The CFO Playbook

In this episode, Christopher Striano, Chief Operating Officer of Global Finance at Blackstone, joins David McClelland to discuss the impact of corporate culture on business success, from the perspective of the world’s largest alternative asset manager.With over $1 trillion in assets under management, Blackstone invests in businesses across industries and geographies, including private equity, real estate, credit, and hedge funds. In this revealing discussion, we hear how global entities need to balance culture and strategy to attract and retain great talent.Chris shares highlights from his 25-years at Blackstone; how the company has evolved from a small entity to a global powerhouse, while maintaining a cohesive and inclusive culture; and how it stayed true to its core values by embracing regional influences in its 26 offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia.Highlighting a trinity of healthy competition, teamwork, and philanthropy in creating an engaged and unified Finance team, Chris puts his long-term career growth and job satisfaction down to nurturing relationships and great communication.We also explore how integrating technologies and AI might be changing strategy for Finance teams, through strategic alignment, it doesn’t have to change culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, David McClelland is joined by Myles Corson, EY Global and Americas Strategy and Markets Leader, Financial Accounting Advisory Services and host of the Better Finance Podcast, to discuss the evolving landscape for finance leaders amidst uncertainty and instability, termed the 'polycrisis'.As we navigate a complex global landscape, marked by geopolitical tensions, inflation uncertainties, environmental changes leading to pressure on supply chains, and technological uncertainties, Myles explains how finance leaders can evolve from their traditional roles to become indispensable strategic partners within their organisations.Amidst a world of rapid change and the relentless news cycles that shape our perceptions, we examine the role of technology in both contributing to and alleviating uncertainty. The rise of AI and digital transformation presents not just challenges but also unprecedented opportunities to redefine the role of finance. Hear how CFOs can balance short-term performance with long-term strategic investments, embracing innovation while managing risk.As finance leaders become the compasses guiding their organisations, the importance of setting a clear direction and empowering teams with data-driven insights takes centre stage. Myles underscores the need for agile mindsets and strategic alignment to navigate this complex landscape, ultimately adding unparalleled value to organisations.For more information about the challenges facing CFOs, read Myles' DNA of the CFO report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Marie Joyce, CFO and COO of NTR, the trailblazing renewable energy specialist to discuss their mission to advance sustainable infrastructure by investing in wind, solar, and energy storage assets across Europe.What exactly does it take to transform from toll roads to renewable energy? Marie reveals the incredible evolution of NTR, offering a rare glimpse into the strategic milestones that have defined the company, from its early investments in wind energy with Airtricity in 1999 to its current focus on wind, solar, and energy storage projects across Europe. We hear how NTR's diversification across various markets and technologies has cemented its leadership in the renewable energy sector.Marie also shines a light on the pivotal decisions that set NTR apart, such as the shift from a US-centric approach to capitalising on the stable European market. She recounts the company’s transition to co-investing with institutional capital, a move that has significantly mitigated risk while expanding investment capabilities. Hear how advancements in technology have made renewable projects financially viable without government subsidies, and how strategic partnerships, such as with Legal & General Investment Management, have been instrumental in the company's growth.Beyond the financial strategy, Marie lifts the lid on the human element that drives NTR’s success including initiatives to foster diversity and inclusion in the traditionally male-dominated sectors of engineering and finance. From flexible working arrangements to fertility leave, NTR's culture not only supports its workforce but also aligns with its ambitious climate goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Mark Freedman to explore the changing landscape of finance leadership, from crash to AI and beyond.Mark started his career at Deutsche Bank before moving onto London Stock Exchange Group. Over three decades in the finance sector, he’s proved himself to be a transformational force ready to face down the challenges of a digital finance age.Now in post as CFO of global money brand Travelex, Mark has been