https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyOBP_QcsLI









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https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CrRco4GBJsnDQYaJSiPnT








In this insightful episode, Kevin Appleby sits down with Michael O’Reilly, a seasoned executive coach and former CFO with a diverse career spanning global finance, digital transformation, and leadership development. Together, they explore “The Three Hidden Traps That Stall New CFOs” — a candid discussion about the unseen challenges finance leaders face as they transition into enterprise leadership roles.



Michael shares his own experiences across companies like Citibank, Gap Inc., and PepsiCo, highlighting how curiosity, empowerment, and trust play crucial roles in a CFO’s success. He also explains how imposter syndrome, reluctance to delegate, and overreliance on technical mastery can prevent new CFOs from thriving in their roles. With AI reshaping the finance landscape, Michael emphasises the growing importance of emotional intelligence, adaptability, and creating psychological safety for teams navigating disruption.



The conversation goes beyond professional growth, touching on personal fulfilment and energy management — understanding what “charges or drains your batteries” as a leader. Drawing from his coaching practice and experiential leadership retreats in Ireland, Michael reveals how rediscovering purpose and flow can reignite a CFO’s impact, both in business and in life.



Key topics covered:




How imposter syndrome can fuel curiosity and growth rather than paralysis



Why delegating and letting go is the biggest unlock for new CFOs



The importance of psychological safety in driving innovation and AI adoption



Transitioning from technical expert to strategic enterprise leader



Understanding personal “energy management” to avoid burnout



The power of trust, empathy, and soft skills in effective CFO leadership




Links




Michael O’Reilly on LinkedIn



Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn



GrowCFO Mentoring




Timestamps




00:40 Michael O’Reilly’s career journey from CPA to Chief Digital Officer



05:52 The role of imposter syndrome in a CFO’s development



07:52 How AI amplifies insecurity and why creating safe environments matters



10:07 Balancing accuracy with experimentation in finance leadership



16:46 What a mentoring relationship looks like with Michael



21:21 The critical need to delegate and empower teams



22:33 Michael’s experiential leadership program in Ireland



30:31 Finding your “flow state” and energizers outside of work



34:20 What kind of leaders benefit most from mentoring



36:16 The “ski story” — how aligning passion with leadership drives performance




Find out more about GrowCFO



If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode.



GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here.



You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net