Liquid: How CFOs Outperform

In this episode, Tom Gavaghan sits down with Russell Haley, a finance veteran who’s navigated everything from manual ledgers to global treasury crises. Russell shares lessons from his early career starting at 18 in London’s financial sector through his leadership roles at major institutions.He discusses the value of apprenticeships and non-traditional career paths, the lessons learned from corporate failures, and the tension between automation and understanding.   Guest Quote:“People trust the computer—they assume it must be right. But it can only use the information it’s given, and that information can be wrong. Having an instinct for what the figures should be is invaluable.”Links & Resources:Connect with Tom Gavaghan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasgavaghan/Connect with Russell Haley: linkedin.com/in/russell-haley-58676311/?skipRedirect=trueLearn more about Kyriba: https://www.kyriba.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Thomas Gavaghan talks with Michiel Boere, CFO of Remote, about leading finance for one of the world’s fastest-growing global HR platforms. Michiel shares how Remote helps companies hire, manage, and pay talent anywhere in the world, and how that mission shapes his approach as CFO.Michiel offers a candid look at the realities of managing finance across 100+ countries, from the complexity of global payroll and navigating diverse regulations, to the challenge of mitigating foreign exchange risk. He discusses the true ROI and variable cost of AI investments, sharing practical advice on balancing innovation with discipline in a fast-scaling company.Drawing on his experience at Uber and Remote, Michiel explains why great CFOs must balance data with judgment, stay nimble in uncertain times, and lead with both flexibility and trust. He highlights the importance of understanding the business beyond spreadsheets—connecting with teams, empowering decision-making, and focusing on what truly drives growth and resilience.Guest Quote: From a financial point, the complexity with that global footprint lies, at least to a large extent, in the money movement, right? It's much more complex than generally people think to move money around the world. If it's not going to the top countries in the world, right? It’s very easy to move money from say, Europe to the US and back and forth, but to get the funds right in time for payroll to the Philippines or Pakistan, is a different story. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into managing that complexity.Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Michiel BoereLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Remote Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special crossover episode, Tom joins host Mike Richards of the Treasury Career Corner podcast to share his career journey and explore how technology and AI are reshaping the future of treasury. They dive into pivotal career moments, the impact of mentorship, and the evolving role of treasury in an increasingly tech-driven world. From traditional cash management to the rise of AI and complex financial solutions, Tom shares thoughtful insights on navigating change, leading with curiosity, and helping finance professionals stay ahead in a rapidly shifting landscape. Tom:“When you're talking about AI, and you're looking at it from the point of view of a treasurer or CFO, the one thing and important thing that you have to understand, and this is one of the learning gaps that I think all of us are going through in our careers now, as we're working through this, is AI is useless without data. The way I always explain it is: if you read a thousand books, and if I read one book, you inherently have more knowledge and more information to operate off of than I do. So, when you're looking at how can we leverage AI in order to do what we need it to do within our organization, there’s two key things: does it have the necessary information, and is it right? And two, can I adapt it to what we ultimately need it to be?” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Mike RichardsLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Treasury Recruitment CompanyCheck out the Treasury Career Corner Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom and Holly sit down with Curt Anderson, CFO and COO of Flexe, for a deep dive into the world of finance, leadership, and supply chain innovation. Curt takes us on his career journey from powerhouse companies like Microsoft and Amazon to the fast-paced world of startups. Sharing invaluable lessons on leveraging data, driving financial strategy, and, most importantly, investing in people. He also unpacks the pressing challenges of today’s economy, from navigating tariffs to the critical need for flexible infrastructure in supply chain management. At the heart of it all? Building an exceptional team. Because as a leader, your team is an extension of you, and success starts with setting the right tone from the top. Curt:“We have a ton of data and…the volume of data is not the issue. Sometimes it's the quality of the data. And sometimes it's the speed with which you can access the data…At a smaller company and the companies that I've been privileged to be part of, a lot of the data tends to be more sales and customer focused data and then system generated operating data. It's not always clean. It's not always super easy to get to. One of my sort of mantras is to hire the FP&A function out really early as I'm building my teams, because, you kind of need people who can kind of sift through the data and make sense of it and create structure around the data so that you can understand it.