When Early Adoption Backfires—and Recovers

In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ Gustafson sits down with Teddy Collins, EVP of Finance at SeatGeek, who helped scale the company from its first in-house finance hire to a tech-forward finance team powering one of the most dynamic businesses in live events. Teddy shares what it was like leading finance through the pandemic when live events went dark overnight, how that period reshaped his approach to forecasting and uncertainty, and how SeatGeek is now using AI and machine learning to enhance planning accuracy and decision-making. He and CJ also dive into how finance can evolve from a cost center to a strategic partner, the toughest manual processes he’s eliminated, and where he sees the next big leap in the CFO tech stack. Finally, Teddy opens up about his rapid rise—four promotions in ten years—and offers practical advice on career growth, feedback, and building trust in a world where AI is redefining what “junior” really means.

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LINKS:

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddycollins/

Company: https://seatgeek.com/

CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222

Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com

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RELATED EPISODES:

CFO of FloQast on Why Finance Teams are Data Curators

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Preview and Intro

(00:02:49) Sponsor – Metronome | Mercury | RightRev

(00:06:36) Joining SeatGeek and the Early Finance Journey

(00:08:05) Managing Finance When Live Events Went Dark

(00:10:23) Forecasting Through Uncertainty

(00:13:12) Building Systems and Processes from Scratch

(00:15:34) Sponsor – Tipalti | Aleph | Fidelity Private Shares

(00:18:06) Using AI and Machine Learning in Forecasting

(00:22:44) Build vs. Buy: SeatGeek’s Tech Philosophy

(00:26:31) Turning Finance into a Strategic Partner

(00:30:42) Killing Manual Processes and Automating Insights

(00:34:55) The Next Big Leap in the CFO Stack

(00:38:46) Leading Teams Through Change and Growth

(00:42:11) Talent, Tools, and the Future of Finance Roles

(00:46:07) Climbing the Ladder: Four Promotions in Ten Years

(00:49:50) Career Advice and Earning Trust in Fast-Growing Teams

(00:53:16) How AI Is Reshaping the Definition of “Junior”

(00:56:22) Lightning Round and Closing Thoughts

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SPONSORS:

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#RunTheNumbersPodcast #FinanceLeadership #CFOStack #AIForecasting #SeatGeek

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