instrumental in making strategic decisions, providing steadfast resilience through a challenging era, following a much publicised cyber incident at the start of 2020.Despite the negative headlines, Mark's tenure has embraced opportunities for growth. Empathising the strength of Travelex's brand and its extensive physical distribution network as key assets, Mark has faced questions about the relevance of “travel money” head on. Highlighting the evergreen resilience of cash and the growth potential of digital cards, his current role has pivoted Mark from scorekeeper to decision-maker, with a deep understanding of business - using effective communication, and staying up-to-date with technology.About Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo.Chapters:0:05:07 - Career Transition Reflections and Growth0:09:03 - Career Progression in Banking Industry0:15:04 - Era of Financial Innovation0:18:25 - Finance Transformation Opportunity0:22:52 - Business Journey Through Turbulent Times0:34:25 - Future of Travel Money Changes0:42:24 - Evolution of the CFO Role Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we look beyond the UK with guest Huiming Chen discussing the challenges and opportunities of leading finance teams across diverse geographies and cultures with host David McClelland.In her current role as Europe Commercial CFO at Illumina, Huiming shares her expertise on acknowledging and bridging cultural differences, fostering open communication, and balancing structural preferences to enhance team performance. Hear her secret to effectively navigating cultural nuances and improve collaboration within a global finance team.Gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of feedback and communication styles in multicultural environments through Huiming’s personal journey from China to the US. We also explore the stark contrasts between Eastern and Western feedback approaches and the critical importance of timely, constructive feedback. Hear how small talk, such as the British habit of discussing the weather, plays a significant role in building professional relationships and how to adapt communication styles to fit different cultural contexts.Huiming also provides insight on the future of finance and the evolving role of CFOs in the face of technological advancements. Emphasising the essential traits of successful CFOs and the importance of creating environments where diversity and innovation thrive, Huiming shares strategies to empower finance teams for innovation, balance operational and strategic responsibilities, and leverage AI technology for informed decision-making, ensuring effective global leadership and cultural adaptation in the workplaceHuiming will be judging the Global CFO 100 Awards 2024 by Soldo in partnership with HotTopics. This new award honours CFO’s who are driving transformative financial strategies and innovative business practices, shaping the future of finance. Entries close on 31st August 2024, for more information visit https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Chapters:(0:00:00) - Global Cultural Challenges in Finance Leadership(0:10:42) - Cultural Feedback and Relationship Building(0:14:41) - Embracing Diversity in Leadership Roles(0:22:38) - Future Traits of Successful CFOs(0:33:53) - Empowering Future Finance Through TechnologyAbout Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do a retail powerhouse, a manufacturing giant, and a financial services titan have in common? According to our guest Helen Ashton, it’s the universal value of cross-sector experience. In conversation with David McClelland, Helen shares her fascinating journey through multiple industries, emphasising how diverse roles have armed her with unique insights and essential relationship-building skills.A finance leader with over 30 years of dynamic experience, Helen's expertise is a masterclass on leveraging core finance skills to adapt and thrive in new environments. She shares the common challenges finance leaders encounter and the strategic importance of honing influencing skills to drive business success. From spearheading technological innovations to nurturing a young, diverse team, Helen’s time as CFO at online fashion giant ASOS is a testament to truly visionary leadership. This episode also explores how innovative hiring practices and open-minded recruitment can enhance finance teams, fostering a rich pool of future talent ready to take on CFO roles in the future. Candidly reflecting on the slow progress made in diversity and inclusion in senior finance roles and her own vision for the future of finance - transformed by data automation and strategic involvement - paint a compelling picture of a field ripe for rebranding. This episode is brimming with insights on the evolving landscape of finance leadership, championed by a true industry veteran.Helen will be judging the Global CFO 100 Awards 2024 by Soldo in partnership with HotTopics. This new award honours CFO’s who are driving transformative