GrowCFO Show

#190 Developing the next generation of leaders with Dan Silberberg https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ja9iPmnDeQpkhwe4YHNXD?si=GfH_5NNjRSmJFa3cBzQ_4Q Leadership development is crucial in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Guest speaker Dan Silberberg, CEO and Founder of ENTELECHY.Al, a premier provider of customized leadership development programs, joined host Kevin Appleby for the discussion. Silberberg, a highly experienced executive with a proven track record of transforming operations across multiple industries, outlined the evolving demands placed on leadership. They noted the shift from the hierarchical structures prevalent in the 20th century workplace to today's emphasis on adaptability and holistic strategic thinking. They stressed the importance for executives to thoroughly understand their strengths, leadership style, and potential areas for growth through self-reflection. This allows individuals to maximize performance and overcome challenges. Innovative approaches to stimulate organizational development were also presented. They explored how entering new product categories can drive growth in consumer industries. Artificial intelligence was framed as a competitive differentiator when integrated into core functions like decision-making, productivity enhancement, and risk management. Younger, growth-oriented companies were advised by Silberberg to experiment through prudent risk-taking to sustain innovation momentum. With technological change accelerating rapidly, they emphasized the value executives place on questioning assumptions with an open mindset. The role of the CFO in prioritizing AI initiatives and collaborating across organizations for staff training was also a prominent topic. Key topics covered include: Differences between 20th century and 21st century leadership, with a focus on developing adaptability and holistic thinking.  Challenges of leadership in a rapidly changing world, and the importance of relationships over hierarchy.  Personal growth and leadership development through self-awareness and storytelling.  Unleashing personal genius and innovating to drive business growth.  Leveraging AI for competitive advantage, and how CFOs can prioritize AI adoption for decision making, productivity, and risk mitigation.  Thinking differently and embracing failure to stay innovative, especially for faster-growing companies.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0PUYH7z9gA Links Dan Silberberg on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 0:00:11 Introduction 0:00:40 Speaker 1 introduces themselves 0:02:39 Discussion on 20th century vs 21st century leadership   0:10:21 Discussion on different leadership styles 0:11:00 Attributes of a next generation leader 0:13:19 Unleashing personal genius and identity 0:17:32 Identifying and using personal genius 0:21:00 Example of innovating in consumer products industry 0:23:52 Leveraging AI for competitive advantage 0:28:05 Adopting AI and challenges of keeping up with innovation 0:32:55 Importance of thinking differently 0:33:30 Summary and closing remarks Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Kevin Appleby and Rachel Anevski discuss the importance of collaboration between the CFO and HR departments for organizational development and infrastructure. Rachel emphasizes the crucial role of HR in providing fractional human resource executives to support business growth. They also cover the roles of CFOs and CHROs in managing people and payroll, emphasizing the need for a separate role to handle these aspects of the business. They also discuss the urgent need for finance teams to adapt to digital transformation, AI, and an aging workforce, highlighting the importance of reskilling and upskilling the finance team to remain competitive. Key topics covered include: The roles of the CFO and CHRO, and how they should collaborate on areas like culture, recruitment, retention, and people management strategies. How fractional CHROs can help reduce the workload on CFOs by taking over tasks like payroll administration and providing strategic HR insights.   The impact of finance transformation and AI on the finance team, and the need to upskill/reshape teams through collaboration between CFOs and CHROs. Challenges in retaining and recruiting talent for the finance industry due to a lack of cultural alignment, perceptions of the industry, and insufficient investment in retraining and developing employees. Potential tensions between CFOs and CHROs due to CFOs' focus on control and segregation of duties versus CHROs' partnership approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWGVDxWS_RU Links Rachel Anevski on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 0:00-0:03:11 - Introduction and speaker backgrounds 0:03:11-0:06:11 - CFO's role in managing people and potential issues 0:06:11-0:09:18 - How CFOs and CHROs should collaborate and fractional CHRO benefits 0:09:18-0:11:57 - Impact of finance transformation on finance teams 0:11:57-0:14:32 - Aging workforce challenges in finance and potential for retraining 0:14:32-0:16:46 - Recruitment and retention issues for the finance industry 0:16:46-0:21:23 - Reasons for high turnover rates and negative perceptions of finance careers 0:21:23-0:25:14 - Importance of investing in employee development 0:25:14-0:28:57 - Potential tensions between CFO and CHRO roles due to mindsets 0:28:57-0:30:06 - Importance of CFO-CHRO collaboration Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Lee Allen, Senior VP at Corcentric, and Kevin Appleby discuss the evolution of invoicing, integrating accounts payable/receivable, and Corcentric's order-to-cash solution. They explore CFO role changes, automation's impact on finance jobs, and the need for standardizing business processes to enhance productivity.

