, is disrupting this field. The conversation covers how a company's business model shapes its destiny, finding the balance between what's urgent and what's important, and Ed's glass-half-full approach to being a finance leader who enables teams by saying yes.—LINKS:Edward Park on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardyparkDaffy: https://www.daffy.orgCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:Big Systems Thinking for Building a Finance Org: Advice From a Zoom Hypergrowth Survivor — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:16) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(06:43) Ed's First Job at a Startup: Head of FP&a at Facebook(11:35) Bringing Finance Into an Engineering and Product-Led Culture(16:42) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(20:34) Balancing What Was Urgent Versus Important(25:02) Monetizing Facebook(26:48) Becoming a Glass-Half-Full Finance Leader(33:27) Managing Four Chefs at Asana(35:38) How Asana Plans in Episodes, Not Quarters(42:48) Monetization Model Intuition and the “Three User” Metric(48:13) Transitioning From Bottoms-Up to Proactive Sales at Asana(53:24) Daffy's Monetization Model and Donor-Advised Fund Innovation(57:34) How a Business Model Shapes Destiny(1:00:02) Ed's “How Might We” Approach to Being a CFO(1:01:56) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Big Mistake(1:04:38) Advice to Younger Self(1:05:44) Finance Software Stack(1:07:57) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS: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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metrics#FacebookBusinessModel #FPandA #StartupFinance #MonetizationStrategy #DonorAdvisedFunds This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

Premji Invest is an investment firm that backs some of the biggest names in the CFO and enterprise tech stack, including Anaplan, Zuora, Coupa, and Looker. In this episode, CJ is joined by Sandesh Patnam, the firm's Managing Partner, to discuss their approach to investing and the future of CFO tech. Sandesh talks about the evergreen nature of Premji's investment model and explains how this permanent pool of capital enables the company to focus on deep partnerships and durable growth, rather than chasing fund cycles or portfolio diversification. He breaks down why he views total addressable market (TAM) as a floor rather than a ceiling, how investing across both public and private markets creates a strategic advantage, and how startups should approach capital construction and optionality in today's market. The conversation also touches on the evolution of the CFO toolkit, how AI is shifting the finance role, what persistent finance problems are still waiting for innovation, how org design is changing inside finance teams, and why he believes AI is a bigger shift than both the dot-com and mobile eras.—LINKS:Sandesh Patnam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeshpatnamPremji Invest: https://in.premjiinvest.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:BlackRock Managing Director on the Secrets of Durable Companies - —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:08) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(06:59) Evergreen Capital and Premji's Approach to Investing(09:25) Portfolio Construction(12:58) TAM Versus SAM Versus Product(15:28) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(19:51) Seats Versus Outcome-Based Pricing(23:30) Defining Durability(26:31) Public Versus Private Investing(28:44) Why One Team Manages Both Public and Private Investing(30:47) Capital Construction for CFOs With Evergreen Investors(32:13) How and When Evergreen Funds Seek Liquidity(35:32) Building Optionality in Capital Strategy Amid Market Changes(38:01) Secondary Markets in the Private World(41:39) The Evolution of the CFO Tech Stack(43:41) AI and Systems of Action(45:43) How CFOs Are Starting To Interact With AI Tech(49:09) A Finance Problem That's Open for Innovation(50:25) The Evolution of the CFO's Role Beyond Finance(51:33) The AI Era vs. Prior Tech Eras—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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/run#EvergreenCapital #PremjiInvest #CFOTechStack #InvestmentStrategy #PortfolioDurability This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

Cybersecurity risks have become more complex and unpredictable than ever, yet many companies struggle to quantify these threats in terms that truly matter. How can CFOs and CISOs effectively communicate about risk, make smart security investments, and navigate the emerging challenges posed by AI? In this episode, CJ interviews Andy Ellis, a renowned cybersecurity leader, former CISO of Akamai, investor, director, advisor, leadership coach, and author of the book 1% Leadership. Andy unpacks why most companies measure risk the wrong way and breaks down his "Pyramid of Pain” framework for categorizing it. He discusses the dynamics between CFOs and CISOs in purchasing security tools, demystifies security budgeting and vendor negotiations, dives into the evolving role of AI in security operations, and explains why the CISO and CIO roles are on a collision course. Andy also reveals insider stories from the frontlines of major breaches, shares a compelling risk analogy inspired by vampires and zombies, and clears up once and for all why the demise of the Death Star was not a failure of risk management.—LINKS:Andy Ellis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csoandyAndy Ellis on X: (@CSOAndy) https://x.com/csoandyWebsite: https://www.csoandy.com1% Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/1-Leadership-Master-Improvements-Leaders/dp/0306830817How to CISO: https://www.howtociso.comDuha One: CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:49) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(07:23) Defining Risk: Technical & Human-Friendly Perspectives(09:20) Actuarial Risk Versus Human-Driven Risk(15:33) Why the Demise of the Death Star Wasn't a Failure of Risk Management(16:58) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(21:22) How the Death Star Metaphor Relates to Real-World Security Breaches(23:20) Why Risk Should Not Be Quantified in Dollar Terms(25:15) The Pyramid of Pain: Risk Severity and Surprise Levels(30:21) How CFOs and CISOs Should Partner on Security Purchases(34:03) Are Security Budgets Over or Under-Spent?(36:22) Balancing Budget for Security Tools and People(39:48) Tips for FP&As on Brokering the Security Budget With Your CISO(44:10) Factoring AI Uncertainty in a Three-Year Security Roadmap(46:38) AI Washing in Security Products and Realistic Impact(48:55) The Limitations of Security Operations(50:53) The Future of CIO and CISO Roles and Organizational Reporting(54:55) Why IT Shouldn't Report to the CFO(57:18) Israeli Unit 8200 and Cybersecurity Innovation(59:50) Startups Versus Public Companies: Differing Risk Models(1:02:52) Wrap—SPONSORS:Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.#Cybersecurity #RiskManagement #CISO #SecurityOperations #SecurityFinance This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