financial strategies and innovative business practices, shaping the future of finance. Entries close on 31st August 2024, for more information visit https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Helen founded Shape Beyond after 25 years of transforming complex, high-growth organisations. She’s worked at Executive Board level and led private equity portfolio businesses to successful exit. Shape Beyond’s deep knowledge of the retail industry is fuelled by Helen’s time as the CFO of ASOS and board member of JD Sports. We embrace digital transformation and agile, diverse cultures.Chapters:0:03:23 - Career Growth Through Industry Diversity 0:12:04 - Finance Leader0:18:50 - Innovation in Fashion Retail CFO Role 0:22:48 - Leveraging Data for Customer Service Improvement 0:27:03 - Fast-Paced, Customer-Centric Executive Dynamics 0:30:52 - Youthful Talent Surprises in Finance 0:33:17 - ASOS Brand Mission for 20-Somethings 0:37:22 - Diversity, Inclusion, and Authenticity in Leadership 0:43:43 - Criteria for Selecting Future CFOsAbout Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May’s episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland talks to Mehjabeen Patrick, Director of Finance at Arts University Bournemouth, about the challenges and opportunities of finance leadership in the creative sector.As former Chief Finance and Investment Officer at Creative UK, Mehjabeen is all too aware of the financial challenges faced by creative businesses. From her early days working in the banking sector, Mehjabeen is a passionate advocate of finding creative approaches in all aspects of finance. From distributing government grants to providing business mentoring, she highlights the need for finance leaders to actively listen to and learn from creatives, to drive both artistic and economic growth.Drawing from over 20 years of experience in the sector, Mehjabeen shares the importance of thinking outside the box. Hear how she thinks finance leaders should embrace creative approaches while managing budgets, by bringing design thinking into their day to day work. This episode also explores the impact of technology and digital innovation to engage diverse audiences by telling finance stories in new ways.Chapters:(0:02:56) - Finance Leadership in the Creative Sector(0:16:20) - Finance and Creativity in the Arts(0:24:11) - The Impact of Technology on Creativity(0:36:14) - Thinking Outside the Box in FinanceEntries for the Global CFO 100 Awards in partnership with HotTopics are now open - https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Entries close 31st August 2024.About Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland is joined by Giles Andrews OBE, co-founder of Zopa, the world’s first P2P lending business launched in 2004, to discuss two decades working in FinTech and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the financial services of the future.Finding himself as an accidental CFO in the early days of Zopa thanks to an accountancy qualification, Giles progressed to CEO and Chairman and is still an active Board Member, responsible for in excess of £4bn in loans in the UK, and revolutionising the way we look at banking.Reflecting on the economic storms faced globally over the past few years, Giles offers an insider's perspective on the 2008 financial crisis, revealing how it inadvertently fuelled Zopa's growth by transforming the lending landscape. Now managing a diverse portfolio, from the intricacies of Zopa's operations to Chair of online automotive marketplace CarWow, Giles is all too familiar with the challenges faced against a backdrop of evolving consumer behaviour and digital upheaval.In a world now captivated by artificial intelligence, he shares his thoughts on the positives in work efficiency and improved user experience in customer service, but expresses concerns about ethics and governance, especially in financial services. Balancing innovation and regulation, Giles highlights the importance of ethical leadership and community spirit to ensure a prosperous ecosystem for businesses of all sizes, whilst embracing advancements in technology.Chapters -(0:00:00) - Financial Leadership and Innovation(0:12:21) - Navigating Financial Crisis and Growth(0:19:25) - Recent Financial Sector Collapses and Innovation(0:24:08) - Innovation in Banking and AI(0:36:06) - Ethics and Privacy in AI Governance(0:41:54) - Issue of Financial Engineering in BusinessEntries for the Global CFO 100 Awards in partnership with HotTopics are now open - https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Entries close 31st August 2024.About Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The CFO Playbook, David McClelland explores how financial management should be embedded into company culture with Richard Dana, co-founder and CEO at Tembo Money.With a background in corporate finance, Richard shares how he leveraged his interest in travel to co-found the budget-boutique hotel booking platform Doris and