Kevin Appleby and Alan Gonsenhauser discuss the importance of collaboration between CMOs and CFOs in aligning metrics and growth strategies. They emphasize the need for a common understanding of modern marketing and its value to the organization, as well as establishing a customer culture within the business. They also discuss the importance of using data to drive business growth, including predictive KPIs, measuring and optimizing customer lifetime value and retention, and aligning marketing strategies with financial objectives. Cross-functional alignment and clarity on what marketing is not going to focus on are also highlighted as key to growth. Key topics covered include: The importance of collaboration between CMOs and CFOs in areas like setting KPIs and metrics, measuring marketing ROI, optimizing marketing spend, and managing risks.  The evolving roles of CMOs and CFOs, and how they can strengthen their relationship by understanding each other's perspectives.  The importance of customer-led growth strategies and metrics like Net Promoter Score in driving long-term value.  Developing marketing strategies that consider both short-term and long-term budget planning for growth and profitability.  Understanding different personality types and communication styles to improve collaboration across teams.  How finance and marketing functions can work together to establish a shared understanding of success and a customer-led culture. https://youtu.be/xdioRCNweGY Links Alan Gonsenhauser on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 0:00-0:12 - Introduction 0:12-0:48 - Alan Gonsenhauser introduces himself and his background 0:48-1:06 - Alan Gonsenhauser discusses the relationship between CMOs and CFOs 1:06-1:20 - Kevin Appleby asks about measuring marketing ROI  1:20-5:10 - Alan Gonsenhauser outlines 5 areas of CMO-CFO collaboration and discusses customer-led growth 5:10-5:56 - Kevin Appleby and Alan Gonsenhauser discuss KPIs vs key results indicators 5:56-7:34 - Alan Gonsenhauser distinguishes different types of metrics 7:34-10:24 - Discussion on Net Promoter Score and customer satisfaction 10:24-12:23 - Collaboration on growth strategies, budget planning and cost-cutting 12:23-14:10 - Alignment across functions and saying no in strategy 14:10-16:23 - Zero-based budgeting and turnaround strategies 16:23-18:13 - Leveraging customer data and investment areas 18:13-19:26 - Additional growth levers and productivity 19:26-21:01 - Evolving CMO and CFO roles  21:01-23:37 - Strengthening CMO-CFO relationship and customer culture 23:37-25:03 - Finance team adopting customer-led mindset 25:03-31:39 - Personality types, communication styles and presentations 31:39-34:05 - Becoming a successful CMO or CFO Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Kevin Appleby and Bill Genovese discussed the convergence of digital technologies between the CFO and CEO/IO roles, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between these two roles. Kevin Appleby and Bill Genovese later discussed the importance of cost avoidance, cybersecurity, and cultural change in navigating digital transformation, highlighting the need for organizations to adapt to new technologies and ways of thinking. Both conversations emphasized the value of collaboration and sharing experiences to better navigate the complexities of digital transformation. Key topics covered include: An overview of Bill Genovese’s background in financial services and technology consulting The concept of digital convergence and how technologies overlap to solve business problems Examples of how ERP systems evolved to integrate finance functions The CFO-CIO partnership in regulatory compliance projects like Basel II Opportunities for cost avoidance and cloud strategies through legacy modernization Cybersecurity considerations like the zero-trust architecture Emerging technologies like quantum computing and associated risks When a company should consider hiring a dedicated CIO/CTO role The importance of culture and mindset for successful digital transformation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ABQhD9miI&t=10s Links Bill Genovese on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 0:00:11 Introduction and welcome 0:00:48 Bill Genovese introduction 0:00:51 Bill discusses his background 0:03:49 Kevin shares experience at IBM 0:04:04 Continued discussion of Bill’s background at IBM 0:05:01 Kevin recalls experience leaving IBM 0:05:28 Bill defines digital convergence using an overlapping circles diagram 0:07:05 Discussion of technology convergence e.g. smartphones 0:07:20 Bill shares he still has an original Palm Pilot 0:07:31 Kevin agrees about going back to old technologies 0:09:39 Kevin discusses finance systems integrating from other systems 0:11:36 Bill discusses ERP implementations in the early 2000s 0:12:36 Kevin discusses ongoing issues with budgeting/forecasting 0:13:21 Discussion of better budgeting solutions from the early 2000s 0:14:38 Kevin introduces discussing CFO-CIO partnerships 0:14:46 Bill discusses regulatory compliance projects 0:17:50 Kevin agrees to spend money intelligently  0:18:10 Bill discusses his relationship with CFOs 0:19:56 Discussion of multi-cloud strategies and related risks 0:20:50 Kevin raises security concerns about multi-cloud 0:24:48 Bill discusses zero trust architecture and quantum risks 0:25:14 Bill’s view on when a company needs a CTO role 0:26:11 Discussion of Bill’s CFO Tech Outlook article 0:26:50 Bill discusses other publications and viewpoints 0:28:51 Discussion of Bill’s experience in China 0:30:09 Kevin thanks Bill for the discussion  Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to The GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.  