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Holly McNultyConnect with Curt AndersonLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Flexe Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom sits down with Alison Staloch, CFO of Fundrise, for an engaging discussion about her journey in finance, perspectives on industry regulations, and unique approach to leadership. They explore topics like aligning values with opportunities, fostering inclusivity to drive innovation, and Alison’s experience as Fundrise’s first female executive. Alison also shares how Fundrise cultivates inclusivity across the organization and highlights the intangible value of connecting with her team in person throughout the year. Alison:“So, of companies that went public over the last 12 to 18 months a couple things to note. First one's super obvious, there's a focus on fundamentals. Sustainable business models, path to profitability, not growth at all costs like it was for so long. And then the second maybe less obvious observation is that all companies faced a constrained capital environment during the downturn, and some may have ended up relying on Interesting structured agreements, investor-friendly terms, whatever they needed to do basically to remain liquid, survive… I think the financial and strategic pressures that they navigated to reach this point will become more apparent, and maybe we'll see some of that uncovered in the coming year.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Alison StalochLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Fundrise Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom and Holly have an enlightening conversation with Bryan Jones, CFO of Intradiem. Bryan shares his insights on the evolving role of the CFO and the critical importance of company culture in achieving business success. Bryan also champions a people-first culture and emphasizes the need for all aspects of the business to be connected to its people, and the success Intradiem has seen in their efforts enabling their employees. Guest Quote:“The role of the CFO, in my opinion, has really evolved to be one of a strategic partner to the CEO, to the rest of the C suite, honestly, to the rest of the business as well. We have a real unique position that we sit in where we have a really wide view of the business that puts us in a great position to be that sort of strategic advisor and to the CEO as well as of the rest of the business. So it's not just about the numbers. It's about really understanding the business. You got to take care of the financing, the accounting and treasury and all that stuff. Like I said, that's just table stakes, but you really are a strategic advisor and partner to the rest of the business.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Holly McNultyConnect with Bryan JonesLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Intradiem Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom is joined by James Kelly, SVP of Treasury, Risk Management, and Insurance at Pearson, and Declan Ware, Group Treasurer at EMR Group, from Kyriba Live Exchange in London. They discuss the evolving challenges in treasury management, the impact of AI in finance, and strategic planning amidst economic uncertainties. Guest Quotes:James:“There's a hygiene gateway which is, make sure that there's enough liquidity for the next five years or whatever that you need for getting concerned. As soon as you're past that, it's about free cash conversion. Because it gives credibility to the profit number, it ensures that you've got the liquidity going forward, and it provides that kind of, that lifeblood to propel future investment. And if that's looking good, you end up with happy investors.”Declan:“To pick up on your point there on culture, I think that is key. The business I'm involved in, as the name suggests, is involved in metal recycling. Now, outside looking in, maybe 10 years ago, that was seen as a very basic industry, a bit dirty, a bit underhand. Whereas, if you look at the technological advances within that industry, there's a lot of science, there's a lot of technology, and there's a real culture within the organization of continuous improvement…When I look at my team specifically, I try and encourage that. So I'll encourage the opportunities to go and self learn. I won't tell them to do it. I won't say you've got to come back and tell me everything you know about AI by the end of the week. I'll encourage and certainly promote opportunities.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Declan WareConnect with James KellyLearn more about KyribaLearn more about EMR GroupLearn more about Pearson Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode, Tom is joined by Kyriba’s own Catherine Otto, and they sit down with Anna Apelgren, Head of Cash & Tech at Spotify Treasury at Kyriba Live London, to talk about innovation, leadership, and diversity in the financial landscape. They also discuss Spotify's use of AI to innovate in areas like growth forecasting and personalized features, with insights on how AI is shaping finance and treasury.  