Dickie, and the lessons learned from being thrifty in balancing the books from day one with a small team, managing by cost.Reflecting on his role as CFO at Founders Factory, a unique platform matching leading corporate brands with industry expertise with innovative start-ups to solve specific pain points within their sector. Richard affirms his mantra that founders should focus on being thrifty and making every pound work hard, whilst having a path to profitability and a clear understanding of the financials.Now on a mission to address the housing affordability crisis, Richard co-founded family lending platform Tembo Money, with the aim of closing the generational wealth gap by broadening access to homeownership. With no CFO currently in place, the focus since its launch in 2020 has been on becoming profitable with a lean team and outsourced accountancy. Richard highlights that despite the crossovers between the CFO and CEO roles, there is a much greater focus on "selling the business" as a CEO, whilst keeping an eye on the money during the early days of growing a new business.Finally, against the backdrop of the current economic landscape, Richard gives his view on starting a business in a recession; although it's challenging, partnering with established companies and focusing on a product with a real customer need can help mitigate risks. Extending cash runway is crucial for startups, and involves monitoring cash flow, cutting costs, and exploring non-investment funding options.Chapters -(0:00:01) - Inside the World of Finance Leaders(0:13:29) - Building a Finance Startup(0:22:45) - Funding and Recruitment for Startups(0:33:57) - Startup Strategies and Acquisition Considerations(0:43:39) - Liberating Finance for FamiliesEntries for the Global CFO 100 Awards in partnership with HotTopics are now open - https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Entries close 31st August 2024.About Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With growth at the heart of the recent Spring Budget, how can companies fuel productivity and accomplish more? On March 13th, 2024, business and economics experts met at the London Stock Exchange to decode the Chancellor’s Spring Budget at an event hosted by Soldo.This live episode of The CFO Playbook is hosted by David McClelland and features an expert panel -David Owen, Chief Economist, Saltmarsh Economics Liz Earle MBE of Liz Earle WellbeingEmma Heal, MD at Lucky SaintCarlo Gualandri, CEO of SoldoChapters -(00:00) - Productivity and Growth Challenges in the UK(11:54) - Economic Growth and Productivity Opportunities(21:58) - CFO-CEO Partnership for Business Success(30:33) - Impacts of AI on Business Operations(39:40) - AI Technology and Future Industry Trends(53:41) - Summary of Support in the Spring BudgetEntries for the Global CFO 100 Awards in partnership with HotTopics are now open - https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Entries close 31st August 2024.About Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new series of The CFO Playbook, brought to you by Soldo.In this episode, our new host, technology reporter, presenter and consumer champion, David McClelland talks to Baron Anyangwe, a finance leader, about his journey and insights into leadership.They discuss the importance of flexibility and passion in career choices, the impact of volunteering, and Baron’s own holistic leadership framework. The framework includes principles such as widening perspectives, finding meaningful work, focusing on strengths, and setting milestones for progress.Baron emphasises the importance of markers and milestones in guiding progress and decision-making, including the 6 Ps of success: Purpose, Principles, Priorities, Progress, Play, and People Skills. The episode also explores the value of playfulness in fostering creativity and innovation, whilst retaining the need for experimentation and adaptability in finance leadership.This episode also delves into the rise of B Corp businesses and the challenges and opportunities they present for sustainability, reflecting on the concept of liberating finance and the role of finance leaders in driving positive change.Chapters -(0:00:01) - Leadership Framework(0:11:12) - Protect the Magic, Ditch the Rest(0:18:29) - Play, People Skills in Finance(0:27:31) - Balancing Long-Term Sustainability in Business(0:39:13) - Evolving Finance for Sustainable BusinessEntries for the Global CFO 100 Awards in partnership with HotTopics are now open - https://hottopics.ht/global-cfo-100-awards-nominations. Entries close 31st August 2024.About Soldo:Soldo provides company cards connected to a powerful management platform. Employees use Soldo cards to buy what they need for work without being out of pocket or going over budget. Finance teams use Soldo to distribute money instantly, while staying in control of who spends, how much, where, and on what.Thousands of businesses, from small to large corporations including Mercedes-Benz, Sony, and Get