The Role Forward: A Strategic Finance Podcast

In this episode of The Role Forward, host Joe Michalowski welcomes CJ Gustafson, CFO of PartsTech and the mind behind Mostly Metrics. They dive into the intricacies of annual planning, a critical period for finance professionals. CJ shares his unique journey from M&A consulting to private equity and finally to his current role, emphasizing the importance of understanding business models and resource allocation.The conversation shifts to the practical steps of strategic planning. CJ outlines a three-month timeline for annual planning, stressing the collaboration between CEOs and CFOs. He breaks down the process into digestible stages, focusing on setting realistic goals for revenue, productivity, and profitability. His approach demystifies the complexities of financial forecasting in the startup ecosystem.Joe and CJ also tackle the challenges of planning with incomplete data, advocating for a proactive start and the ability to adapt. CJ's insights offer valuable lessons on balancing ambition with the realities of startup finance, providing a blueprint for listeners navigating their own annual planning.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Guest: CJ Gustafson💡 What he does: CFO / Writer💡Company: PartsTech / Mostly Metrics💡Noteworthy: CJ Gustafson: M&A consultant turned CFO, private equity expert, startup growth driver.💡Where to find CJ: LinkedIn

In the latest episode of The Role Forward podcast, host Joe Michalowski sits down with Kristian Marquez, founder of FinStrat Management. Kristian shares his diverse journey in the finance sector, highlighting his experiences from being part of a billion-dollar IPO to the challenges faced in a telemedicine startup.The duo dives deep into the evolving landscape of startup profitability, especially for VC-backed ventures. They discuss the shifting paradigms from a growth-centric mindset to a more balanced approach that emphasizes cash preservation. Kristian introduces the "Rule of 40," a pivotal metric combining growth percentage with EBITDA margin, suggesting its significance in today's startup world.Towards the end, the conversation shifts to the potential of artificial intelligence. Kristian draws parallels between the dot-com era and the current AI wave, emphasizing its transformative power in boosting productivity and redefining the future of businesses.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Kristian Marquez💡 What he does: President and CEO💡 Company: FinStrat Management💡Noteworthy: Kristian Marquez: From billion-dollar IPO participant to telemedicine startup co-founder.💡Where to find Kristian: LinkedIn 