Anna:“There are different things, like we have cash pools with the banks, with different currencies, and then we have automation on how we treat the top positions of the cash pools, for instance. And we have the hedging program…so there’s different methods for us to hedge.” "I can sometimes feel a little bit, but it's small, like a little bit like a young girl, especially in a room full of men. So I really have to...rely and find that self confidence that I can do this. I can have my voice and I can take a seat at the table.""I think the need to be curious...really explore and learn...just be curious and dig  in." Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Catherine OttoConnect with Anna ApelgrenLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode, Tom is joined by Kyriba’s CMO, April Moh, at Kyriba’s KLX Paris event. They sit down with John Colleemallay, Senior Director of Group Treasury and Financing at Dassault Systemes to discuss how John leverages innovation and strategic partnerships to drive cash culture and financial stability. They also delve into the role of treasury, exploring strategies for sustaining corporate growth and highlighting the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving world. John:“My job, if I've been doing that for more than 25 years, it's probably because I've been excited about the job. How do I transmit this excitement to a five-year-old kid? How do I make the kid dream? Treasury is for me a world which is constantly moving. Treasury is not about accounting. Treasury is about innovation. Treasury is about the world changing every day. You wake up in the morning, you don't know what you're going to do. Something has changed. And this is what is exciting about treasury? A five-year-old kid, you would need to say, okay, my job is to make your dreams come true. My job is to give you the opportunity to grow. This is what we do for the company. We give the company the opportunity to grow. And you need to find words to explain this to your kid, a five-year-old kid, how do I buy you the next big toy? Manage your liquidity to make your dreams come true.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with April MohConnect with John ColleemallayLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Dassault Systemes Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom and Holly sit down with Tommy Fulmer, CFO of Anders Group, to discuss his journey to the CFO role, his strategies for managing liquidity, and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare staffing. Tommy also discusses the importance of understanding every aspect of the business, from analytics to people management and he shares about the impact of transparent communication in leadership. Tommy:“ I think the biggest thing to me is I think everybody has to have that one thing they measure. And that it doesn't necessarily answer everything, but you can track it, because there's so much data out there, so many things to measure…I know I heard on an earlier podcast here about no data is better than bad data. And I agree with that completely. We have got to make sure we're measuring the right things, and then that you can take the data and look at it a different way.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Holly McNultyConnect with Tommy FulmerLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Anders Group Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom and Holly are joined by Joel Campbell, CFO of TreviPay. They discuss the evolving role of the CFO, challenges and opportunities in managing liquidity, and the intersection of finance and technology. Joel shares insights on being a 'CFO plus,' the impact of AI in finance, and the differences between managing liquidity in public companies vs private equity environments. The conversation also delves into the importance of maintaining a modern treasury operation, leveraging technology, and the critical role of cash management in business resilience. Joel:“I think the CFO role today is very different than it was when I started my career. And I think CFOs now are required to be more than just bean counters or preparers of financial statements…But I think the largest thing that has changed is we've all become CFO plus. So there's more than just the traditional CFO role of things that we all think about, but now we're required to do so much more.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Holly McNultyConnect with Joel CampbellLearn more about KyribaLearn more about TreviPay Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tom is joined by Daniel Ahremark, CFO & COO of Mews, and Hemant Godhwani, VP of Corporate Finance and Treasury at Mews. They discuss the dynamic roles of CFOs, the impact of AI on finance, and the future of the treasury office. Both guests share personal insights into effective leadership, the importance of bold decision-making, and the evolving landscape of financial technology. Hemant:“Both of us see treasury as the guardian of the cash of the company. And as you would have heard the adage, cash is king. So when you marry the two, basically you are in a space, which is very, very important to make sure that the organization is functioning well.” Daniel:“I think that the career that led to the position of the CFO, historically, was very traditional…I wouldn't be surprised if more and more people that you find in these positions in the future actually comes with a background through engineering or through product, or they found themselves doing a stint in enterprise architecture for a couple of years as well to be able to build out that systematic and system level thinking that becomes so, so vital when you're in an environment where scale really comes through technology.