In 1997, the Florida Marlins won the World Series, but they also lost $30 million in the process. In 2002, only three Major League Baseball teams had positive EBITDA. Due to a dramatic collective bargaining agreement, five years later, only three clubs had negative EBITDA, and the MLB had gone from $500 million in losses to a $500 million in profit. Today's guest had a front row seat to the action. Jonathan Mariner is the former CFO of the Florida Marlins, the Florida Panthers, and Major League Baseball. He is also he founder of TaxDay and a seasoned board member on different boards, including Tyson Foods, OneStream, and Delaware North, among others. In this episode, he takes us inside the complex economics of pro sports. The conversation covers the surprising way sports franchises are actually valued, the massive shift from cable TV to streaming, the complex world of player merchandising, the challenges of expanding sports internationally, and how Jonathan helped implement a controversial EBITDA rule to rein in league-wide debt.—LINKS:Jonathan Mariner on TaxDay: https://www.taxday.com/team/Tax Day: https://www.taxday.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:The Boston Celtics' Other Playbook: Business Insights from President Rich Gotham — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:35) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(07:11) How Jonathan Became CFO of the Florida Marlins and Panthers(13:17) The Marlins: Winning the World Series and Losing $30 Million(16:03) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(20:08) How Not Having a Salary Cap Affects the MLB(21:27) The Collective Bargaining Agreement That Changed the Economics of the MLB(30:00) The Science of How Sports Franchises Are Valued: Revenue(31:53) The Art of How Sports Franchises Are Valued: Perception(36:20) How Local Broadcast Rights and Revenue Sharing Work(37:44) Contractually Obligated Income and Its Ramifications(41:57) How Player Jersey Sales Really Work(46:34) The Shift From Cable to Streaming and the Economic Effects(53:48) The Challenges and Opportunities of Global Expansion(59:57) Expansion Teams & Franchise Fees(1:01:58) Being on the Tyson Foods Board During COVID(1:05:39) Jonathan's Other High-Stakes Moments as a Board Member(1:08:03) Founding TaxDay(1:11:41) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Career Mistakes(1:14:00) Advice to Younger Self(1:15:11) The Best Sporting Events Jonathan's Ever Attended—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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.#SportsFinance #MLB #MajorLeagueBaseball #TeamValuation #BusinessOfSports This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

Maura Fay, RTÉ reporter

If you're curious about what it's really like to navigate a multibillion-dollar acquisition deal during a global pandemic, while under intense scrutiny of the Department of Justice, this episode is for you. Jason Pate, Chief Strategy Officer at Plaid, takes us behind the scenes of Visa's $5 billion bid to acquire Plaid and why it ultimately didn't happen. Jason also explains the massive evolution of Plaid from a linking infrastructure company to a thriving network business powering some of the biggest names in fintech. The conversation delves into the company's pivotal moments, including its recent $575 million fundraising round to solve for employee RSU liquidity. Beyond that, Jason shares lessons from his experience, unpacking the importance of understanding a customer's P&L, breaking down how to build durable fintech revenue streams through diversification, and offering candid insights on negotiation, the future of payments, and making big bets to fix something that isn't broken.—LINKS:Jason Pate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pate-50735310/Plaid: https://plaid.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(01:43) Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev(06:08) Duke and “I Hate Christian Laettner”(07:45) Jason's Product Development Experience and Career Journey(10:38) The Importance of Understanding Your Customer's P&L(12:41) Plaid's Transition From Linking Infrastructure to Network Business(15:23) Sponsor – Navan | Rillet | Pulley(18:55) Building the Plaid Data Network and Ecosystem(25:41) Friction in Payments: Feature Versus Bug(27:46) The Future of Payments: Check-In Versus Checkout(31:21) Negotiations: Less Like Chess, More Like Marco Polo(35:21) Identifying Gives That Aren't Actually Gives(37:10) Plaid's Unsuccessful Acquisition by Visa(40:45) Being Interviewed by the DOJ During the Pandemic(43:49) Plaid's Recent Raise and the Unconventional Reason for It(47:00) Valuations: Fundraises Versus Sales(48:19) Building an Equity Program When Companies Stay Private Longer(50:48) Multi-Product Diversification: The Key to Durable FinTech Revenue(53:07) When & How To Transition From an Infrastructure to a Network Business(59:03) Jason's Philosophy on Ramping Team Members(1:01:04) Lessons From Roger Federer(1:02:52) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Career Mistake(1:04:03) Advice to Younger Self(1:04:48) A Helpful Tactic for Negotiations—SPONSORS:Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.#Plaid #Fintech #acquisition #fundraise #employeeRSU #BusinessTransition This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

