Run the Numbers

Nicolette Turner, the CFO of Headspace, joined the company during the pandemic while seven months pregnant. She discusses her unconventional journey and emphasizes the importance of engaging directly with customers for better decision-making. Nicolette reveals the complexities of Headspace's B2B, B2C, and B2B2C business model, touching on challenges like customer acquisition costs and cash flow. She also shares insights on hiring practices, the need for diversity in teams, and effective strategies for employee feedback.

CJ Gustafson, an expert in cash conversion cycles, shares his career insights and real-life success stories. He discusses optimizing cash flow, revealing how he reduced Days Sales Outstanding from 55 to 37 days. Using examples from companies like Starbucks and Chewy, he highlights innovative cash management strategies, including influencer marketing and gift card systems. CJ also delves into dynamic pricing tactics in the aviation industry, showcasing how these methods can drive business growth and improve financial agility.

Simone Nardi, CFO of Globalization Partners, discusses how to expand teams abroad cost-effectively, including using Employer of Record services, budgeting for international workforces, staying compliant with regulations, and managing currency fluctuations. They also cover Globalization Partners' business model, revenue forecasting, and the importance of tracking metrics for success.

Guest Evan Fein, CFO of TextNow and Global Chairman of FSuite, shares insights on being acquired, including the freemium model, metrics for CFOs like ARPU, and managing due diligence. He discusses handling customer data, communicating with stakeholders, and mastering the art of being acquired.

Jim Caci, CFO of AvePoint, shares insights on transitioning to SaaS metrics, educating on SaaS basics, AI investments for CFOs, and avoiding buyer's remorse. He discusses challenges in moving to annual subscriptions, aligning key metrics across departments, sales compensation evolution, and benefits of multi-year contracts. Emphasizes diverse CFO backgrounds, transparency, and importance of learning from mistakes.

Interview with Dustin Pederson, CFO of Locus Robotics, discussing the Robot-as-a-Service model, supply chain management challenges, building ROI models, tracking unique metrics, and optimizing cash conversion cycles. Insights on market positioning, specialized ERPs, human-robot interactions, and negotiating tips for CFOs.

Huntress CFO Marcos Torres shares insights on career paths, adaptability, and clarity of vision. He discusses the survival of the fittest mentality, the CFO's role as a business leader, and the importance of strategic decision-making. Torres also announces an exciting fundraising update.

Former investment banker turned CFO, Paul Mulé from Arcadia, discusses the transition to an operational role, the scarcity of skilled CFOs in tech companies, and the importance of building the right team. He shares insights on M&A strategies, cross-selling post-acquisition, optimizing M&A with on-the-ground employees, and qualities that make a great CFO.

Alex Song, VP of Finance at Ramp, discusses the unique balance sheet considerations of payments companies, risk management in finance, and the value of customer relationships. He shares intriguing investment stories involving seismic ships, rough diamonds, rail cars, and Colombian litigation claims.

Nick Chammas, CFO of Eight Sleep, shares insights on transitioning from banking to operations, emphasizing sales skills, decision-making, and teamwork. He discusses the Google IPO process, challenges in tech operations, and the importance of building relationships for success. The podcast explores the balance between intuition and data analysis, humility in business, and anecdotes from Chammas's investment banking days.