Intro

Ganapathy Subramaniam, CFO of TerraPay, joins CJ for a deep dive into the complex world of cross-border payments. Together they unpack the complexities of moving money internationally, such as high fees, slow processing times, and the lack of transparency. Ganapathy sheds light on the global payment landscape, highlighting key transaction corridors and the wallet share of different regions. He delves into TerraPay's business model, explaining how they monetize their payment infrastructure and manage FX margins, before sharing his perspective on trends shaping cross-border payments over the next five years. The conversation also covers the evolving role of the CFO which GS characterizes as the “chief value creation officer” before breaking down what he believes are the the pillars for creating value. The episode concludes with insights into the qualities that set great CFOs apart, offering a roadmap for finance leaders looking to elevate their roles and impact.

If you're looking for an ERP head to NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and get a customized KPI checklist.

—

SPONSORS:

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than 40,000 companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅, head to NetSuite https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.

Operators Guild is where the best CEOs, CFOs, VPs of finance, and BizOps leaders in the business connect, network, and grow together. Built by operators for operators, this members-only community is home to more than 1000 of the most elite high-growth operators in the world. Experience connection and knowledge share with professionals who understand you like no one else does. Learn more and apply at operators-guild.com.

Maxio is the only billing and financial operations platform that was purpose built for B2B SaaS. They're helping SaaS finance teams automate billing and revenue recognition, manage collections and payments, and put together investor grade reporting packages. 🚀 Request a demo at www.maxio.com/runthenumbers for 10% off your first year.

Leapfin is accounting automation software that automatically prepares and posts reliable journal entries. High-growth businesses like Reddit, Canva, and Seat Geek choose Leapfin to eliminate manual tasks, accelerate month-end close, and enable accounting leaders to provide faster insights to help their companies grow. To automatically standardize your revenue data with measurable business impact, check out leapfin.com today.

Mercury is the fintech ambitious companies use for banking and all their financial workflows. With a powerful bank account at the center of their operations, companies can make better financial decisions and ensure that every dollar spent aligns with company priorities. That's why over 100K startups choose Mercury to confidently run all their financial operations with the precision, control, and focus they need to operate at their best. Learn more at mercury.com.

Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust®; Members FDIC.

—

FOLLOW US ON X:

@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(01:45) Sponsor – NetSuite | Operators Guild

(04:27) Why Moving Money Across Borders Is So Difficult

(10:20) P2P Versus B2B and the B2B Nature of TerraPay

(12:10) The Wallet Share of Different Regions Internationally

(14:19) Key Transaction Corridors

(16:01) Sponsor – Maxio | Leapfin | Mercury

(19:10) Why Instant Payments Take So Long in Some Corridors

(21:07) The Role of FX Margins in TerraPay’s Business Model

(22:50) Key Trends Shaping Cross-Border Payments in the Next Five Years

(25:58) The CFO as the Chief Value Creation Officer

(28:04) How the CFO Role Has Evolved over Time

(30:24) Pillars for Creating Value as a CFO

(37:18) The Company’s Maturity as a Factor in Value Creation

(39:24) The Qualities That Separate Good CFOs from Great CFOs

(41:06) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Communication and Solution Oriented Mindsets

(44:13) Finance Software Stack

(46:27) Craziest Expense Story