If you're thinking about adding payments to your software company's tech stack, listen to this first. Today's guest knows that turning payments into a prolific growth engine isn't as simple as plugging in a processor; it's about knowing when you have the “right to win” and building the infrastructure, team, and go-to-market strategy to make it work. In this episode, Andrew Mosawi of JMI Equity and a self-named “dinosaur in the world of embedded payments”, joins CJ to unpack how embedded payments are reshaping industries, why certain platforms are perfectly positioned to own the payment flow, and when you're better off staying out of the game. They share the frameworks for sizing the TAM, deciding which vertical plays make sense, and forecasting revenue in a world where payments don't behave like SaaS, while also referencing real-world use cases. The conversation covers the common mistakes companies make when entering payments, standout examples of companies that have done this well, and the right and wrong questions you should be asking before starting out.—LINKS:Andrew Mosawi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmosawi/JMI Equity: https://www.jmi.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: Companies mentioned:Mindbody: https://www.mindbodyonline.comBlackbaud: https://www.blackbaud.comToast: https://pos.toasttab.comShopify: https://www.shopify.comFlagship Advisory Partners: https://insights.flagshipadvisorypartners.comBCG “Fortune Favors the Bold: Global Payments Report 2024”: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/fortune-favors-bold-global-payments-reportRELATED EPISODES:The Art of Stacking S-Curves: Olo's Winning Vertical SaaS Strategy with CFO Peter Benevides - Efficiency Metrics, Management, and Consolidation - Tony Boor's CFO Playbook for Scaling Blackbaud - —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:17) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(06:50) How the Payments Ecosystem Has Changed in the Last Two Decades(09:02) The Inflection Point That Brought Payments Into the Mainstream(10:23) The Size of the Payments Pie in 2025(11:49) Why Not Every Company Should Do Payments(14:23) What Makes a Company Well-Positioned To Offer Payments(15:50) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(19:42) Having a Strategic High Ground To Offer Payments(21:35) The Stickiness of Embedded Payments(24:14) What “Embedded Payments” Means(27:12) Different Models Used for Embedded Payments(32:14) A Typical Take Rate for Embedded Payments(36:45) The Accretive Nature of Embedded Payments and Other Benefits(40:14) The Next Phase of Payments: Other Finance Solutions(44:56) CJ's Mental Model for Assessing Payments at PartsTech(47:45) Running a Payments Function Versus a Traditional Software Function(50:46) Sales Dynamics: Traditional SaaS Versus Payments(52:01) Companies That Have Done Embedded Payments Well(53:05) The Right and Wrong First Questions To Ask Before Starting in Payments—SPONSORS:Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metrics#EmbeddedPayments #payments #PaymentsInfrastructure #PayFac #PaymentsStrategy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

