CFO THOUGHT LEADER

In this engaging discussion, Chris Miorin, CFO of Apexanalytix and West Point alum, shares his unique transition from military leadership to corporate finance. He emphasizes the vital role of capital allocation in enhancing enterprise value. Miorin explains how trust and relationships shape effective decision-making, particularly during acquisitions. His experiences underscore the importance of teamwork and data-driven strategies, while also reflecting on the lessons learned from both the battlefield and the boardroom.

Ademir Sarcevic, CFO of Standex International, shares his remarkable journey from war-torn Bosnia to the finance world. He reflects on embracing resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning shaped by his diverse experiences in finance. Sarcevic emphasizes the need for agility in tackling market challenges, particularly in manufacturing. He shares insights on strategic acquisitions, blending culture and financial sense, and the importance of innovation through R&D. His story inspires listeners about leadership grounded in patience and understanding.

Inder Singh, a finance leader who collaborated with John Chambers at Cisco, shares gripping tales from his encounters with tech icons like Steve Jobs and Marc Benioff. He discusses transformative moments that shaped both his career and the financial landscape of tech. Topics include the shift to subscription models, the importance of leadership presence, and strategic shifts in finance during economic turmoil. Singh’s firsthand experiences illuminate the critical role CFOs play alongside visionary leaders in crafting the future of companies.

In a riveting discussion, Eric Brown, CFO of Cohesity and a tech finance veteran, shares insights from his extensive career. He recalls navigating a financial crisis at MicroStrategy and turning it around from a -40% operating margin to +30%. Brown elaborates on his role in AI at Cohesity, likening its impact to previous tech waves. He explores the capital demands of large language models and highlights the strategic significance of data security in a rapidly evolving landscape. Personal anecdotes underscore the importance of leadership and innovation in the tech industry.

In this engaging discussion, Brian Gladden, CFO of Zelis and former finance chief at GE and Dell, shares insights from his encounters with industry legends like Jack Welch and Michael Dell. He reflects on leadership lessons learned in pivotal moments that significantly shaped his career. The conversation also includes Gabi Gantus's Tesla experience with Elon Musk and Jason Child's transformative moments at Amazon with Jeff Bezos, emphasizing strategic decision-making and the ability to navigate high-stakes corporate environments.

When people Google Bonterra, they often see 2021 as its starting point. That year, lead investor Apax joined with Vista, holder of Social Solutions, and Insight Partners, holder of EveryAction, to unite those businesses under one brand. But, as Matthew Hardy tells us, the company’s history stretches much further back—“We have customers that are 20–25-year-old customers, so (there are) a lot of longstanding relationships.”From its earliest days, Bonterra’s mission has been clear: provide “purpose-built software for nonprofits.” Today, that includes tools for strategic philanthropy, enabling Fortune 50 companies and foundations to distribute funds, manage grants, and ensure resources reach the right causes.Its Impact Management business works with both small nonprofits and large entities—including city and state initiatives involving millions of dollars—to answer the central question: “What’s the impact?” Hardy tells us many philanthropists have historically invested without a clear view of results; Bonterra’s solutions aim to change that.Fundraising and Engagement solutions—traditional CRM-style donor management platforms—serve nonprofits across the spectrum, from micro-organizations to nationally recognized names.Although backed by private equity “impact funds,” Hardy stresses there’s no easing of performance expectations. Bonterra tracks “all the same metrics you would typically see in your vertical SaaS companies”—from new and install base bookings to gross and net retention, margins, and EBITDA.Ultimately, Hardy’s strategic lens centers on value realization. “If your customers…aren’t finding significant value…you’re not going to last long,” he tells us. Whether helping nonprofits hit fundraising goals or guiding corporate giving programs, Bonterra’s work is measured by both mission and metrics.

In Episode 47 of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and resident thought leader Brett Knowles explore the evolving role of FP&A through the lens of three forward-looking CFOs. Dan Zhang (ClickUp), John Rettig (Bill), and Josh Schauer (insightsoftware) share how they’re driving enterprise agility, leveraging AI to eliminate inefficiencies, and rethinking capital allocation. From Zhang’s battle against “SaaS overload” to Rettig’s “prove-it mentality” and Schauer’s daily forecasting, each CFO reveals a distinct approach to enabling smarter, faster decision-making. Their insights offer a compelling look at how modern FP&A leaders are transforming strategy execution in real time.

Host Erik Zhou, CAO at Brex, sits down with Richie Mashiko, Fractional CFO, to unpack the financial complexities of running high-growth e-commerce and CPG brands. From measuring the right things to navigating ad spend, pricing strategies, and fragile supply chains amidst tariffs, Richie offers a unique operator’s perspective on what it takes to drive sustainable growth in today’s market.

Andrew Casey remembers a moment when colleagues truly looked to finance for leadership. At ServiceNow, a then‑$400 million company with little go‑to‑market infrastructure, the team faced a long list of missing elements: no functioning comp plan, no partner ecosystem, and no clear strategy for scaling sales. “Whenever people said they didn’t know how,” Casey recalls, “I started raising my hand and said, I don’t know either, but I know what we’re going to go do… and then we’re going to adjust as we go.” That willingness to lead through uncertainty became a turning point in his career.ServiceNow would grow from $400 million to $4.5 billion during his tenure, and colleagues still use the pricing and deal frameworks he created, he tells us. The experience cemented his approach: chase experiences, not titles, and transform finance into a partner that drives business outcomes.That mindset carried into his first CFO role at WalkMe in 2020, where, just two weeks in, COVID forced an immediate office shutdown. “We didn’t even have a work‑from‑home policy,” he tells us. The sudden disruption forced him to navigate crisis management, team alignment, and IPO preparation simultaneously.His journey through Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Oracle, HP, ServiceNow, and Lacework sharpened his ability to guide transformation and scale. Today, as CFO of Amplitude, Casey draws on those lessons to help a smaller public company grow with discipline. Each chapter—from being involved in 37 acquisitions at Oracle to steering turnarounds—reflects a career built on stepping into complexity, listening first, and leading change with confidence.

In this conversation, Konstantin Dzhengozov, the CFO of Payhawk and co-founder of Bulgaria's first unicorn, shares his journey from a corporate role in the U.S. to thriving in Bulgaria's dynamic startup scene. He discusses the challenges of building a finance team from scratch, the importance of a dual-revenue model, and how they tackled issues like poor data visibility. Dzhengozov also envisions AI transforming finance, enabling CFOs to make quicker, more informed decisions, while remaining dedicated to fostering business innovation.