Run the Numbers

Jeff Cassidy, CFO of Prodigy Education, has a fascinating career spanning finance, biotech, and more. He shares unconventional advice on prioritizing personal fit over credentials in hiring. Jeff discusses building strong teams through ambition and skill, particularly during the challenges of the pandemic. He critiques the traditional college system, advocating for practical skills and diverse experiences. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of empathy in financial management, especially in supplier relations and team dynamics.

Michiel Boere, CFO of Remote, shares his expertise in building global companies and revolutionary approaches to budgeting. He discusses the benefits of remote work, enhancing equity in the job market and managing international finance complexities. Michiel critiques traditional budgeting, advocating for flexibility that better aligns with actual company needs. He also shares insights on risk management, unit economics, and the importance of fostering a positive workplace culture to retain talent.

Reid DeRamus, a media and tech executive with experience at Hulu and HBO Max, shares insider insights on B2C subscription strategies. He discusses navigating price increases and their impact on customer retention and acquisition. Reid highlights the importance of effective communication around pricing changes and pitfalls of discounting. He introduces the concept of 'elevating the cohort floor' for retention and examines the delicate balance between subscription and ad revenue. Unique monetization lessons from platforms like OnlyFans are also explored.

Ryan Roccon, CFO of Zapier, shares insights on the art of financial storytelling and how it connects complex data to company strategy. He emphasizes that most decisions are reversible, advocating for a culture of transparency in remote teams. Roccon discusses tailoring narratives for different audiences and simplifying metrics through analogies. He also addresses the unique challenges faced by a bootstrapped, remote-first company and the importance of collaboration and effective decision-making frameworks that foster organizational buy-in.

Matt Hudson, CFO of Coda and former product manager at Google and YouTube, dives into fascinating insights from his diverse career. He introduces the 'Vacation Rule' to tackle the build versus buy dilemma and discusses innovative frameworks like the Blue and Black Loop for product growth. Hudson also explores Coda's pricing evolution, emphasizing community-driven strategies and the balance between product-led and sales-led growth. He shares valuable lessons on collaborating with product managers and the impact of luck and failure on success.

Steve Isom, CFO of Bloomerang, dives into the evolving role of the strategic CFO. He emphasizes the vital connection between finance and people, reminding us that finance shouldn't just be a math problem. Discussing the importance of proactive leadership, he shares insights on effectively bridging gaps between metrics and human interaction. Steve also recounts his rapid transaction readiness during Flywheel's unexpected acquisition. Plus, he offers stellar advice on building a dynamic finance team and fostering collaboration across departments.

Ross Grainger, CFO of Paradox, shares his unconventional career journey and emphasizes the importance of work-life integration over balance. He explains why the corporate ladder resembles a jungle gym, highlighting the value of lateral moves for career advancement. Grainger discusses the need for strong relationships across departments, particularly in finance, and shares his skepticism towards annual planning, advocating for dynamic financial strategies. His insights on expanding internationally and investing in team relationships provide a fresh perspective for tech companies.

Will Cureton, CFO of Nitrogen Wealth, shares his expertise in customer retention from a wealth management software perspective. He discusses how a major price increase misstep prompted a reassessment of growth strategies, exploring total addressable market and sustainable business lines. Will reveals key metrics for predicting churn and formulates a churn score essential for retaining customers. He also delves into the innovative risk tolerance features of their platform that enhance client engagement while navigating the complexities of today’s market.

Alyssa Shadinger, CFO of Sisense and a leader in analytics, shares her insights on building effective analytics teams and mastering OKRs. She discusses optimal team structures and the significance of data governance for accurate reporting. Alyssa dives into the challenges of linking OKRs to financial outcomes and the necessity of collaboration across departments. The conversation also touches on empowering teams through business intelligence while maintaining the balance of self-service and oversight. An enlightening discussion for anyone in finance or data analytics!

Rebeca Sanchez Sarmiento, CFO of Dotmatics and a pro in managing operational complexity, shares her wealth of experience with mergers and acquisitions. She reveals strategies for overseeing 16 P&Ls while striking the right balance between autonomy and integration. The talk dives into her forecasting frameworks and whether to embrace an 80/20 approach. Plus, Rebeca opens up about her career journey, the shift to remote work, and how these elements shape contemporary financial leadership.