Podcast
The Growth-Minded CFO
Hosted by Upflow · EN
Today's financial leader is more than a number cruncher - they're a growth architect and a strategic partner in the organization’s success.
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status-quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives.
Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high-performing organizations.
27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Every CFO Needs a Personal Brand (And How to Build One), with Wassia Kamon
2w ago00:38:38Tap to summarizeMost CFOs don’t think about personal brand until they need something: a new role, a board seat, a stronger network, or a way to stand out.But by then, it might already be too late.In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, we speak with Wassia Kamon, CFO of Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs and host of The Diary of a CFO podcast, about why finance leaders can no longer afford to stay invisible.Wassia shares how she went from having “nothing much” show up when she Googled herself to building a LinkedIn presence with more than 20,000 followers, launching her own podcast, becoming a speaker, teaching in Wharton Online’s FP&A Certificate Program, and landing her first CFO role.We discuss why personal brand is not about becoming an influencer. It is about making your thinking visible, building trust before you need it, and creating opportunities your resume alone cannot unlock.Chapters:01:50 Why Wassia started The Diary of a CFO03:39 The moment personal brand clicked04:47 How LinkedIn led to Wassia’s first VP role05:21 Speaking, Wharton Online, and unexpected opportunities06:51 Why personal brand helps inside your company too09:13 Building systems to make LinkedIn sustainable09:35 Writing LinkedIn posts at swimming lessons10:22 Creating an idea bank and scheduling content12:17 Why being memorable matters more than another resume14:21 What writing, speaking, and podcasting give Wassia17:33 How the podcast makes content easier18:10 Finding finance lessons in everyday life20:12 How visibility can influence your finance team21:00 How CFOs can post without breaking confidentiality23:34 Practical advice for aspiring CFOs24:20 Wassia’s three-part Venn diagram for personal brand27:10 Using AI to understand what future employers want37:12 Why CFOs need to learn from each otherFor CFOs and finance leaders thinking about their next stage of growth, this episode is a reminder that personal brand isn’t about posting for the sake of posting. It’s about making sure the market can see the leader you already are.Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dGFQHSJuoOoCheck out Wassia's Diary of a CFO podcast here: https://thediaryofacfo.com/Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow — a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →Revisiting: Ilana Esterrich (CFO @ Planned Parenthood) On Leading Beyond The Numbers
4w ago00:40:21Tap to summarizeIf your role as CFO stops at the numbers, you’re already behind.Ilana Esterrich, CFO at Planned Parenthood, breaks down what it actually means to lead in today’s environment—from building resilient teams to operating in constant uncertainty.With a background in the military, Ilana brings a unique perspective on leadership, discipline, and adaptability—showing how finance leaders can step into a far more strategic role inside their organisations.In this episode, we cover:What a “growth-minded” CFO really looks like in practiceHow to lead finance teams through uncertainty and changeLessons from the military that translate to modern leadershipMoving from tactical execution to strategic impactWhy curiosity and continuous learning matter more than everAbout our guest:Ilana Esterrich is the CFO at Planned Parenthood, where she leads financial strategy in a complex, high-stakes environment. With a background in the military, she brings a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and team development.The Growth-Minded CFO is the podcast for finance leaders who want to go beyond the numbers and play a bigger role in driving growth.Hosted by Alex Louisy (CEO at Upflow) and Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO and Founder), the show explores how modern CFOs are building, leading, and scaling high-performing organisations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - helping businesses get paid faster, strengthen customer relationships, and grow more efficiently. Learn more at upflow.ioWant to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →Revisiting: Rita Kale (CFO @ Valo Health) On Why The Best CFOs Think Like Owners
Apr 1500:40:34Tap to summarizeIn this special re-release of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex and Lauren revisit the very first episode of the podcast - featuring Rita Kale, now CFO at Valo Health.At the time, we didn’t know what this show would become. Since then, we’ve spoken to some of the best finance operators in the world. But looking back, this conversation set the tone for everything that followed.Rita brings a rare combination of global corporate experience - from companies like Roche Pharmaceuticals - and hands-on leadership in high-growth biotech startups. That mix makes this episode just as relevant today as it was when we first recorded it.In this conversation, we explore what it really means to operate as a modern CFO:Why the best CFOs act as owners, not observersHow moving from large corporates to startups forces a shift in mindset, speed, and accountabilityWhat it takes to navigate global complexity, from ERP implementations to scaling finance operations across marketsWhy investing early in systems and processes pays off long-termAnd how adaptability separates good finance leaders from great onesWe also get