What does it take to be a truly great CFO today?

It’s not just about balancing the books—it’s about driving strategy, managing risks, and telling the financial story in a way that inspires confidence.

In this episode, Carla Cooper, CFO of Contentful, shares her journey from Wall Street equity analyst to CFO, discussing her role in scaling Contentful, navigating IPOs and acquisitions, and offering valuable tips on transitioning into a CFO position.

She emphasizes the importance of networking, continual learning, and telling a compelling financial story.

Carla also provides practical advice for finance professionals contemplating job changes and reflects on the evolving responsibilities of a CFO.

00:41 Meet Carla Cooper, CFO of Contentful

01:27 Carla's Career Journey and Transition to CFO

03:09 Insights on Transitioning from Wall Street to Operations

08:28 The Importance of Networking and Informational Interviews

11:00 Navigating Acquisitions and IPOs

11:49 The Role of Finance in Scaling and Transformation

13:41 Adapting to New Financial Systems and Processes

15:57 Learning Opportunities in Acquisitions

19:03 The Growth-Minded CFO: Embracing Change and Learning

22:23 Preparing for the CFO Role: Principles and Strategies

25:58 Building a Thesis and Understanding Stakeholders

33:01 The CFO's Role in Vision and Strategy

38:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Carla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-newmeyer-cooper-843a591/

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/

Find the full video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pB5UagvsWYg?si=wKAe_RddYe0SzMCJ

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and explore 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.

This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business.

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Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io

Wall Street to SaaS CFO: Lessons from IPOs, Acquisitions & Growth, with Carla Cooper