FP&A Today CFO of AWA Studios on Building a Hits-Driven Business
Nov 25, 2025
Diya Sagar, CFO of AWA Studios, brings her investment banking expertise to the world of media. She shares insights on balancing creativity and finance by adopting a 'creator-first' approach in budgeting. Diya delves into the challenges of managing a hits-driven portfolio, weighing flagship projects against experimental works, and navigating unpredictable Hollywood timelines. She also discusses the cautious integration of AI in finance while emphasizing the importance of respecting creator rights and maintaining a reliable data environment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Investor Turned Operator
- Diya Sagar moved from investment banking and investing into an operator role at AWA Studios to build from the ground up.
- She joined because she knew the company deeply and wanted to turn abstract analysis into real operational impact.
Finance Enables Vision, Not Replaces It
- As a CFO Diya had to 'unlearn' the finance voice and prioritize company vision first.
- Finance should enable the vision or clearly explain why an idea may not be viable.
Make Creator Terms The First Budget Input
- Put creators first by making compensation and royalty terms the initial input for budgets and deals.
- If you can't offer an attractive deal to creators, do not proceed with the project.