into something a bit unexpected, but now very familiar for this show.Rita shares how running became a tool for reflection and decision-making. Creating mental space. Finding your own rhythm instead of copying others. It’s a reminder that performance isn’t just about output - it’s about sustainability, both professionally and personally.Looking back, this episode captures what The Growth-Minded CFO is all about: going deep into the technical side of finance, while also exploring the mindset behind great leadership.It’s a gem - and the perfect place to start if you’re new to the show.Chapters:03:25 Rita Global Career Path05:56 From Global To Local CFO08:28 No Copy Paste Solutions09:57 First 60 Days Playbook12:06 Stakeholders And Priorities13:46 ERP Planning Mindset18:54 Beyond Back Office CFO21:00 Financial Peace Foundation22:18 From Reporting to Impact22:46 Escaping Spreadsheet Chaos23:28 Right Tools Not ERP24:00 Why She Joined a Startup27:35 Founder Lessons in Finance29:06 Biggest Shift Leaving Corporate31:26 Work Life Balance as a CFO32:01 Running as a Reset Button34:42 Thinking Time Beats Hustle38:25 Culture Time Off and ClaritySubscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role. The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →How a Former Pro Musician Became the CFO of a $1B Marketplace, with Kevin Drost
Apr 100:48:41Tap to summarizeHow does someone go from jazz musician to CFO of a $1B marketplace?In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Kevin Drost, former CFO of Reverb — the musical instrument marketplace acquired by Etsy — about his unconventional path into finance and what it taught him about the role.Kevin didn’t start in finance. He started by running a business. From founding a record label to navigating cash flow, trade-offs, and uncertainty in real time, he learned finance by doing — not by following a traditional path.In this conversation, he shares how that operator mindset shaped his approach as a CFO, why finance leaders need to stay close to customers, and how the role has evolved from reporting performance to helping drive growth.Chapters:02:38 From Jazz to Record Labels05:18 Learning Business on the Fly06:51 MBA While Operating10:40 MBA Value Framework14:13 Faking It and Risk20:19 Why Choose CFO23:57 Leaving Consulting for Reverb25:28 Building the Music Marketplace26:32 Choosing Growth Priorities27:25 From Strategy to CFO29:21 Learning by Doing35:05 Public Company Rigor at Etsy37:27 Marketplace Metrics and ROI40:42 New Era ADR Mission44:57 Advice for Finance LeadersIn this episode, Kevin covers:Why learning finance inside the business builds better judgmentThe limits of traditional career paths (and when an MBA actually helps)How marketplace businesses create complex trade-offsWhy CFOs need to take calculated risks to drive growthThe importance of staying close to customers and productHow to scale a business without losing controlWhy putting yourself in uncomfortable roles accelerates learningAs Kevin puts it: “Getting yourself out and speaking to customers is probably the most valuable thing you can do as a finance leader.”This is a practical look at how finance leaders can move beyond reporting and play a more active role in shaping the business.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/W30D0JNJnLg?si=53lBTp2oyBHyTXBVIf you’re a CFO, finance leader, or operator, this episode will give you a clearer view of how the role is evolving — and what it takes to stay effective as the business grows.Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow — a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →Revisiting: What Makes a Great CFO? Expert CFO Recruiter, Dav Masaon, Tell Us
Mar 1800:39:17Tap to summarizeWhen is the right time to hire your first CFO? And what actually separates a great one from an expensive mistake?In this re-released standout episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, we revisit our conversation with Dav Masaon, Co-Founder of executive search firm Zanda, to unpack one of the most high-stakes decisions founders make: hiring a CFO who can truly scale with the business.This isn’t a checklist of qualifications. It’s a practical look at what happens when companies bring in finance leadership too early, too late - or with the wrong expectations.Dav brings a front-row view from placing CFOs across high-growth startups globally, sharing how the role is evolving fast in response to tighter capital, rising expectations, and the growing influence of AI and automation.A clear tension runs through the conversation: startups don’t just need financial oversight anymore. They need operators who can balance discipline with ambition - driving growth while building the foundations for long-term performance.We also dig into what founders consistently get wrong. From over-indexing on “big company” experience to underestimating the importance of stage-fit, Dav explains why the best CFO hires aren’t always the most obvious on paper.If you’re a CFO or finance leader looking to understand what truly sets the best apart — from how they operate to the traits and experiences that define them — this episode will help you benchmark and sharpen your own approach.In this episode:When and why companies should hire their first CFOThe biggest finance hiring mistakes founders makeWhat differentiates a great startup CFO from a corporate, and why that matters for CFO hiringHow the CFO role is evolving with AI and automationWhy financial discipline matters more than everHow to evaluate candidates for stage-fit and real impact.Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at https://upflow.io/Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io
Transcribe →How Nonprofit Finance Sharpens Decision-Making for Any CFO, with Darien Wright
