CFO THOUGHT LEADER

Jayme Brooks, CFO and Executive Vice President at Limbach, shares insights from her diverse finance career. She reveals the critical moment when capital raised against intangible assets saved Capstone Turbine from collapse. Brooks emphasizes the importance of transparency in governance and strategic board relationships. She discusses evolving metrics to enhance performance and the role of finance in operational efficiency. Additionally, Brooks highlights the value of mentorship and networking in leadership growth and explains Limbach's mission-focused approach to M&A.

Michael Bourque, the CFO and EVP at Convera, shares riveting insights from his diverse finance career, including a formative lesson from Jack Welch at GE. He discusses navigating crises at Ocwen and the importance of understanding business models rapidly. His strategic pivot at LendingHome targeted different customer cohorts, emphasizing cash flow and unit economics. Bourque also addresses how AI is transforming operations and risk management in finance, offering valuable advice for future CFOs.

Glenn Hopper, a finance author and tech strategist, joins Steve Sutter, CFO of Celigo, to discuss the intersection of finance and disciplined innovation. They delve into how finance shapes AI strategies, emphasizing the importance of metrics and structured processes. Sutter shares insights on aligning financial guardrails with scalable go-to-market strategies, while Hopper advocates for treating AI as a tool for growth. Together, they explore creating dedicated AI teams, fostering change management, and utilizing staged experiments to ensure operational success.

Troy Anderson, CFO of Kelly Services and seasoned finance executive, shares insights from his transformational journey in finance. He discusses the challenge of integrating multiple acquisitions and modernizing outdated systems amid a declining staffing market. Troy reflects on his career path, including pivotal roles at Xerox and Conduent, which set the stage for his current mission. He emphasizes the importance of strategic growth and measured capital allocation while elaborating on innovative AI adoption strategies and the need for a finance transformation roadmap.

David Lee, Global COO and CFO of WEBTOON, shares his unique journey from transforming companies like Del Monte and Best Buy to leading a storytelling powerhouse. He discusses the vibrant ecosystem of creators and readers on WEBTOON, emphasizing that human creativity should reign supreme over AI. David highlights the synergy with Disney to boost brand awareness and mentions key metrics that drive engagement. He also shares insights on how he's leveraging AI to protect creators while maintaining a focus on the human touch in storytelling.

Erik Wissig, CFO and COO of SureCo, is a former investment banker turned healthcare innovator. He reflects on a pivotal moment when his start-up’s cash flow crisis taught him the importance of balancing ambition with liquidity. Wissig discusses the founding of Hixme, overcoming regulatory hurdles to pioneer ICHRA solutions, and merging with SureCo. He emphasizes the need for strong leadership in finance, persistence in innovation, and a consumer-centered approach to healthcare. His insights on leveraging AI and managing growth priorities offer a fresh perspective on the future of finance.

Niels Boon, Group CFO of Cint, has a rich background in investment banking and consulting, focusing on scaling tech businesses. He shares a gripping story of discovering hidden financial discrepancies that challenged perceived profitability. Niels discusses the complexities of post-merger integrations, including the need for system unification and the reduction of legal entities. He reveals how strategic pricing decisions significantly boosted margins and emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence in restoring trust and engagement within finance teams.

Shaun Sethna, General Counsel and GM for The L Suite, dives into the intersection of legal and finance. He highlights common contract risks CFOs often overlook, like vague termination clauses. Shaun emphasizes the importance of aligning company strategies and cross-training teams to enhance collaboration. He advocates for AI to summarize agreements and track obligations efficiently. Additionally, he shares insights from an M&A case illustrating how mutual understanding between legal and finance can prevent costly oversights.

Atsushi Kitamura, CFO of Astellas Pharma and former finance leader at Procter & Gamble, dives deep into the transformative challenges in pharma finance. He shares how his diverse experience shaped his approach to instilling financial discipline after a major acquisition. With over 40% of revenues at risk from a patent cliff, he unveils a three-part strategy focused on brand growth, scientific investment, and sustainable margins. Atsushi also highlights the shift from RPA to agentic AI, revolutionizing finance operations.

Michael Levine, CFO of Fireblocks and former CFO of Payoneer, dives into the world of stablecoins and decentralized finance. He shares insights on how CFOs are grappling with stablecoin adoption and offers examples of blockchain's real-world utility, like programmable money. Levine highlights Fireblocks' unique approach to securing digital assets and addresses the evolving regulatory landscape. With a keen eye on capital allocation and AI's role in finance, he discusses the need for education and strategic thinking in a rapidly changing economy.