FP&A Today

Glenn Hopper
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Jul 22, 2025 • 49min

From Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to Energy Transformation: Connagh Hopkins

Connagh Hopkins, Head of Business Planning and Reporting at Western Power, shares her unique journey from working on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” to tackling Australia's energy transformation. She discusses the complexities of scenario planning in the evolving energy landscape and the challenges posed by inflation. Connagh emphasizes the critical role of AI in finance and the necessity of cross-functional collaboration for success in FP&A. Additionally, she offers insights into navigating leadership in finance and the importance of data management in utility companies.
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14 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 56min

CFO Grammarly – behind their $1 billion in non-dilutive financing and how we do FP&A

Matt Hudson, CFO of Grammarly and former founding member of Coda, discusses the exciting intersection of finance and AI. He explains Grammarly's recent $1 billion in non-dilutive financing aimed at fueling future growth and acquisitions. Hudson shares insights from his journey at YouTube and highlights the evolving role of finance in tech amid AI advancements. He emphasizes the need for a blend of data science and finance skills, while also envisioning a future where AI reshapes business applications and workforce dynamics.
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Jul 13, 2025 • 1h 2min

Why Financial models are essential even at early stages of a company – Lauren Pearl

Lauren Pearl, a Business Strategist and CFO Advisor with over 13 years of experience, shares invaluable insights for startups. She discusses the critical need for financial models to guide decision-making and attract investment. Lauren emphasizes storytelling in pitch decks and the importance of engaging with finance throughout the startup journey. With personal anecdotes, she even humorously touches on her time as a punk band roadie. Plus, discover tips on using Excel effectively to streamline financial data!
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Jul 3, 2025 • 1h 3min

What Keeps Excel as the heart of business: Chandoo

Today’s guest barely needs an introduction. Purna Duggirala (aka, “Chandoo”) is a celebrity in Excel circles. Since 2004, Chandoo has been regularly sharing everything he learns working with Excel training hundreds of finance teams, and had roles including as Data Lead, Remuneration Modeling & Analytics for the New Zealand government.  The 16-time Microsoft MVP runs Chandoo.org , which aims to “make you awesome in Excel and Power BI” getting 250,000  visitors per month from all over the world and his YouTube channel has 750,000 subscribers. His stated goal is “to make you awesome at Excel and Power BI”, and produces the go-to Excel resources  from blog posts and videos to full online courses. My Excel Journey and Community building  Skill gaps in FP&A Teams Power BI vs Excel vs Python Copilot – advantages and limits My favorite Excel function Check out https://chandoo.org Chandoo’s Free Data analyst course: https://chandoo.org/wp/free-data-analyst-course/ Connect with Chandoo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/purnaduggirala/
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12 snips
Jun 23, 2025 • 53min

Top 10 Burning Questions in FP&A

Nate Saperia, founder of Saperia Consulting, brings nearly 20 years of finance expertise to tackle the top burning questions in FP&A. He shares insights on incorporating AI into forecasting and the critical importance of data quality and trust. Discussion points include the fastest actions FP&A teams can take amidst margin pressures and the evolving role of traditional tools like Excel. He also emphasizes the need for adaptable skills in the ever-changing landscape, especially for interns entering financial planning.
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Jun 19, 2025 • 50min

FP&A "Wow" Moments at $10m companies

Luke Mulcahy, the founder of Mulcahy Consulting Group and finance strategist with over 15 years of experience, delves into the world of FP&A for small businesses. He shares valuable insights on forecasting energy consumption in utilities and the nuances of becoming a fractional CFO. Mulcahy highlights why larger companies struggle with big data and offers big FP&A wins for smaller firms. Plus, he discusses solving Excel's date problem while emphasizing the transformative power of financial insights for growth-oriented businesses.
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7 snips
Jun 12, 2025 • 1h 1min

Data Analytics and AI for FP&A Teams

Nathan Bell, Managing Partner at VAi Consulting, helps CFOs integrate technology and finance. Anna Tioma, a fractional CFO and founder of Blend2Balance, focuses on applying AI in finance. Anna Yamashita from DataRails enhances FP&A teams with modern management solutions. They discuss using AI for improved financial workflows, the importance of predictive analytics, and debunk common misconceptions about AI in finance. They also delve into ROI from AI investments and the challenges of data security, offering practical insights for finance professionals.
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Jun 8, 2025 • 51min

Packed insights for Excel in FP&A: Jeff Gudim

In this engaging conversation, Jeff Gudim, a senior financial analyst and Excel evangelist at Strategic Education, shares his journey from private wealth management to corporate FP&A. He reveals how Excel transformed his career and highlights his favorite Excel model along with time-saving tips for FP&A professionals. The discussion covers advanced Excel features like dynamic arrays and Lambda functions, the potential of AI integration, and the importance of storytelling in financial analysis. Tune in for indispensable insights into mastering Excel in finance!
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May 28, 2025 • 54min

Data Science masterclass with Shifra Isaacs

Shifra Isaacs, a Developer Relations Advocate at Ascend.io with a rich background in data science and finance, shares her insights for finance professionals. She discusses the distinction between data science and business analytics, emphasizing the power of AI in enhancing decision-making. Shifra also dives into Python’s role in Excel, effective modeling techniques for risk and variance analysis, and the importance of adapting to an AI-driven landscape. Additionally, she highlights the synergy between technical skills and storytelling in finance for improved forecasting.
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May 21, 2025 • 54min

Curiosity, Ambition, Service: FP&A at Dashlane

Taylor Otstot, Vice President of Finance at Dashlane and author of CFO Frameworks, shares his journey from GoDaddy to leading FP&A. He emphasizes hiring for curiosity, ambition, and service orientation for addressing ambiguity in finance. Discussing the interplay between strategy and FP&A, he also tackles the misconception of partnership versus accountability. Taylor introduces improv techniques as a creative tool for collaboration and highlights the value of data segmentation and machine learning in enhancing finance strategies.

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