Mar 400:33:36Tap to summarizeWhat can nonprofit finance teach CFOs about decision-makingIn this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Darien Wright, CFO and COO of the National Geographic Society.After a 30-year career spanning public accounting, consulting, telecommunications, hospitality, and private equity - including roles at PwC, Accenture, Sprint, Marriott, and Brookfield - Darien made an unexpected move into the nonprofit sector.What he found there reshaped how he thinks about finance leadership.In this conversation, Darien explains how nonprofit operating models force finance leaders to make decisions with less certainty, longer revenue cycles, and greater ambiguity. With contributions replacing traditional revenue streams and impact replacing traditional ROI, the role demands discipline, judgment, and a deep understanding of mission.Darien also shares how combining the CFO and COO roles requires enterprise-level thinking, operational alignment, and constant prioritization of liquidity, impact, and mission.Chapters:01:11 Meet Darien Wright01:54 National Geographic Mission03:20 Career Before Nonprofit04:26 Why Choose Nonprofit05:53 Donor Revenue Reality06:56 Mission First Finance07:53 Impact And Liquidity10:00 Forecasting Fundraising12:08 Transferable CFO Skills13:53 Empathy As Leadership15:24 CFO And COO Role17:55 Balancing CFO and COO18:53 Mission First Investments20:04 Nonprofit Efficiency Metrics22:34 Board Governance Cadence23:23 Sponsor Break25:08 Building the New Museum28:07 Life Beyond the Mission29:45 Advice for Aspiring CFOsIn this episode, Darien covers:Why nonprofit finance requires strong liquidity disciplineHow slower revenue cycles change forecasting and planningThe challenge of making decisions with imperfect informationHow mission-driven organizations evaluate investment impactThe advantages of combining CFO and COO responsibilitiesWhy empathy and enterprise thinking are essential leadership skills.As Darien explains: “You have to make decisions along the way with imperfect information.”This is a thoughtful conversation about finance leadership in environments where certainty is limited, impact matters deeply, and judgment becomes the CFO’s most valuable skill.📺 Watch this episode on YouTube:If you're a CFO, finance leader, or aspiring executive, this episode offers valuable insight into how leadership, capital discipline, and mission-driven thinking intersect.Mentioned in this episode: our episode with Erik Nakamura, where he discusses the importance of EQ for any great CFO https://youtu.be/lYktfwG2w44?si=3oiEC_qqeYSxA244Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role. The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →Revisiting: Charly Kevers (CFO @ Carta) On The Role Of The Finance Team In Scaling
Feb 1800:44:40Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to scale finance through the stages that break most teams?In this re-released standout episode, we revisit our conversation with Charly Kevers, CFO of Carta - who helped guide the company from Series B to Series G over seven years of hypergrowth, complexity, and rising investor expectations.This isn’t a theoretical discussion about what CFOs should do. It’s a practical look at what actually happens when growth accelerates, pressure mounts, and the role of finance fundamentally changes.Charly makes a compelling case that modern CFOs no longer get to choose between growth and profitability. Today, you’re expected to drive aggressive expansion while proving a credible path to sustainable profits — at the same time. That tension is where the real leadership begins.We also explore one of the most forward-thinking aspects of Carta’s finance function: it’s not just accountants and FP&A. Charly built a cross-functional organisation that includes engineers and works deeply alongside sales, marketing, and product. His philosophy? Use constraints to sharpen creativity — not to slow teams down.If you’re building a finance team for scale, navigating the shift from high-growth to durable growth, or redefining what the CFO role looks like today, this episode is worth a (re)listen.In this episode:How the CFO role evolves from Series B to Series GWhy growth and profitability must coexistScaling finance teams through complexityEmbedding finance across the organisationUsing constraints to drive better decisionsSubscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest or apply to be on the show yourself? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →
Stepping In Mid-Crisis: Trust, Pressure, and the CFO Role, with Niels Boon
Feb 400:42:02Tap to summarizeWhat should a CFO prioritize when stepping into a business already under pressure?In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Niels Boon, CFO of Cint, a Stockholm-Nasdaq listed tech company and the world’s largest survey exchange.Niels joined Cint as the sixth CFO in four years, at a time of leadership change, debt pressure, public market scrutiny, and an unfinished post-merger integration. What followed was not just a financial turnaround - it was a story about rebuilding trust, stabilizing operations, and leading teams through sustained pressure.In this conversation, Niels shares how the CFO role changes when a business is fragile, why radical candour builds credibility, and how fixing unglamorous structural issues can unlock real performance.Chapters:01:08 Meet Niels Boon: A Journey to CFO02:07 Niels' Career Path and Early Interests04:14 First Steps in the Tech World05:19 Becoming a CFO: The Learning Curve11:46 Navigating Global Expansion and Compliance15:58 Joining Cint: A Time of Change and Pressure21:14 Refinancing Challenges and Financial Restructuring22:04 Cultural Clashes and Team Motivation23:13 Legal Entity Rationalization and ERP System