Your Guide use Soldo to make their business spending simple and efficient.To find out more or to book a demo, visit Soldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Ed Lu, Chief Financial Officer at Fandom, a San Francisco-based gaming and entertainment community platform.Ed is a gaming and media tech executive with deep finance, strategy and operational experiences focused on VC and PE-backed Gaming and B2C companies. He holds a Master’s in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from UC Berkeley.In this episode, Ed talks about the explosive growth of the gaming industry over the course of the pandemic, the impact that generative AI will have on game development, and the ups and downs of the financial investment side of the sector.--------Guest Quotes:“A lot of these [gaming] companies have had to somewhat bootstrap themselves, right? Or like, on a shoestring budget, get something out, show the metrics that the VCs will understand, ‘Oh, okay, I get it. Here's the D1, here's the D3, D7, D28, here's the monetization, here's the ARPU, whatnot. I can now project it out further.’ But they're not getting funding prior, right? And so they've been coming into the game a little later, like sort of post traction.” - Ed Lu--------Topics:01:34 Ed’s background06:53 The evolution of monetization in online gaming 15:44 Trials and tribulations of game development20:21 Investment in the gaming sector30:03 Downsides of VC investing40:12 Managing employee retention as a CFO49:24 Reflecting on his career--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Ed on LinkedInConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Bill Fahrbach, Chief Financial Officer at Facet, offering impartial and invaluable financial advice and services at an affordable membership fee.Bill is a strategic Financial Executive and Entrepreneurial CFO/COO with an extensive investment banking background and rounded technology operational experience. With a track record of significant growth, capital raises, and exits, he’s a leader in finance, operations, systems, and legal capacities.In this episode, Bill talks about the changing dynamics between CFO and CEO, the importance of a healthy work-life balance, and how a primarily remote-first culture affects the pathway to becoming a CFO.--------Guest Quotes:“I think what has changed is, if you think about the CFO role, it's really critically important that you get the right information out to the organization. So, the organization wants to understand how we are doing as a business, and it's not as simple as sort of just saying like, look, here are the numbers, right? There's a lot of color, there's a lot of context. So I would say as CFO, it's been challenging. It's actually pushed probably the limits in terms of like how do you communicate effectively with the employee base, whereas when you're in the office in a physical office, it's more natural, I guess you could say, and more seamless to sort of be having routine discussions with, employees across the board and articulating, you know, the good, the bad, and everything in between and getting that message across. In a virtual environment, what I've found is that the struggle is always finding that balance of how do I get the right message out in the right forums. And not create, let's say, like a drain of unnecessary meetings that people get bored in, right? So, it's finding that balance, you know, articulating the right information, but also giving the right context in a way that employees will be engaged. I'd say that was, that's been the biggest challenge.” - Bill Fahrbach--------Topics:00:38 Bill’s role and adjusting to remote work03:49 How a remote first culture affects the pathway to CFO07:51 Educational background13:19 Dynamics between CFO and CEO17:53 Facilitating company acquisitions21:47 Work life balance24:23 About Facet and IPO29:18 Best decision he’s ever made--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Bill on LinkedInConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Andy Dean, Chief Financial Officer at Eden Futures, providing high quality, person-centered care, supported living and enablement for people with disabilities and support needs.At Eden Futures, Andy leads the Finance, Service Development and IT teams. Prior, he started his career training with KPMG as a Chartered Accountant, gaining experience within both Audit and Transaction Services. He has since worked for a variety of care providers in social care starting with Craegmoor as Group Financial Accountant. From there he gained broader experience at GKN plc before joining what became Embrace Group in 2012 as Group Financial Controller. Andy helped to manage the recovery and subsequent sale of that business before joining Eden Futures.In this episode, Andy talks about the current state of social care in the UK, his work as a leader for teams in finance, service development, and IT, and how policies, politics, and technology affect the space.