With a decade of experience at Yext, a company now approaching half a billion in ARR, Darryl Bond has seen it through negative EBITDA margins, executive turnover, and company-wide resets. In this episode, he sits down with CJ to talk about his approach to the finance function, which involves prioritizing growth over compensation, tackling the messy problems head-on, making the hard P&L calls in the “grey zones,” knowing when to ask for help, and staying focused through the tough times. Darryl shares how he scaled from controller to CFO, and how, in the process, he made sense of the chaos, led with transparency, and built a high-impact finance function that doesn't just report the numbers, but also drives the business. He explains the role of systems and processes in scaling operations, the mistakes he made early in his management journey, and why relationship-building has been the real unlock in his career. They dive into building deal desks, what operational excellence really means, and capital allocation decisions that actually start with listening to the customer.—LINKS:Darryl Bond on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-bond-788b962a/Yext: https://www.yext.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:“Run Toward a Tough Market” — Developing the Hard and Soft Skills To Be a Great Finance Leader — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:49) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | Rillet(06:54) The Reasons for Darryl's Career Loyalty(08:58) Prioritizing Learning Over Comp(11:09) What Yext and Its Finance Function Looked Like in 2015(15:40) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(20:03) Choosing Which Messy Problems To Take On(22:00) The Right Time To Create a Deal Desk(23:39) When To Bring General Counsel In-House(24:36) Asking for Help and Building a CFO Network(28:25) What Operational Excellence Looks Like in the Finance Team(31:11) Staying Focused Through Tough Times(35:39) Making the Hard P&L Calls In the “Gray Zone”(37:05) The Importance of Talking to Customers(38:30) A Guide to Communicating the Bad News(40:25) The Role of Systems and Automation in Gaining Control of the P&L(43:07) Capital Allocation Decisions: Yext's Two Recent Purchases(45:06) Build, Buy, or Partner(47:57) The Pros and Cons of Being a Sub-$1B Public Tech Company(49:38) How To Get (and Lose) Sell-Side Analyst Coverage(51:04) What Excites Darryl Most About Yext's Current Stage(53:13) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Career Mistake(54:36) Advice to Younger Self(56:17) Finance Software Stack(57:42) Craziest Expense Story—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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/run#CFOLeadership #FinanceLeadership #FinanceStrategy #OperationalExcellence#BusinessTurnaround #CapitalAllocation This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

A Meath couple have lost their final fight to stop their house from being demolished. Rose and Chris Murray built their home in Bohermeen, near Navan, Co Meath, in 2007 without planning permission. What followed was a near 20-year legal saga with Meath County Council, as the couple exhausted every avenue to keep their unauthorised home. This week the family were refused retention by An Coimisiún Pleanála, while the Court of Appeal also dismissed their legal challenge to the demolition order. But is this the end of the road for the Murrays and their dream home? Host: Tessa Fleming, Guest: Amy MolloySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever tried running a business like it's a utility function? Today's guest has. CJ is joined by Michaela Lehr, a seasoned FP&A leader and former CFO of ActionIQ, who breaks down how CFOs can pull levers like growth, retention, margin, and cash runway to maximize value without blowing something up. Michaela explains how not all growth is created equal and why how you grow matters as much as how much you grow. She talks about gross margin as the most sensitive area of the P&L and how to communicate with engineers about their impacts on it. The conversation also covers the rise of “experimental recurring revenue” in AI-first products, why investors are obsessed with net dollar retention, the risks of over-servicing customers, looking out for your own finance team, and what it means to budget in the real world when everything changes after board approval.—LINKS:Michaela Lehr on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaela-lehr-2908996/ActionIQ: https://www.uniphore.com/actioniqCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: Loveable: https://lovable.devCanva: https://www.canva.comConcourse: https://www.concourse.co—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:20) Sponsor – Rillet | Pulley | Brex(07:33) What It Means To Run a Company Like a Utility Function(10:45) An Example of Optimising for This Utility Function Regarding AI Spend(15:36) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(19:35) Less Visible but High-Impact Levers That Drive Revenue(22:15) Gating Headcount Based on Performance Milestones(25:09) Cloud Costs as a Hidden Lever(27:30) Why How You Grow Matters As Much as How Much You Grow(30:08) Professional Services as a Necessary Investment(32:43) What ERR (Experimental Recurring Revenue) Is(36:39) Margin As the Most Sensitive Area of the P&L(38:13) Communicating With Engineers About Gross Margin(41:56) Why Investors Care So Much About Net Dollar Attention(43:53) Making Sure Your Upsells Don't Mask a Churn Problem(44:40) What Over-Servicing Your Customer Looks Like(46:58) Why the “Just Give Me My Budget” Mindset Doesn't Work(49:23) Brokering the Budget With Execs in Real Time(51:38) Looking Out for Your Own Team as a CFO(56:26) The First Sign of an Erosion of Trust(59:50) Finance's Role in Upholding Capital-T Truth(1:01:31) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A COVID-Era Multitasking Mistake(1:02:06 ) Advice to Younger Self(1:04:07) Michaela's Favorite Finance Tool(1:04:17) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.#UtilityFunction #FPandA #BusinessStrategy #GrossMargin #NetDollarRetention This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mostlymetrics.com

