CFO THOUGHT LEADER

Zane Rowe, CFO of Workday and former executive at Continental Airlines, VMware, and EMC, shares insights on AI's transformative impact on finance. He connects his experience in flight profitability to today's AI-driven decision-making, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across departments. Rowe discusses evolving ROI strategies for AI investments and highlights the significance of customer feedback. He also reflects on the need for CFOs to engage deeply with teams and customers, helping to shape a future where data-driven approaches drive growth.

Cristina Kim, the new CFO of Octaura, has a rich background as a JP Morgan executive with 22 years in finance and strategic investments. In this conversation, she shares her transition from investor to operator, emphasizing the importance of an 'aha moment' where she stepped into her role with a builder's mindset. Cristina discusses using AI and granular metrics to enhance decision-making, her vision for Octaura's electronic trading platform, and the balance between innovation and collaboration with banks. She offers insights on career breadth and strategic foresight in finance.

Aneal Vallurupalli, CFO at Drata and former finance leader at Airbase, shares fascinating insights from his career. After an unexpected role change post-Airbase sale, he emphasizes the importance of finance as an architect of business operations. Aneal discusses his passion for ruthless prioritization honed through competitive tennis and banking, and how he aims to enhance the finance team's strategic input. He also touches on AI challenges, retention strategies, and his vision for finance as a proactive 'so what' team that influences company decisions.

Stuart Leung, CFO of Flexport, shares insights from his diverse background in investment banking and private equity that shape his approach to finance and operations. He discusses Flexport's vision as a logistics 'control tower' and the complexity driving recent margin pressures. Leung highlights his 'Big Rock' initiative framework, focused on continuous improvement through cross-functional collaboration. He also touches on AI innovations, strategic planning under volatility, and the importance of clear communication within the organization.

In this enlightening discussion, Eric Loughmiller shares insights on transforming automotive auction finance through analytics. Erik Day dives into the challenges of margin compression and the importance of daily KPIs in luxury retail operations. Bal Bhullar opens up about guiding an EV manufacturer from prototypes to production, emphasizing the CFO's role as a strategic partner in growth. Together, these finance leaders reveal how they navigate market complexities and technological shifts, showcasing the evolving landscape of automotive finance.

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.