In the latest episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski welcomes Todd Spartz, the CFO at LinkLive. Todd dives deep into his rich background in the tech world. From semiconductor equipment manufacturing to networking, and from web analytics to web advertising, Todd's journey is vast. As he transitioned to enterprise SaaS, he shares the insights and challenges faced, especially around the newest hottest topic - AI.For anyone keen on understanding the intricacies of the tech world and the journey of a seasoned professional like Todd, this episode is a must-listen.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Todd Spartz💡 What he does:  CFO💡Company: LinkLive💡Noteworthy: Todd Spartz: 30 years in Silicon Valley, from semiconductor manufacturing to enterprise SaaS.💡Where to find Todd: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe and Scot dive into the world of fractional CFO services and the transition to in-house teams. They discuss the inflection points where companies outgrow fractional CFO services and the economic factors that drive the decision to hire in-house. The complexity of business activities and the need for a 24/7 finance team are key considerations.The conversation shifts to data infrastructure and the challenges early-stage companies face in building and tracking plans. They emphasize the importance of clean data and the role of systems and automation. Joe and Scot also explore the difficulties in integrating various systems and the value of data analysis in deriving meaningful insights.Scot shares his journey from startups to consulting and back, highlighting the growth and collaboration experiences. He explains the engagement process with companies, emphasizing the strategic value of starting with accounting before moving to more complex financial planning and analysis (FP&A). The episode concludes with insights into strategic projects and the path to growth.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Scot Mollot 💡What they do: CFO💡Company: Attivo Partners💡Noteworthy: Expert in fractional CFO services, with a background in startups and consulting.💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts Zack McCarty, Director of FP&A at Qwick. McCarty shares insights on the importance of collaborative planning and stakeholder buy-in in the food and beverage industry. He emphasizes the transformative power of basic financial information in driving valuable change within a company.McCarty discusses the challenges and strategies of planning for Qwick, a two-sided marketplace for on-demand staffing. He highlights the necessity of balancing the onboarding of workers and businesses, and the seasonal nature of their business. He also delves into the complexities of managing expenses across different departments, including marketing, sales, and engineering.Lastly, McCarty underscores the importance of transparency in financial information. However, he also cautions against the potential for misunderstanding or panic when context is not provided. The episode concludes with McCarty expressing excitement about the future as stakeholders seek deeper analytics and understanding of the fundamentals.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Zack McCarty💡What they do: Director of FP&A💡Company: Qwick💡Noteworthy: McCarty is an early member of Qwick, having served in various roles including Director of Marketing. He brings a unique perspective on the importance of financial transparency and collaborative planning in a rapidly evolving marketplace.💡 Where to find them: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts a deep dive into strategic finance with Bijan Moallemi and Joe Garafalo, co-founders of Mosaic. The trio unpacks the evolving landscape of business and the increasing complexity that demands more from finance professionals.Joe emphasizes the importance of investing in finance functions, especially in today's economy. He illustrates how strategic finance operates in real time, allowing businesses to know exactly where they stand and where they're heading. This proactive approach enables teams to assess ROI on significant expenditures and make informed decisions.Bijan and Joe also discuss the shift in planning from a structured, periodic process to a continuous one. They liken traditional finance to driving with the headlights off, while strategic finance provides clear visibility and direction. The conversation concludes with insights on the value of AI in finance and its potential to save time and drive progress.Tune in to The Role Forward for a comprehensive understanding of strategic finance and its role in shaping successful businesses.Guests-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Bijan Moallemi / Joe Garafalo💡What they do: Co-Founder and CEO / Co-Founder and COO💡Company: Mosaic💡Noteworthy: Joe is an experienced finance professional and the COO of Mosaic, a strategic finance platform. He has a deep understanding of the finance industry and is passionate about leveraging AI to enhance financial operations and decision-making. As the CEO of Mosaic, Bijan is a strong advocate for strategic finance. He believes in the power of storytelling in finance and emphasizes the importance of translating complex financial data into understandable information to drive strategic decision-making.💡 Where to find them: Bijan: LinkedIn Joe: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts a deep dive into the world of venture funding. The guests — Joe Garafalo, Marissa Moore, and Eugene Lee — share their insights and experiences. The conversation revolves around the importance of good financial modeling practices, the current state of venture funding, and the future outlook. The guests also discuss the importance of understanding the customer base, assessing risks, and the role of metrics in investor conversations.The episode concludes with advice for companies planning to raise funds in the future. The key takeaways include the need to build relationships with investors, the importance of adaptability, and the value of clearly understanding future expectations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in venture funding and financial modeling.Guests-at-a-Glance💡 Names:  Joe Garafalo / Marissa Moore / Eugene Lee 💡What they do: Co-Founder and COO / Investor / Principal💡Company: Mosaic / OMERS Ventures / OMERS Ventures💡Noteworthy: Joe is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in strategic finance. He's known for his deep understanding of financial modeling and venture funding. Marissa is a self-proclaimed numbers nerd with a passion for financial models. She started her career on Wall Street and has since worked in equity research and private market research. She's known for her project, the Green Room, a platform for founders to practice their pitches in front of real VC investors. Eugene started his career in M&A banking and has since worked in various roles in startups, including being part of two founding teams. He's known for his expertise in analyzing key drivers and metrics to help scale businesses.💡 Where to find them: Joe: LinkedInMarissa: LinkedIn (and check out The Green Room, a safe space for founders to practice their pitch, risk free, in front of current investors and subject matter experts. Eugene: LinkedIn

In this episode of The Role Forward, host Joe Michalowski brings together a panel of industry leaders for a Q&A-style discussion. The guests include Bijan Moallemi, Co-Founder and CEO at Mosaic, Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, Partner at XYZ, and Jeron Paul, CEO of Spiff. The conversation revolves around board management, investor communications, and effective strategies for keeping the board up to speed.The panelists delve into the intricacies of board meetings, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and understanding the 'why' behind business numbers. They also discuss the CFO's role in maintaining great attention to detail and the need to elevate conversations to a digestible level for the board. The discussion further explores the importance of building relationships with board members and the value of regular communication outside of board meetings.The episode concludes with a lively discussion on the format of board reports and the benefits of using templates like the one provided by Mosaic. The panelists share their experiences and insights, providing valuable advice for businesses at different stages. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their board management and investor communication strategies.Guests-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Bijan Moallemi, Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, and Jeron Paul💡What they do: Co-Founder and CEO / Partner / CEO 💡Company: Mosaic / XYZ Venture Capital / Spiff💡Noteworthy: Bijan is a former CFO with a knack for understanding the timing of cash and its relation to forecasts. Chauncey is a former Wired employee with strong relationships in PR and editorial, making her a strategic asset when these topics arise. Jeron is a proponent of healthy competition among board members and has seen the benefits of board members rolling up their sleeves to have a direct, tangible impact.💡 Where to find them: Bijan: LinkedIn / Chauncey: LinkedIn / Jeron: LinkedIn 