How do you keep innovating and disrupting when you're already the incumbent? And how do you prevent a $200B+ company from becoming slow and complacent? In this episode, CJ is joined by Sandeep Aujla, CFO of Intuit, who shares how one of the world's largest software companies continues to operate with the agility of a startup. With QuickBooks, TurboTax, Credit Karma, and MailChimp all falling in the Intuit family tree, serving both consumers and businesses, Sandeep breaks down the company's platform strategy, explains how he tells a unified story across these product lines, and describes how he prioritizes capital allocation. He also talks about Intuit's efforts to leverage AI to improve internal efficiencies, insights into the ideal CFO-CTO relationship, tactics for saying no, the benefits of letting stuff break, and how finance helped uncover a major growth opportunity for Intuit in the mid-market. The conversation touches on the company's 25 golden metrics, why leap years and the Super Bowl affect revenue, and the lesson Sandeep learned from a $2 coffee.—LINKS:Sandeep Aujla: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aujla/Intuit: https://www.intuit.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:30) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(07:11) Sandeep's Career Journey at Intuit(09:41) The Stigma Around CFOs and Seriousness(11:01) Being the Disruptor When You're Already the Incumbent(14:04) Intuit: Software, Payments, or Services Company?(15:21) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | NetSuite |(19:00) The Intuit Family Tree(20:14) Cross-Platform Network Effects(21:54) Telling a Unified Story Across Multiple Product Lines(25:24) How Finance Discovered a Mid-Market Growth Opportunity(28:56) Reducing Churn by Keeping Customers on Platform(31:04) How Small Businesses Are Evolving To Leverage Tech and AI(34:11) How Sandeep Prioritises Capital Allocation(37:17) Tactics for Saying No Gracefully as a CFO(39:39) The Benefits of Letting Stuff Break(43:10) Reinvesting Across the Business: Consumer Versus Business(45:36) The CFO-CTO Relationship in the Age of AI(49:45) Tracking Intuit's Target for Internal AI Efficiency(52:06) Surprising Usage Patterns: Leap Years, Game of Thrones, etc(53:15) The Different Use Cases for AI Internally(55:48) The 25 Golden Metrics That Matter(58:45) Leap Years and Other Surprising Things That Impact the Business(1:00:04) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Deadline Mistake(1:02:04) Advice to Younger Self(1:03:48) Finance Software Stack(1:04:36) A Bonus Question: Printed Notes(1:05:17) Craziest Expense Story—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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.#platformbusiness #innovation #disruption #CapitalAllocation, #FinancialSoftware Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

How do you build a sales culture where top performers are empowered and poor performers are not protected? In this episode, CJ is joined by Daniel Lentz, whose career has spanned sales, taking an e-commerce platform public during a global pandemic, and, interestingly, seminary. Daniel Lentz is the CFO of BigCommerce and an expert in designing comp plans that work. In this episode, he breaks down his approach to this and how to avoid the pitfalls that can easily discourage your salespeople. He explains how to align sales and marketing efforts, touching on multi-touch attribution models, before discussing why he focuses on input metrics over output metrics. The conversation covers the importance of having an operator-first mindset, the skill of having a BS detector, the challenges of navigating macroeconomic factors, the role of mentorship, and why teaching your team how the company actually makes money is the ultimate unlock.—LINKS:Daniel Lentz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lentz-5ba8134/BigCommerce: https://www.bigcommerce.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:Customer-First Finance: PagerDuty's Secret to “Small” Public Company Success — —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:28) Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev(07:04) Daniel's Unconventional Career Arc(11:40) Being an Operator-First CFO(14:05) The Skill of Having a Good BS Detector(15:45) Sponsor – Navan | NetSuite | Pulley(19:16) Why People Make Things Sound More Complicated Than They Are(21:33) Transitioning From a Top Sales Rep to a Top Sales Leader(24:46) Daniel's Philosophy When Designing Comp Plans(28:53) A Hot Take on Capping Big Deals(35:01) Onboarding Great Sales Leaders(38:17) Multi-Touch Attribution Models(42:36) How Finance Can Reduce Sales Versus Marketing Turf Wars(44:52) The Metrics That Matter: Input Versus Output(47:30) Misdiagnosing Problems in SaaS Go-to-Market Models(49:00) Why Benchmarking Can Be Misleading(51:06) How Small Companies Can Compete With Big Companies(52:22) The Power of Explaining to Employees How the Company Makes Money(55:56) Why Daniel Doesn't Want Employees To Be Distracted by the Macro(57:19) Explaining Rational Interest Rates to Employees Under 30(59:24) How Mentorship Has Influenced Daniel's Career(1:01:12) Advice for Taking Investor Advice(1:03:04) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Big Career Mistake(1:04:51) Advice to Younger Self: Careerism Is a Trap(1:06:49) Finance Software Stack(1:10:32) Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.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/mostlymetrics.#SalesComp #SalesCompPlan #InputMetrics #SalesCulture #SalesLeaders Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