--------Guest Quotes:“ Part of your role, as CFO, is that wide base of stakeholders. You can be talking to your shareholder one day. You can be talking to your lender another day. You can be talking to your insurer. You know, CFOs like me are often responsible for the IT, so get involved in the IT discussions, talking to our customers. So, in our case, our commissioning partners around whatever issue it might be, say fee rates, occupancy. Get involved with the lawyers that are on the contractual side. So yes, it is a varied role. You know, the old adage that 'no day is ever the same' is absolutely right from a CFO perspective.” - Andy Dean--------Topics:01:37 Andy’s background and role as CFO07:22 Current state of social care in the UK13:14 Technology in social care17:43 Employee retention and politics21:00 Dealing with uncertainties25:45 Mentorship--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Andy on LinkedInEden Futures WebsiteConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Chris Voss, Founder and CEO of The Black Swan Group. Previously, Chris was the lead international kidnapping negotiator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FBI’s hostage negotiation representative for the National Security Council’s Hostage Working Group. Chris used his many years of experience in international crises and high-stakes negotiations to develop a unique program that applies globally proven techniques to the business world. Through the Black Swan Group, he provides training for a variety of businesses and individuals on negotiation skills. He’s also the author of Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It.In this episode, Chris and I talk about how he became an FBI hostage negotiator, what a CFO can learn from negotiation, and the three biggest mistakes to avoid when negotiating.--------Guest Quotes:“Really counterintuitive stuff, this thing that we call empathy, you know, we call tactical empathy. It's ability to influence, if you can wrap your mind around what it really is, it works under all circumstances. Doesn't matter, as long as human beings are involved, whether it's a colleague, whether it's a client, whether it's an employee, whether it's somebody you work for, it seems mystical because it really operates on neuroscience and the feelings of being understood. But human beings are wired to be completely emotional. You know, every decision, you make up your mind based on what you care about, which makes decision making an emotional process because your fundamental basis is what you care about. And so then it's just applied emotional intelligence. And you know you can succeed in the boardroom or work with what I learned dealing with a drug dealer or a terrorist.” - Chris Voss--------Topics:03:02 How to become an FBI hostage negotiator03:41 What a CFO can learn from negotiation12:52 Three biggest mistakes in negotiation18:45 Achieving outcomes22:28 In-person versus digital communication27:38 Real life stories--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Chris on LinkedInThe Black Swan Group LTDConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at University of Oxford and Co-author of The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups.Professor Dunbar is British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist and a specialist in primate behavior. He is best known for formulating Dunbar’s number, a measurement of the “cognitive limit to the number of individuals with whom any one person can maintain stable relationships.” His research is concerned with trying to understand the behavioral and cognitive mechanisms that underpin social bonding in primates and humans.In this episode, Professor Dunbar talks about how evolution affects the dynamics of organizations, the seven pillars of friendship, the impact of work on personal relationships, and the observable changes in a sense of community overtime.--------Guest Quotes:“In a C-suite level, you have to find ways of sharing your time and not micromanaging everything, that's where the disaster comes, I think, because you destroy everything. You try and micromanage the whole of a big organization, not only do you make a hash of that because it's too big, but you also don't have any time left over for your family relationships and so on, and they fall apart. So, you’ve got to trust the people you work with, as it were, below you, in the layers below you to do their job, and that has to be the culture. And, there are places where that happens, you have this sense of trust and obligation and people work willingly, as it were, and overwork, maybe,  willingly, not for the money they're paid but out of a sense of pride and obligation to the job they do. If you encourage that kind of attitude again, which used to be much more common, then you don't have to worry about what's going on down below because that's being taken care of in the layers below you. You can sit back and deal with strategy, which is what C-suite folks should be really