In this episode of The Role Forward, host Joe Michalowski brings together a panel of industry leaders for a Q&A-style discussion. The guests include Bijan Moallemi, Co-Founder and CEO at Mosaic, Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, Partner at XYZ, and Jeron Paul, CEO of Spiff. The conversation revolves around board management, investor communications, and effective strategies for keeping the board up to speed.The panelists delve into the intricacies of board meetings, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and understanding the 'why' behind business numbers. They also discuss the CFO's role in maintaining great attention to detail and the need to elevate conversations to a digestible level for the board. The discussion further explores the importance of building relationships with board members and the value of regular communication outside of board meetings.The episode concludes with a lively discussion on the format of board reports and the benefits of using templates like the one provided by Mosaic. The panelists share their experiences and insights, providing valuable advice for businesses at different stages. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their board management and investor communication strategies.Guests-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Bijan Moallemi, Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, and Jeron Paul💡What they do: Co-Founder and CEO / Partner / CEO 💡Company: Mosaic / XYZ Venture Capital / Spiff💡Noteworthy: Bijan is a former CFO with a knack for understanding the timing of cash and its relation to forecasts. Chauncey is a former Wired employee with strong relationships in PR and editorial, making her a strategic asset when these topics arise. Jeron is a proponent of healthy competition among board members and has seen the benefits of board members rolling up their sleeves to have a direct, tangible impact.💡 Where to find them: Bijan: LinkedIn / Chauncey: LinkedIn / Jeron: LinkedIn 

In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts Brian Campbell, the co-founder at Mosaic. The two delve deep into the world of strategic finance, discussing the challenges and solutions of handling high-volume data.Brian shares his experience working with Stripe, a platform often used by B2C and product-led growth companies. He highlights the rigidity of billing systems and the difficulty of changing historical data. The conversation then shifts to the importance of data cleanliness and setting up efficient processes to make sense of billing data.The podcast wraps up with Brian emphasizing that data will never be perfect. He encourages listeners to accept this reality and focus on setting up processes that ensure the best possible data quality. This episode is a must-listen for anyone dealing with high-volume data and looking to embrace strategic finance.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Brian Campbell💡What he does: Co-Founder💡Company: Mosaic💡Noteworthy: Brian brings a wealth of experience in dealing with high-volume data as a strategic finance leader and product leader at Mosaic. 💡 Where to find Brian: LinkedIn

In this episode, our host Joe Michalowski speaks with Jervis Williams, the CFO of Second Front Systems. Jervis shares his experiences and lessons learned from his journey as a finance professional, particularly during his first 90 days as Second Front's new CFO. He highlights the importance of establishing a solid finance team early on and engaging with stakeholders, including the board, to ensure a smooth onboarding process.Jervis also discusses the benefits of hiring finance professionals early in a startup's lifecycle. He emphasizes the significance of financial discipline and good hygiene within the organization, along with the external benefits of having a dedicated finance person to build confidence with investors and the board. By sharing his own career path, Jervis sheds light on the value of fluidity and adaptability in the world of finance.Lastly, Jervis extends an invitation for fellow finance professionals to connect with him on LinkedIn and offers his insights as a personal advisor. He encourages building a strong network, seeking best practices, and obtaining second and third opinions to enhance one's career in finance. This episode is packed with valuable advice for both aspiring and seasoned finance professionals.Guest at a Glance💡 Name: Jervis Williams💡 Title: CFO💡 Company: Second Front Systems💡 Where to find them: LinkedInAdditional ResourcesContact The Jackson Hole Group to request access or distribution rights to "The First 100 Days"The First 90 Days is a book by Michael Watkins available on Amazon.

Many of today's most innovative companies rely on debt capital to reach their full potential, and debt capital can be the difference between hypergrowth and stagnation.But capital providers and borrowers are stuck with legacy systems, which means slow transactions, disjointed processes, and limited visibility. In this episode of The Role Forward, Jeremy Tsui, the Co-Founder and CEO of Finley, a company that offers software to accelerate the pace of capital, gets into the importance of capital strategy and managing capital. Jeremy and our host Joe Michalowski discuss raising debt versus equity, the process of raising debt, and how you can find a lender.##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Jeremy Tsui💡 What he does: Jeremy is the co-founder and CEO of Finley.💡 Company: Finley💡 Noteworthy: Jeremy is a Co-Founder and CEO at Finley. He was previously in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs, where he made investments in software, real estate, and other companies. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Jeremy was at Oliver Wyman, where he specialized in financial analysis, scenario modeling, and stress testing for major banks. Jeremy also loves side hustles: he has launched a secondhand bike shop, a chain of escape rooms, and an Instagram museum. He graduated from the University of Texas.💡 Where to find Jeremy: LinkedIn l Website