In this episode, CJ is joined by Chris Greiner, CFO of Zeta Global and former CFO of IBM's analytics division, where he worked on AI during the development of Watson. He's had a front-row seat to the evolution of AI across industries. He's also on a 15-quarter streak of beat-and-raise performance in his current role. Chris breaks down how strong financial stewardship can be a launch pad for innovation, not a constraint, and unpacks his “Closest to code, closest to customer” philosophy. The conversation covers how to determine whether a company's data advantage is real or just storytelling, what Chris learned from cataloging every task in the finance org, and why some things are better left unautomated. He explains what's on his personal IPO pre-flight checklist, how and why Zeta Global tracks daily revenue, and the “hustle metric” as a predictor of good salespeople. He also shares many lessons and anecdotes from his time at IBM, including one where he played tennis with the Emperor of Japan.—LINKS:Chris Greiner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgreiner1Zeta Global: https://zetaglobal.comCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: RELATED EPISODES:Monetizing Community Engagement: The Business of Fitness with Strava CFO Lily Yang - Everything You Need to Know About Sales Rep Comp + Commissions Planning w Ryan Walsh, CEO of RepVue - —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:22) Sponsor – Aleph | RightRev | Navan(06:28) Chris's Tenure at IBM During the Development of Watson(08:24) The Evolution of Chris's Relationship With Data and AI(11:40) Why “Showing Not Telling” Is Key in Finance and Investor Relations(12:56) A Company's Data Advantage: Real Versus Storytelling(15:07) Cataloging Tasks in the Finance Org To Identify Automation Opportunities(17:02) Sponsor – NetSuite | Pulley | Brex(20:53) Enabling Internal Data Exploration Without Conflicting Results(23:13) The One Thing Chris Refuses To Automate and Why(26:46) Forecasting: The Tension Between Trusting AI and Your Own Calculations(28:58) Zeta Global's 15-Quarter Beat-and-Raise Streak(31:40) Daily Pacing and Confident Forecasting(33:58) Sizing Up Zeta Global by Daily Active Users and Usage-Based Activity(36:50) Unexpected Predictors of Customer Behaviour(38:47) The “Hustle Metric”: The Best Predictors of Good Salespeople(43:05) Chris's IPO Preflight Checklist(45:49) Strong Financial Stewardship as a Catalyst, Not a Constraint(48:10) The Top Controls That a CFO Should Have Their Eye On(49:55) The Fallacy of Having To Choose Between Growth and Margin Expansion(53:26) Finance Teams: Closer To Code Versus Closer to Customer(55:47) Value-Based Pricing(57:42) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Career Mistake(58:20) Making Friends With the Emperor of Japan(1:02:32) Advice to Younger Self(1:03:57) Finance Software Stack—SPONSORS:Aleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, 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/runRightRev 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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. Head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metrics#BeatAndRaise #CFOInsights #AIinFinance #AutomationInFinance #FinancialStewardship Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

If you're an accountant, AI might be coming for your job, but today's guest believes that there's never been a better time to be in the profession. CJ is joined by Scott Spiegel, the COO and former CFO of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He has decades of experience in finance and leadership at the intersection of business, mission, and membership. He breaks down how the accounting profession has changed and what skills you need to embrace in order to thrive in today's world. He also shares insights into the surprising overlap between accounting and sales, the soft skills required for a successful accounting career, and the business dynamics of nonprofits, which, contrary to public belief, can and do make money. He also tells the story about how he uncovered fraud before making his predictions for the future of accounting.—LINKS:Scott Spiegel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-spiegel-cpa/American Institute of Certified Public Accountants: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/homeCJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:Netflix Co-Founder Shares the Secrets to Being a Great CFO - Scoring Big: The Playbook for Nonprofit Financial Success with USA Hockey CFO Kelly Mahncke - Budgeting Your External Facing Time as a CFO: Tipalti's Sarah Spoja - —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:43) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | NetSuite(07:21) An Intro to the AICPA(09:25) How the Accounting Path Has Changed in 20 Years(13:37) The Talent Crunch and the Relationship Side of Accounting(15:05) If You're an Accountant, Your Job Is Sales(16:02) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(20:12) The Relationship Side of Sales(23:00) Scott's Personal Product Market Fit at AICPA(24:55) Making Lateral or Downward Career Moves(27:39) Fighting for the Role You Want(30:48) Why Leaders Don't Have To Know All the Answers(33:57) A Nonprofit Can Make Money(36:16) How AICPA Has Changed the Way They Recruit for Talent(40:35) The Constraints That Come With Being a Nonprofit(42:41) No Mission Without Margin(44:35) AI in AICPA and the Accounting Industry(49:14) Keeping Your Job in the Era of AI(52:13) Stories About Fraud(55:57) How Fraud Has Changed Over the Past 5 – 10 Years(58:04) The Future of the Accounting Career Path—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.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit https://navan.com/runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.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/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph 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/run#accounting #AIAndAccounting #AICPA #FutureOfAccounting #FinanceCareers Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

Hailing from Navan, Co. Meath, Domhnall works as a travel journalist, columnist and author. He writes extensively for the Irish and British media, with work regularly appearing in the Belfast Telegraph, Woman's Way, The Sunday Times and the Irish Examiner. Domhnall has received many prestigious honours for his writing, including the 2025 Travel Extra Travel Journalist of the Year award. Mercier Press published his novels Crazy for You and Colin and the Concubine. His début novel, Sister Agatha: the World's Oldest Serial Killer, was released in 2016.

