While companies often go public, not many CFOs have taken a company private. In this episode, CJ interviews Navaid Mansuri, the CFO of Dialogue Health, a Canadian health tech company, that went from private to public to private again in less than five years. The discussion covers Navaid's career journey, including his experience negotiating broadcast rights at Rogers, his involvement in a joint venture with VICE Media, and his role in Dialogue's significant business transitions including being acquired by Sun Life. Navaid shares insights into the challenges and strategies of managing a company's financial health and P&L through these stages and breaks down the differences between the roles of public and private CFOs. He also highlights the importance of adaptability and credibility for CFOs and the unique aspects of operating a healthcare business in Canada.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(01:59) Sponsor – Mercury | NetSuite

(04:14) Navaid’s Career Negotiating Broadcast Rights

(09:26) Navaid’s Joint Venture with VICE Media

(11:15) Going from Private to Public to Private at Dialogue

(14:37) Sponsor – Operators Guild | Maxio | Leapfin

(18:09) Joining a Company at an Inflexion Point

(19:56) The Differences Between the US & Canadian IPO Markets

(21:38) The Differences Between Public and Private CFOs

(26:05) How a Company Goes Private

(29:18) Managing Dialogue’s P&L During These Transitions

(31:47) Accountability and Credibility on the Journey to Profitability

(33:17) The Shift from Growth at All Costs to Profitable Growth

(35:47) The Nuances of Being a Canadian Healthcare Company and Profitability

(39:08) The Value of Being Adaptable as a CFO

(40:33) Long-Ass Lightning Round: The Value of Networking

(44:51) Finance Software Stack

(46:01) Craziest Expense Story