Integration25:05 The Importance of Communication and Credibility27:17 The Shift to Profitable, Sustainable Growth29:05 Onboarding Best Practices for CFOs35:20 Positive Outcomes and Lessons LearnedIn this episode, Niels covers:How to build trust with investors, lenders, and boards when the numbers aren’t yet on your sideWhy the CFO often becomes the stabilizing force during leadership changeHow to prioritize in complex post-merger environmentsThe importance of listening before acting when stepping into a new roleLeading finance teams through pressure without burning them outWhy modern CFOs don’t always come from traditional finance backgroundsAs Niels puts it: “What is important is what you see on the surface, and then you need to find out why that problem is so persistent.”This is a practical, honest look at CFO leadership when the stakes are high and the margin for error is thin.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ONNt63tbED0?si=6AMhdCirK-4gbeSRIf you’re a CFO, finance leader, or aspiring executive navigating change, turnaround situations, or high-pressure environments - this episode is for you.Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest or apply to be on the show yourself? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →How to Run Finance in a Creative, 'Hit-Driven' Business, with Diya Sagar
Jan 800:36:12Tap to summarizeIn creative businesses, the art drives the upside — but the numbers determine whether the art can exist at all.In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, hosts Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl sit down with Diya Sagar, CFO of AWA Studios, a young media company that publishes original graphic novels and brings them to life in film and television.Diya leads finance in this truly hit-driven business. There’s no recurring revenue, outcomes are unpredictable, and every project is a bet. She shares how she brings financial certainty to an inherently uncertain environment - without slowing creativity.Chapters:01:55 Diya's Career Journey and Role at AWA Studios03:40 Transitioning from Large Corporations to a Small Creative Company05:02 Managing Multiple Roles in a Small Organization07:41 Navigating the Unpredictable Nature of Creative Businesses08:53 Evaluating and Investing in Creative Projects15:30 Competing with Industry Giants17:10 Balancing Creativity and Financial Stability18:34 Providing Certainty in Creative Businesses20:26 Building Trust with Creative Teams21:17 Effective Communication with Creatives22:44 Transitioning Her Career gto a Creative Environment27:49 Challenges of Establishing a Finance FunctionIn this episode, you'll learn:What it means to run finance in a creative, hit-driven businessHow CFOs can create certainty in an uncertain environmentManaging volatility without killing creativityWhy guardrails matter more than controlHow to think in portfolios when every project is a betWhat financial excellence looks like in an early-stage studioThis conversation is essential listening for CFOs, finance leaders, and operators working outside traditional recurring-revenue models - or anyone navigating creative, nonlinear businesses.Prefer to watch? Check out the full video of the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MfFEkYmPMQY?si=cXsfD_dOLfn3L73X👉 SUBSCRIBE for more real-talk with modern finance leaders👉 SHARE this episode with a CFO or operator who’ll find it valuable.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest or apply yourself? Fill out our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
Transcribe →Leveraging Data Insights for Smarter Business Decision Making, with Jim Cook and Winnie Aoieong
Dec 1000:59:18Tap to summarizeThis week on The Growth-Minded CFO, we’re sharing a special podswap with our friends at the FP&A Unlocked podcast (formerly FP&A Tomorrow).Host Paul Barnhurst sits down with two finance leaders who’ve shaped how modern FP&A operates: Jim Cook (former CFO of Mozilla, with leadership roles at Netflix and Intuit) and Winnie Aoieong (VP of Business Finance at PowerSchool).Together, they explore what great FP&A looks like today - and why the function’s real power goes far beyond data analysis.Jim and Winnie unpack how to build decision-making systems, create trust-based business partnerships, and balance technical depth with clear, actionable communication. They also dive into the growing role of generative AI, and why “progress over perfection” is now the mindset every high-performing finance team needs.If you’re a CFO, FP&A leader, or operator who wants to elevate how your team influences decisions, this conversation is packed with practical insights.Check out the full feed of other great episodes on the FP&A Unlocked podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xu3W2R4oCbCm6L8k8XY1xWebsite: https://www.thefpandaguy.com/fpa-unlocked-podcastWhat you’ll learn:Why world-class FP&A teams build decision-making systems, not just reportsHow trust and communication fuel strategic partnership across the businessThe power of community and crowdsourcing for problem-solvingWhy “perfection is a prison” - and how continuous improvement drives real impactPractical AI use cases already improving FP&A efficiency todayA thoughtful and inspiring conversation with two leaders who’ve lived through hyper-growth, transformation, and the evolution of the finance function.Follow Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cookflix/Follow Winnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/winnie-aoieong-6852212/Follow Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy/The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.ioWant to recommend a guest for a future episode? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
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