The Role Forward: A Strategic Finance Podcast

CJ Gustafson, CFO of PartsTech and the mind behind Mostly Metrics, talks about annual planning and the importance of understanding business models and resource allocation. He outlines a three-month timeline for annual planning and breaks down the process into digestible stages, focusing on setting realistic goals for revenue, productivity, and profitability. CJ also addresses the challenges of planning with incomplete data and emphasizes the need to adapt. His insights provide valuable lessons on balancing ambition with the realities of startup finance.

Kristian Marquez, CEO of FinStrat Management, discusses the evolving landscape of startup profitability, the 'Rule of 40' metric for growth and EBITDA margin, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on businesses.

Todd Spartz, CFO at LinkLive with a rich background in tech, discusses the potential of AI in finance, analyzing predictive churn, AI in the annual planning process, and the importance of building networks in the finance industry.

Scot Mollot, CFO at Attivo Partners, discusses the transition to in-house finance teams, the importance of clean data and automation, integrating systems, and hiring suitable finance and accounting candidates. They also explore the potential impact of AI in finance and offer insights into evaluating and selecting partners for fractional CFO or consulting services.

Zack McCarty, Director of FP&A at Qwick, discusses the importance of collaborative planning and stakeholder buy-in in the food and beverage industry. He highlights the challenges and strategies of planning for a two-sided marketplace, managing expenses across different departments, and the importance of financial transparency. McCarty also emphasizes the need for understanding basic company finances and setting responsible financial goals.

Bijan Moallemi and Joe Garafalo, co-founders of Mosaic, discuss the evolving landscape of business and the importance of investing in finance functions. They emphasize the proactive approach of strategic finance, highlight the shift to continuous planning, and discuss the value of AI in finance operations and decision-making.

In this episode, venture funding experts Joe Garafalo and Marissa Moore, along with financial modeling specialist Eugene Lee, discuss the current state of venture funding, the importance of good financial modeling practices, understanding the customer base, assessing risks, and the role of metrics in investor conversations. They also provide advice for companies planning to raise funds in the future, emphasizing the need to build relationships with investors, adaptability, and understanding future expectations.

Industry leaders discuss board management, investor communications, and strategies for keeping the board up to speed. Emphasis on storytelling in board meetings, CFO's attention to detail, and building relationships with board members. Insights on board reports and using templates for effective communication. Valuable advice for businesses on improving board management and investor communication strategies.

In this episode of The Role Forward, host Joe Michalowski brings together a panel of industry leaders for a Q&A-style discussion. The guests include Bijan Moallemi, Co-Founder and CEO at Mosaic, Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, Partner at XYZ, and Jeron Paul, CEO of Spiff. The conversation revolves around board management, investor communications, and effective strategies for keeping the board up to speed.The panelists delve into the intricacies of board meetings, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and understanding the 'why' behind business numbers. They also discuss the CFO's role in maintaining great attention to detail and the need to elevate conversations to a digestible level for the board. The discussion further explores the importance of building relationships with board members and the value of regular communication outside of board meetings.The episode concludes with a lively discussion on the format of board reports and the benefits of using templates like the one provided by Mosaic. The panelists share their experiences and insights, providing valuable advice for businesses at different stages. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their board management and investor communication strategies.Guests-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Bijan Moallemi, Chauncey Kerr Hamilton, and Jeron Paul💡What they do: Co-Founder and CEO / Partner / CEO 💡Company: Mosaic / XYZ Venture Capital / Spiff💡Noteworthy: Bijan is a former CFO with a knack for understanding the timing of cash and its relation to forecasts. Chauncey is a former Wired employee with strong relationships in PR and editorial, making her a strategic asset when these topics arise. Jeron is a proponent of healthy competition among board members and has seen the benefits of board members rolling up their sleeves to have a direct, tangible impact.💡 Where to find them: Bijan: LinkedIn / Chauncey: LinkedIn / Jeron: LinkedIn 

In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts Brian Campbell, the co-founder at Mosaic. The two delve deep into the world of strategic finance, discussing the challenges and solutions of handling high-volume data.Brian shares his experience working with Stripe, a platform often used by B2C and product-led growth companies. He highlights the rigidity of billing systems and the difficulty of changing historical data. The conversation then shifts to the importance of data cleanliness and setting up efficient processes to make sense of billing data.The podcast wraps up with Brian emphasizing that data will never be perfect. He encourages listeners to accept this reality and focus on setting up processes that ensure the best possible data quality. This episode is a must-listen for anyone dealing with high-volume data and looking to embrace strategic finance.Guest-at-a-Glance💡 Name: Brian Campbell💡What he does: Co-Founder💡Company: Mosaic💡Noteworthy: Brian brings a wealth of experience in dealing with high-volume data as a strategic finance leader and product leader at Mosaic. 💡 Where to find Brian: LinkedIn