In the current tech landscape, everyone is experimenting with AI, but when it comes to finance, we tread more carefully. In this episode, CJ is joined by Amy Butte, the CFO of Navan, one of the most AI-forward travel and expense platforms in operation. Amy highlights how the company is weaving AI into its operating system, not just to summarize documents, but to manage financial workflows with real impact. With a career spanning Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Amy also discusses her journey from being the CFO of the New York Stock Exchange to her current role. She delves into her experiences as an audit chair and touches on the challenges and opportunities in building teams and navigating change. She also breaks down the dynamics of the build versus buy debate in the current tech space before sharing anecdotes about her unique experiences at the New York Stock Exchange and her perspectives on being a woman in leadership.—LINKS:Amy Butte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybutte/Navan: navan.com/RunthenumbersExtraordinary Women on Boards: https://www.ewobnetwork.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Preview and Intro02:59 Sponsor – MUFG | NetSuite | Pulley06:52 Conferences and Networking09:09 How Navan Has Implemented AI12:17 Whose Responsibility Is It To Drive AI Adoption14:50 The Risks Involved in Using AI in Finance15:50 Navan's New Bot “Miles”17:00 Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev | Navan22:31 The Operational and Financial Impact of Using AI at Navan23:36 CSAT Scores: Humans Versus Bots24:46 AI Within the Finance Department27:37 What an Audit Chair Does32:04 Using the Audit Chair Seat To Influence Business Outcomes33:33 Mentoring CFOs and Unlocking Opportunities As Audit Chair36:29 How To Become a Board Member or Audit Chair38:58 The Role of the Director Versus the Role of the Operator39:44 Building Teams and Empowering People48:48 Build Versus Buy in the Era of AI51:28 Partnering: Collaboration Versus Control53:07 A Story About the Security at the New York Stock Exchange55:36 Meeting the CEO of Merrill Lynch57:43 Leadership and Opportunities for Women in Finance1:00:37 Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Big Mistake1:01:31 Advice to Younger Self1:02:37 Finance Software Stack1:02:55 Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:MUFG is a global banking powerhouse that provides comprehensive banking services for VC-backed, PE-backed, and public companies with revenues starting at $40M. Accelerate your growth trajectory. Contact group head Bob Blee at bblee@us.mufg.jp to find out more.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.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: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at brex.com/metricsAleph 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 getaleph.com/runRightRev 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 rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.#Navan #AIFinance #FinancialTransformation #AuditChair #WomenInLeadership Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, David O. Sacks, Roelof Botha, Chad Hurley, Russel Simmons, and Jeremy Stoppelman are among those considered the “PayPal Mafia”. These are cofounders or early team members of PayPal who went on to found or invest in major tech companies like Yelp, Palantir, YouTube, Facebook, SpaceX, X, LinkedIn, Affirm, Airbnb, and others. In this episode, CJ is joined by Jimmy Soni, bestselling author of The Founders, which chronicles the early years of PayPal. He delves into some of the lesser-known aspects of PayPal's history. He sheds light on Peter Thiel's prediction of the dot-com collapse, why he advocated for the employment of Roelof Botha as CFO at the age of just 26, and his second-chance philosophy for hiring failures. The conversation covers PayPal's “frenemy relationship” with eBay, how they convinced their users to advocate for them, and pivotal moments that influenced their IPO and sale. Tune in for unique insights into one of the most important "seed funds" in tech history.—LINKS:Jimmy Soni on X (@jimmyasoni): https://x.com/jimmyasoniJimmy Soni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoniThe Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley: https://www.amazon.co.za/Founders-Paypal-Entrepreneurs-Shaped-Silicon/dp/1501197266CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comRELATED EPISODES:How Upwork CFO Erica Gessert Drove 20 Points of EBITDA Growth in Just 3 Quarters: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:12) Sponsor – Pulley | Brex | Aleph(07:40) Jimmy's Approach to Writing the Book(08:56) An Intro to the “PayPal Mafia”(10:57) The 1998 to 2002 Time Period(12:36) Present-Day Successes of “PayPal Mafia” Members(14:06) Challenges of Interviewing High-Profile Figures(16:06) Sponsor – RightRev | Navan | NetSuite(19:46) Comparisons to Other Influential Tech Groups(21:05) PayPal, YouTube, and the Embed Strategy(23:21) The Company's $20 Referral Program(27:10) Peter Thiel's Prediction of the Dot-Com Collapse(30:48) The Fallout From the Merger That Resulted in PayPal(33:00) The Evolution of PayPal's Business Model(36:58) The Unique Skillset That Roelof Botha Brought to the CFO Role(41:04)) Fraud-Fighting Techniques(43:26) PayPal's “Frenemy Relationship” With eBay(47:10) Challenges Faced by PayPal That Modern Fintechs Still Grapple With(49:13) How PayPal Made Its Users Advocates for the Business(53:44) PayPal's Talent Acquisition and “Misfits” Culture(56:54) Peter Thiel's Talent-Spotting Abilities and Second-Chance Philosophy(1:00:12) The Outcome of the eBay Sale(1:05:03) One of the Most Important “Seed Funds” in Tech History(1:08:07) Advice for Moving From Fast Work To Slow Work(1:11:18) Favorite Behind-the-Scenes Anecdote(1:13:04) The Most Underrated Member of the “Mafia”(1:14:04) One of the Most Pivotal Decisions Made(1:15:03) Wrap—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: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at brex.com/metricsAleph 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 getaleph.com/runRightRev 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 rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.#PayPalMafia #JimmySoni #CAPTCHA #PayPal #fintech Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