In times when a growth-at-all-costs mentality, companies funneled as much money as possible into customer acquisition. Retention was always important, but not the primary focus.But now, as companies get more cautious with their capital, there's a brighter spotlight on customer success and retention. Great customer retention is key to efficient, sustainable growth.In this episode of The Role Forward, Nick Tarnoff, the VP of Finance at SupportLogic, gets into the importance of customer retention and how to improve it. Nick and our host Joe Michalowski discuss the metrics for retention analysis and some of the challenges with retention. ##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Nick Tarnoff💡 What he does: Nick is the VP of Finance at SupportLogic💡 Company: SupportLogic💡 Noteworthy: Nick brings over 15 years of financial leadership experience across technology, e-commerce, and financial services industries, focusing on financial planning and analysis (FP&A), strategic planning, and capital allocation. Most recently, Nick led finance for SAP SuccessFactors, directly supporting C-Suite leaders. He brings a highly collaborative approach to SupportLogic, focusing on designing a streamlined and efficient finance function.💡 Where to find Nick: LinkedIn l Website##Additional Resources from SupportLogicSXLive conference:https://www.sxlive.com/SXLive conference & City Tourhttps://www.sxlive.com/#rec538138947Sell to the CFO Webinar:https://www.supportlogic.com/resources/webinars/how-to-sell-to-your-cfo/

Ad hoc analysis is a type of analysis that is performed on an as-needed basis without a predefined plan or structure. Ad hoc analysis is often used when there is a need to investigate a particular issue or answer a specific question, and it can be a powerful tool for gaining insights into data quickly and efficiently. But ad hoc analysis can be time-consuming and challenging without automation, especially if you are dealing with large datasets. In this episode of The Role Forward, Joel Blachman, an operations and finance lead at Amper Technologies, gets into the importance of automation tools while doing ad hoc analysis and answering ad hoc requests. Joel and our host Joe Michalowski discuss the ad hoc analysis treadmill, the challenges of responding to last-minute requests, and how Amper Technologies raised their Series A.##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Joel Blachman💡 What he does: Joel is an operations and finance lead at Amper Technologies.💡 Company: Amper Technologies💡 Noteworthy: Joel has been working as an operations and finance lead at Amper Technologies for four years. While studying industrial engineering at Northwestern University, Joel was part of their startup incubator, The Garage, and worked at different manufacturing technology startups. During a research project, Joel came across Amper Technologies, founded out of The Garage in 2016. He started interning there one summer, stuck around throughout school, and upon graduation, joined full-time in a finance and operations role.💡 Where to find Joel: LinkedIn l Website

Episode SummaryNo matter your industry, clean data results in well-informed decisions. By keeping your data clean and accurate, you save time from searching for answers and reconciliations and can spend more time diving into the “why” behind your numbers and making actionable insights. But for companies who experience hypergrowth or need to make a switch to a new source system, how do you effectively clean your company’s data? In this episode of The Role Forward podcast, our host Joe Michalowski welcomes Parker Gilbert, the CEO and co-founder of Numeric. They discuss the importance of data cleansing, why data cleaning is a timely but worthwhile process, and the benefits of a strong relationship between finance and accounting.##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Parker Gilbert💡 What he does: He's a Co-Founder and the CEO of Numeric, a SaaS company transforming accounting workflows to modernize the month-end close and other processes.💡 Company: Numeric💡 Noteworthy: Parker was the first finance hire at Hearth, a fintech company helping home improvement contractors grow and manage their business. Parker also met his fellow Numeric co-founders early in his career. 💡 Where to find Parker: LinkedIn

Investors provide vital funds so that companies can achieve their next level of growth, whether it’s making the next important version of a product or a key hire that will unlock the company’s potential even further. But in a time of economic uncertainty, where we see layoffs, budget freezes, and falling tech industry stock prices, venture capital investors are putting the brakes on aggressive funding for early-stage growth companies. According to a Crunchbase report, in the last quarter of 2022, investments in startup companies in North America fell by 63% compared to the same period a year earlier.In this episode of The Role Forward, Scott Stouffer, the CEO and founder of scaleMatters, gets into fundraising during a recession and why people are hesitant to invest in new companies. Scott and our host Joe Michalowski discuss what makes a company investible and what companies can do to become more efficient with their go-to-market motions.##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Scott Stouffer💡 What he does: Scott is the CEO and founder of scaleMatters.💡 Company: scaleMatters 💡 Noteworthy: Scott Stouffer is a serial tech entrepreneur, 5x CEO, and 3x founder. He took his first company (Visual Networks) public in 2001 and grew it to a peak market cap of $3 billion. Since 2011, Scott has focused on early and growth-stage tech companies, building quantitative data and process models that uncover waste, inefficiency, and friction in the customer acquisition function.💡 Where to find Scott: LinkedIn 