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Daniel AhremarkConnect with Hemant GodhwaniLearn more about KyribaLearn more about Mews Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, hosts Tom Gavaghan and Holly McNulty, are joined by Kevin Lammers, former CFO and holding company president, and Dory Malouf, Director of Value Engineering at Kyriba. They talk about Kevin and Dory’s career paths, the evolving role of CFOs, and the impact of technology and AI on finance and treasury functions. Kevin and Dory share their personal experiences, as well as about their time working together, and provide valuable advice on leadership, fostering continuous improvement, and how uncertainty can bring opportunity. About the guests:Kevin Lammers, Former CFOPrior to retiring, Kevin was President, Faurecia USA Holdings, Inc and North America Sr Vice President. In this role, Kevin led the Faurecia North America Board of Management. Previously, he served as Faurecia, North America Chief Financial Officer. Lammers’ career with Faurecia spanned more than 25 years in increasing significant positions with oversight of a region with over $5 billion in sales. Kevin started his career at what is now Ernst & Young. Kevin has more than 30 years leadership experience. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toledo. He is a CPA in the State of Ohio.Dory Malouf, Director of Value Engineering at KyribaDory has 20+ years of management treasury practitioner experience at leading fortune 500 companies. His practitioner experience includes multiple digital transformations and value realizations from treasury and finance technology as well as global cash management, capital market strategies, risk management, working capital optimization, economic trend analysis, and M&A. Dory’s accomplishments in treasury and finance digital transformation have been featured in Treasury & Risk Magazine, as well as in case studies by the Association of Financial Professionals (AFP). In his role as Kyriba's Director of Value Engineering, Dory collaborates directly with executives in Treasury and Finance along with their teams, documenting a plan to execute and realize value based on their strategic digitization initiatives.  Kevin:“I think it comes back to culture. We need to drive culture, so that when people are making decisions, they're making decisions with cash in mind. I mean, cash is too critical to leave it just to finance. Everybody should be driving improved cash. Because again, we go back to, it's the lifeline, it's the blood of an organization, it's how we reward our partners. So it's what we need. We need cash. And, if I could, cash is important both on the downside of an economy and also an upside. On the downside it provides sustainability. It gives you a chance to seize opportunities when they present themselves in good economic times. And opportunities also present themselves in poor economic times. But again, if you have the cash, if you have the resource, it allows you to realize them.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Holly McNultyConnect with Kevin LammersConnect with Dory MaloufLearn more about Kyriba Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the first episode of Liquid: How CFOs Outperform!In this episode, hosts Tom Gavaghan and Holly McNulty are joined by Kyriba's CEO, Melissa Di Donato, and CFO, Adam Drew. Melissa and Adam discuss their career journeys, the dynamic relationship between the CEO and CFO, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. They also discuss the role of adaptability in leadership, the significance of diversity within their team, and the critical nature of effective communication in driving success. Melissa, Kyriba CEO“ It really is a Batman and Robin thing. It's something that you really need to put a lot of work into because one depends upon the other greatly. And the better the relationship, the much more profound output that one will always get. We depend upon each other. We work together and we must always be on the same page." Adam, Kyriba CFO“The relationship between CEO and CFO is probably the most important relationship in any company. To Melissa's point, a good CEO, particularly ones trying to be great, should be looking to absolutely push the envelope...If Melissa can be the dreamer, one of us has to be the realist, and that often falls on me. But once you've got that balance, then the numbers just support it.” Links & Resources:Connect with Tom GavaghanConnect with Holly McNultyConnect with Melissa Di DonatoConnect with Adam DrewLearn more about Kyriba Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Liquid: How CFOs Outperform, the podcast where top CFOs share their biggest and boldest approaches to transforming corporate liquidity and shaping business strategy straight from the Office of the CFO. Whether you’re a CFO, Treasurer, or any finance leader with a stake in how your organization manages, plans, or optimizes liquidity, this podcast is for you.Join Tom Gavaghan as he hosts conversations with visionary leaders in finance to uncover the best strategies they’re currently using to grow their organizations and avoid liquidity gridlock. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.