You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Greg Kautz and Kevin Appleby discussed the challenges of lease accounting and the need for technology to streamline these processes. Greg highlighted the benefits of automating lease accounting, while Appleby questioned the need for separate accounting rules for lessees and lessors. Later, the pair discussed the benefits of leasing assets for business growth, emphasizing the importance of considering leasing as an option for expansion. Finally, they discussed the challenges of fundraising in the current market, with Greg sharing their company's journey and Appleby providing insights on market conditions. Key topics covered include: Greg Kautz's career transition from finance leadership roles to co-founding a lease accounting software company with his son An overview of the lease accounting software they developed called Black Owl Lease Accounting, which aims to solve issues with existing solutions A discussion of lease accounting standards and why lease accounting is important for businesses How they developed the initial prototype, hired staff, and grew the company Challenges they faced finding the right technical staff Their plans for future fundraising, global expansion, and growth of the company Reminiscing about the early days of accounting before technology from Kevin Appleby and Greg Kautz's perspective https://youtu.be/gCOyz10LBp4 Links Greg Kautz on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction of Greg Kautz and his career transition 4:20 - Overview of lease accounting software Black Owl Lease Accounting 7:30 - Discussion of lease accounting standards and importance for businesses 11:00 - Developing the initial prototype and hiring staff 14:15 - Challenges finding the right technical staff 17:10 - Future fundraising plans and market growth 19:50 - Reminiscing about early accounting days before technology 26:50 - Selling the software to CFOs and other buyers 29:15 - Greg Kautz's future plans and not retiring anytime soon Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.  You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Catherine Clark and Kevin Appleby discussed the importance of addressing personal and professional growth through holistic mentoring, emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence in decision making and relationship dynamics in business. Catherine is head of mentoring at GrowCFO. She frequently supports her mentees when they need to have a difficult conversation. Key topics covered include: Catherine Clark's holistic approach to mentoring, which involves unlocking a mentee's personal potential and limiting beliefs to enable professional success. The importance of self-care, resilience, and mindfulness for professionals, and creating recovery time and daily routines to stay balanced. Active listening techniques and authentic relating that Kevin and Catherine apply in their consulting and mentoring work. The value of meditation, reflection, and forgiveness in personal growth and accessing inner wisdom and creativity. Finding gratitude even in past struggles and applying lessons learned. Catherine Clark's journey with Reiki and emphasizing energetic connection and self-healing. Strategies for starting the day in a calm, focused state through activities like meditation and dog walks to boost productivity. https://youtu.be/7EsU8F9mTuQ Links Catherine Clark on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps Mentoring and unlocking personal potential for professional success. 0:11 The importance of self-care, resilience, and mindfulness in professional settings. 7:26 Mentoring, coaching, and personal growth. 15:41 Personal growth, energy, and gratitude. 23:07 Meditation, mindfulness, and productivity. 27:38 Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.  You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Stephen Campbell, founder and chief solution architect at MacroFin, joins Kevin Appleby to discuss best practices for ERP implementation success. They share their experiences transitioning from accounting to technology consulting and implementation. Key topics covered include: Common challenges clients face when outgrowing systems like Xero and the decision process for selecting a new ERP Best practices for vendor selection and simplifying often lengthy and complex RFP processes Tips for effective project scoping and limiting implementation risks through shorter 90-day phases Emphasis on user training and testing to ensure knowledge transfer and benefits realization Advice on identifying super users and continual process improvement post go-live Perspectives on technology hype vs reality and potential for streamlining accounting through automation High failure rates of ERP projects and how to avoid pitfalls through proper preparation and change management Stephen will present on delivering impactful finance transformations at the upcoming GrowCFO Global Finance Summit on May 16th. https://youtu.be/cMtkZHhmNYw Links Stephen Campbell on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn MacroFin GrowCFO Finance Transformation Bootcamp GrowCFO Global Finance Summit Timestamps Introducing Stephen Campbell and MacroFin (0:11) ERP implementation best practices and process reviews. (5:08) Choosing an ERP system for growing businesses, focusing on NetSuite and Xero. (9:18) The importance of simplifying the RFP process (13:24) Implementing NetSuite ERP system with a focus on knowledge transfer and testing. (17:56) Streamlining accounting processes with technology. (23:06) ERP implementation challenges and best practices. (27:35) Implementing NetSuite ERP system with a focus on process improvement and vendor selection. (31:35) Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.  