What Great CFOs Share: Strategy, Energy, Long-Term

Alex explains three traits of top CFOs: strategic thinking, founder-like energy, and long-term orientation.

Play episode from 01:47

chevron_right

Transcript

chevron_right

Transcript

Episode notes

[Original air date: June 19, 2025]

In this episode, Alex Immerman, partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins CJ to discuss the CFO role and how it’s changing in the era of AI. He explains what the components of a company’s AI agenda the CFO should own, how and where it should be leveraged in an organization, and why, if you’re preparing to go public, AI needs to be mentioned in your S-1. He breaks down how the financial landscape differs greatly between AI-native SaaS companies and traditional B2B SaaS companies in terms of retention curves and gross margins, and how this relates to the ever-important LTV to CAC metric. As someone who has worked with prominent CFOs and interviewed many for a16z’s portfolio companies, Alex also describes the qualities of a great CFO, and shares his favorite interview question, before discussing CFOs, CEO, and board dynamics.

—

LINKS:

Alex Immerman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/immerman

Andreessen Horowitz: https://a16z.com

CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/

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

—

RELATED EPISODES:

a16z’s Alex Immerman on the Evolving Role of the CFO in the Age of AI

https://youtu.be/JIvHp-mlnzs

So You’re Looking for a “Strategic” CFO? Bloomerang’s Steve Isom on What That Really Means

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgHOtvG1Ces