In many companies, the CFO is more important than the CEO. And the majority of private equity-backed CFOs are actually not up to par. In this episode, CJ is joined by Scott Engler, of LinkedIn fame, to explain why he believes these bold statements to be true. Scott is the CEO and co-founder of Sync Executive Partners and the co-founder of PE-Xcelerate. He has decades of experience studying, recruiting, and coaching CFOs. He shares insights on the evolving role of the CFO, the many hats they wear, and which they should prioritise. He gives advice on how to navigate your relationship with your CEO, your PE sponsor, and other stakeholders, and provides some social profiling hacks that can help. The conversation covers the benefits of upside-down reviews and why not having a recommendation can be the smartest move, before examining the best way to get a CFO job at a PE-backed company, and how to negotiate equity packages.—LINKS:Scott Engler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottengler/Sync Executive Partners: https://www.syncexecutivepartners.com/PE-Xcelerate: https://www.pexcelerate.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.comLooking for Leverage: RELATED EPISODES:So You're Looking for a “Strategic” CFO? Bloomerang's Steve Isom on What That Really Means - CFO of FloQast on Why Finance Teams are Data Curators: “What's in It for Me?” The Art of Storytelling in an IPO - with Monday.com CFO Eliran Glazer: Inside the "Triangle of Doom”: How Great CFOs Navigate CEO and Board Dynamics: —TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:20 ) Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev(07:12) How the CFO Role Has Changed Over the Last Decade(12:08) Why the CFO Needs To Drive the Pace(14:49) Why Most Private Equity-Backed CFOs Aren't up to Par(16:36) Sponsor – Navan | NetSuite | Pulley(20:07) The PE-Backed CFO Versus Hypergrowth VC CFO(21:54) How Senior Leaders Are Incented To Play It Safe(26:04) The Operational CFO: The CFO Becoming More of a COO(28:41) Why the CFO Is More Important Than the CEO(32:16) How a CFO Should Prioritize Their Many Roles(34:46) The Importance of Being a Good Storyteller(38:49) What an Upside-Down Review Is(43:46) Why Not Having a Recommendation Can Be the Smartest Move(49:50) The Hardest CFOs Are the Easiest To Influence(55:37) The Art and Science of Managing Your CEO(57:48) Social Styles Hack(1:00:47) Working With Your CEO and PE Sponsor(1:04:08) The Best Way To Get a CFO Job at a PE-Backed Company(1:11:54) The State of Comp for PE-Backed CFOs in This Market(1:13:16) Negotiating Equity Packages(1:15:39) The Biggest Challenge for PE-Backed CFOs Today—SPONSORS:Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at brex.com/metricsAleph 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 getaleph.com/runRightRev 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 rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.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: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.#CFO #CEOversusCFO #ChiefFinancialOfficer #PrivateEquity #ScottEngler Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe

Agenda: 04:21 - The Meta Acquisition Bombshell: Nat Friedman & Daniel Gross Join Facebook?! 06:00 - Facebook's $100 Billion Gamble: Can Zuck Buy the Future? 09:27 - The “Magic Room” Theory: Why Only Insiders Get Billion-Dollar Paydays 11:27 - Is Loyalty Dead in Silicon Valley? The Great Talent Exodus 16:00 - Harvey's $5 Billion Valuation: Genius or Bubble? 19:00 - The AI Gold Rush: Can Software Really Eat Human Labor? 22:00 - The B2B Unicorn Dilemma: Are There Enough $100B Companies? 25:00 - IPO Mania: Why Navan, Canva, and Circle Are Shaking Up the Markets 29:00 - Meme Stocks & Market Madness: The Circle Rollercoaster 32:00 - Canva's Billion-Dollar Question: Why Stay Private? 36:00 - Larry Ellison's Power Play: How to Buy Back Your Own Empire 39:00 - The Sales Tech Revolution: Why “Cheating” Tools Are the Next Big Thing 42:00 - Slack Lockdown: Is B2B Software About to Get Ugly? 45:00 - The Ultimate Quickfire: Will Trump Launch a Smartphone? Will the US Seize AI?