You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Timothee Clement. USA Country Manager at Agicap joins Kevin Appleby on the GrowCFO Show as they discuss the business case for introducing specialist cash flow forecasting technology. Timothee is a returning guest, he discussed implementing cash flow forecasting in episode 119. In this episode he discussed the business case for investing in cash flow forecasting technology with podcast host Kevin Appleby. Timothy explained how most companies still rely on error-prone spreadsheets due to the complexity of forecasting. This leads to inaccurate projections and a lack of visibility. By freeing up time spent on manual processes, finance teams can focus on optimizing cash flow through more accurate forecasting. Kevin and Timothee evaluated the ROI of implementing a specialized system like Agicap. Costs are low compared to labor savings. Benefits include interest savings, investment gains, and allowing finance to partner strategically. ERP systems aren't designed for flexibility and scenarios required for forecasting. They explored implementation process and timeline. Connecting data sources is quick due to open banking. Training occurs throughout. Risks include lack of stakeholder buy-in, so change management is crucial. Overall, a compelling case emerged for digital transformation in this area to empower finance teams. Timothee Clement is a featured speaker at the GrowCFO Global Finance Summit on 15/16 May 2024 https://youtu.be/o_xZMi7XOAQ Links Timothee Clement on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn Agicap cash flow management software GrowCFO Show #119: How to Implement a Cashflow Forecasting system with Timothee Clement, GrowCFO Global Finance Summit Timestamps Introducing the business case for cash flow technology(0:11) Optimizing cash flow and reducing costs through advanced forecasting. (4:13) Improving financial decision-making? (10:21) What implementation options are available. (18:32) Managing the digital transformation (26:29) Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.  You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net

Randy Wootton is an experienced technology executive with over 20 years of experience in corporate leadership roles. He joins Kevin Appleby as a guest on the GrowCFO Show ahead of appearing as a panellist at the GrowCFO Global Finance Summit. He has served as CEO of three startups: Rocket Fuel, Percolate, and Maxio. Randy spent 8 years in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the corporate sector with Microsoft and Salesforce. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master's in Great Books. At Maxio, Randy leads a business that helps B2B SaaS companies unlock their next stage of growth. Maxio's Billing and Financial operations platform is designed to meet the unique financial challenges of B2B SaaS companies. This includes billing, subscription management, revenue and expense recognition, and SaaS analytics. Throughout his career, Randy has developed expertise in go-to-market strategies and helping technology companies scale. He advocates using AI to transform industries like marketing, finance, and accounting. He is passionate about leveraging technology to solve business problems and drive efficiency. In conversation with Kevin, Randy discussed his experiences with AI and machine learning, including using it at a previous company for programmatic advertising. He shared how he now uses AI tools like ChatGPT to research and write articles. Randy and Kevin also discussed AI's potential impacts on industries like content creation, accounting, and finance. Specifically, they touched on how AI could address labor shortages in accounting by automating data processing and freeing up professionals for higher-level work. Randy and Kevin outlined future AI use cases and will expand on these at the upcoming GrowCFO global finance summit. Previous podcast guest Aneal Vallarupali, CFO at Airbase also features in this session. https://youtu.be/Aqahr5LvetA Links Randy Wootton on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn Maxio GrowCFO Show #171: What’s in Store for Fintech in 2024 with Aneal Vallurupalli, CFO at Airbase GrowCFO Global Finance Summit Timestamps Career progression from military to CEO of 3 startups. (0:10) AI and business leadership with a seasoned CEO. (2:19) AI's impact on content creation, including the use of chatbots for research and writing. (7:03) AI's impact on the accounting profession, including automation, labour shortages, and new roles. (12:07) Charting the Future: Expert Perspectives on Finance and AI Trends at the Global Finance Summit (17:44) Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favourite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Google Podcasts, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars.  Premium members can also access our extensive training centre and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enrol in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programmes here.  You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net