Episode SummaryNetSuite implementation is a large, challenging project, as it includes many different phases and complex steps. But an experienced implementation partner can make all the difference. In this episode of The Role Forward podcast, our host Joe Michalowski welcomes Edwine Alphonse, a controller at Ramp. They talk about the biggest challenges with NetSuite implementation, tips for tackling some common issues, and the importance of cleaning your data before you start the process.##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Edwine Alphonse💡 What she does: She's a controller at Ramp.💡 Company: Ramp💡 Noteworthy: Edwine has a proven record in accounting and auditing. Before Ramp, she worked at several startups as director of accounting and financial controller. At Ramp, she's the first financial controller, where she's responsible for accounting, financial reporting, tax compliance, and other accounting processes.  💡 Where to find Edwine: LinkedIn

The finance team is essential for any business — especially as the company grows. And while in recent years the role of the finance team has evolved from a stereotypical back-office scorekeeping function toward a forward-thinking strategic partner, the process of financial transformation and implementation within the business is complex — and sometimes, it can fail.In this episode of The Role Forward, our host Joe Michalowski welcomes Chris Ortega, the CEO of Fresh FP&A, which provides fractional CFO and advisory services that support the strategies, tactics, and tools a business needs to transform and grow its finance function. Chris describes the Fresh FP&A approach, what it means to be fresh in finance, and how to become a strategic partner for department and executive leaders. Joe and Chris also discuss how to scale your finance team, improve the month-end close process, and finance trends to keep in mind for 2023. ##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Chris Ortega💡 What he does: Chris is the CEO of Fresh FP&A.💡 Company: Fresh FP&A💡 Noteworthy: Chris has over 17 years of experience in accounting, finance, FP&A, and fractional CFO leadership around finance transformation and scale for seed to enterprise companies. In 2022, Chris became the CEO of Fresh FP&A, which provides fractional CFO and advisory services for businesses that allow them to transform and scale their finance organization.💡 Where to find Chris: LinkedIn

There's something special about a career in finance. Because you sit at the intersection of all data in the organization and collaborate with so many different functions, your job in finance can become the perfect stepping stone to a wide variety of career paths. But how do you maneuver your way from day one to where you want to take your career?In this episode of The Role Forward podcast, our host Joe Michalowski welcomes Peter Nesbitt, an early-stage startup advisor, investor, and founder who previously rose through the ranks of finance to an executive seat. They talk about Peter's unique career path, tips for taking your own career to the next level, and why empowerment is a superpower.##Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Peter Nesbitt💡 What he does: He's an early-stage startup advisor and investor.💡 Company: N/A💡 Noteworthy: Peter was a full-time COO at Teampay before becoming an independent community founder, angel investor, and operationally-focused executive.💡 Where to find Peter: LinkedIn

Times are tough right now. World events have affected the macro environment, and a market downturn looms on the horizon as the Federal Reserve Board raises interest rates and the CPI continues to go up each month. Companies have to be extra careful about their finances. That’s why it’s important for finance teams to feel enabled to embrace the spotlight and be a more strategic partner to the business.This episode of The Role Forward podcast revisits Ramp’s Head of Finance and Capital Markets, Alex Song, and Mosaic Co-Founder and COO Joe Garafalo’s conversation on Ramp’s podcast, FinOps Today. Alex and Joe discuss Joe’s career journey and how it benefits prospects and customers, the key financial hires for a new company, and how to leverage software to get the deepest insights.Learn More About Ramp’s podcast, FinOps Today .Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Joe Garafalo💡 What he does: He's the co-founder and COO of Mosaic.💡 Company: Mosaic💡 Noteworthy: Joe is Co-Founder and COO of Mosaic, a technology company building the first Strategic Finance Platform. Joe began his career in the Big 4 with KPMG. After completing his master’s degree at St. John’s University, he went on to hold multiple leadership positions in finance at Palantir, Axoni, and Barkbox.💡 Where to find Joe: LinkedIn