concerned with because, and sparing yourself enough time at the corners of the day to invest in your own kind of family and social environments.” - Robin Dunbar--------Topics:02:51 Introducing Robin’s book: The Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful Groups06:35 How evolution affects the dynamics of organizations11:36 The seven pillars of friendship18:21 Difference in application for group sizes in a workplace setting30:32 Generational changes in the sense of community38:47 The impact of work on personal relationships--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Robin on LinkedInThe Social Brain: The Psychology of Successful GroupsConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Tom Herbert, Tech Editor at AccountingWEB, the largest independent online community for accounting and finance professionals in the UK.Tom is a journalist, editor and broadcaster with experience across digital and print publications. For the past seven years, he’s specialized in business, accountancy and technology journalism. He writes and edits news, features, interviews and opinion pieces and also features on a variety of podcasts, videos and webinars as both a host and guest.In this episode, Tom talks about ChatGPT and the future of AI, the recent Silicon Valley Bank situation, The Tyranny of Expense Reclaim, and his opinions on accountancy stereotypes.--------Guest Quotes:“I think that accountants, the stereotype is, Nigel in the corner office with his spreadsheet, and they're incredibly boring people, like Monty Python and various others have spread this around. But, I actually find accountants incredibly entertaining. I think they're generally very quirky, quite eccentric, and often quite blunt. But, when I pitched up in 2015, after, as you said, a series of events, writing, travel, writing, sports, journalism, like my wife's, yeah, ‘accounting journalism, are you sure?’ But, yeah, I've loved every minute of it, genuinely. It's been great fun.” - Tom Herbert--------Topics:03:54 Chat GPT and AI10:21 Silicon Valley Bank14:14 Resumes and trust18:44 The Tyranny of Expense Reclaim24:44 Opinions on accountancy stereotypes--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Tom on LinkedInConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Peter de Silva, Author, Director, and Trustee.Peter is an experienced chairman, CEO, president, executive committee member, public and private company director and trustee for national not-for-profit organizations and national charitable foundations. He’s a Former Harvard University Senior Fellow - Advanced Leadership Initiative, and author of Taking Stock: 10 Life Leadership Principles from My Seat at the Table.In this episode, Peter talks about the importance of successfully cultivating relationships for career progression, the financial impacts of the 2020 ‘meme’ stock craze, and leaves us with his top three pieces of advice for the CFOs of the future.--------Guest Quotes:“If I think about three or four pieces of advice for aspiring financial leaders, I would leave you with this. One, take intelligent risks. I didn't want to move to Cincinnati. I didn't want to move to Kansas City. But I did, and I grew much more quickly. I got way ahead from where I would've been if I sat in my office in Boston. So, take those intelligent risks. Second, and something that has to be learned, you need to hire people that compliment you and challenge you. The leader that hires people that look just like them and marches in line, it doesn't work. You want people who challenge you around that table. And, as long as they do it respectfully and ethically, it's all good with me. But, ensure you find people who compliment and challenge you. Third, constantly challenge yourself to improve. None of us are done learning and growing and we won't be until we draw our last breath because that's the essence of life, is to learn and grow and to develop. And my last piece of advice for everyone is to do what you love and love what you do. And, if you don't, It's time to move on.” - Peter de Silva--------Topics:01:22 Peter’s background06:12 Early career09:28 Experience at Harvard14:38 Meme stock craze22:56 Peter’s book25:43 Cultivating relationships30:40 What’s next for Peter31:26 Advice for upcoming CFOs34:00 Learning experiences--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Peter on LinkedInConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Chris Gaunt. He is the CFO Practice Leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Spencer Stuart, an executive search, board, and leadership advisory service.In his role, Chris works on a variety of Group CFO appointments for many of the world’s largest publicly traded companies, as well as for private equity-backed portfolio companies. He has a strong international focus, often for clients in emerging economies who wish to access the global executive talent pool. Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Chris worked with another leading international executive search firm, most recently serving as the Managing Partner of its UK CFO practice. He began his career in the financial leadership search field in the firm’s New York office. Earlier, Chris worked as a management consultant for the Washington, D.C.-based Advisory Board Company. In that capacity, he led consulting teams working with senior executives across industries on their human resources strategy and operations. Chris holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.In this episode, Chris talks about the ever changing role of the CFO, the modern challenges of headhunting, leadership as a whole, and the steps you can take to reach the top.--------Guest Quotes:“You need a certain stiffness, a certain toughness, of character to survive the sort of constant battering and the loneliness that is involved in being a CEO. I won't dispute that. I would say that we're seeing, again, an evolutionary change where the command control type of the CEOs of yesteryear are simply no longer in vogue. What we've seen, and the Covid crisis amplified this, is that CEOs today, more than ever, have to demonstrate real empathetic and inclusive leadership." - Chris Gaunt--------Topics:02:08 Introducing Chris03:11 Current state of CFOs06:30 Challenges in headhunting10:11 The skill set of a modern CFO16:21 Prerequisites for becoming a CFO22:53 The process of CFO headhunting27:45 Examples of successful CFO searches--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Chris on LinkedInConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the CFO Playbook features an interview with Justin Lackey, CFO at Asset Panda, a powerful, highly configurable asset tracking and management SaaS platform on a mission to help the world work smarter.In his current role as the Chief Financial Officer, Justin oversees revenue operations, pricing, and data analysis, which are all transferable skills brought over from his previous positions as Director of Revenue Operations, and Manager of Pricing Strategy and Finance. Prior to Asset Panda, Justin held four separate financial analyst positions at ACTIVE Network, a premier global marketplace for activities and events. He graduated with a degree in general finance from Texas A&M University in 2017.In this episode, Justin talks about the importance of maintaining transparency in the new world of finance, navigating risk appetite when conducting business during black swan events, and adapting to and remaining motivated in remote work environments.--------Guest Quotes:“I like to look at everything as a revenue generating role, right? What are you doing to impact revenue? Whether it's a tweak you're making in our sales process, our marketing process, insights you're helping give them, there’s a direct downstream impact on revenue for that. Becoming obsessed with that revenue side of the business, I think is important for any young analyst, any aspiring CFO.”“I think a really good quality for a CFO, CRO is, can you take a complexity and can you make it digestible, right? That is always the million dollar question of, okay, we have this set, this data set, this preexisting analytics set, right, of historical information. How do I put this into an action item and how do I deliver it so anyone can understand it?”“I think haste of pivot is super important. Boils back down to that data collection piece of, how long is too long for a project to kind of run its course, right? You have the opportunity to act much quicker based on leading indicators than you could've. It's not all about waiting until seeing the win rate anymore, waiting until seeing total revenue, right? You can kind of grab some of that upfront data, make some pretty educated guesses, and pivot quickly.”“There's a famous kind of mindset model that talks about the different zones that people can find themselves in. And there's a reactive zone and a proactive zone, along with a waste and a distraction zone, things like that. We spend a lot of time in that reactive zone today, but we're not necessarily using time in the proactive zone that can lead to efficiencies within that reactive zone. What am I doing day-to-day that really could be automated that's taking up a lot of my time, and how do I invest that time back into my personal life?”--------Topics:02:06 Justin’s role and background07:53 The new world of finance13:22 Transparency in finance18:06 Addressing risk appetite22:08 Black swan events28:31 Remaining motivated in remote work33:51 Siege mentality in company leadership37:33 Tips for success in business--------Sponsor:This show is brought to you by Soldo, the brighter way to manage business spending and expenses. With Soldo, you can control every expense, track spend in real time, automate financial reporting, and then use those insights to fuel growth. Learn more at Soldo.com--------Links:Connect with Justin on LinkedInConnect with Fran on LinkedInThe CFO Playbook Listener Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices