Strategy Meets Finance

Strategy and Finance
  • 5.0 (3)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts. Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat. On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions. Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.

  1. 2D AGO

    If You've Been Watching the News, You Better Know Your Numbers | Ep 220

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  There is a lot of noise in the economy right now. Inflation, labor shortages, geopolitical tension, and constant disruption.  In times like this, guessing in your business can get dangerous fast. Steve explains the 3 numbers every business owner should understand to stay in control. When you understand these numbers together, you can see what is really happening inside your business and make better decisions before small problems turn into big ones. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    18 min

  2. 5D AGO

    This is Why Profitable Companies Run Out of Cash | Ep 219

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  A lot of companies are profitable on paper but still run out of cash. The problem usually comes down to something most owners never measure called the cash conversion cycle. Steve explains why profit and cash flow are different, how working capital traps cash inside a business, and why growing too fast can actually make the problem worse. Once you understand how DSO, inventory, and payables affect your cash cycle, you can start pulling the right levers to get cash moving back into your business.  _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    24 min

  3. MAR 2

    The #1 Thing Holding 99% of Businesses Back | Ep 218

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  It’s not cash. It’s not strategy. It’s not training. The thing that holds most businesses back is the story the owner tells themselves. Steve shares real examples of companies with clear roadmaps to millions in upside who still did nothing. Not because they lacked tools, but because they resisted change. Fear, old narratives, self-doubt, and hidden beliefs quietly block execution. You can have the right strategy and still stay stuck if your mindset fights it. If you feel like you know what to do but you’re not doing it, this might be the real reason.  _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    20 min

  4. FEB 26

    Why Working Hard Isn’t Fixing Your Business | Ep 217

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Working 60 hours a week. Missing dinners. Grinding nonstop. And still losing money.  Steve shares a story about a frustrated president who was doing everything he could to turn around his division, but nothing was changing. The harder he worked, the worse it felt. The real issue was not effort. It was a lack of clarity around what actually drives results. When you confuse activity for outcomes, you burn out. When you focus on the few levers that truly move the numbers, everything starts to shift. If you feel like you are pushing hard but not getting traction, this one mindset change can completely alter your business and your life. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    7 min

  5. FEB 23

    How Strategy Turns Growth Into Cash Flow | Ep 216

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Growth does not automatically create cash flow. A lot of businesses learn that the hard way.  Steve explains how strategy is supposed to turn growth into real free cash flow, not just more revenue and more chaos. He connects the dots between free cash flow, return on invested capital, and the three generic strategies so you can see whether your strategy is actually creating value or just sounding good on paper.  When the numbers line up, you generate strong margins, efficient use of capital, and cash that can be reinvested, used to pay down debt, or distributed. When they do not, growth can actually make the squeeze worse. If you want to understand how strategy should show up in your financial results, this will help you see what to measure and why it matters. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    10 min

  6. FEB 19

    The 8 Cash Flow Levers Every Business Owner Should Know | Ep 215

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most business owners think they have a profit problem. What they really have is a cash flow problem.  Steve breaks down the eight cash flow levers that actually control how much money stays in your business. He walks through the four levers tied to profit and the four tied to invested capital. He also explains the order to look at them and why so many profitable companies still run out of cash. If you are working hard, showing profit on paper, but still stressed about payroll or your line of credit, this will help you see where the squeeze is really coming from and what to fix first. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    28 min

  7. FEB 16

    The 3 Generic Strategies and How to Tell If Yours Is Working | Ep 214

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Steve breaks down Michael Porter’s three generic strategies and explains what they really mean. More importantly, he walks through the numbers that reveal whether your strategy is producing real financial results or just sounding good in meetings. If you think you’re different, your margins should prove it. If you think you’re low cost, your capital efficiency should show it. And if you’re trying to do everything at once, that might be the real problem. This is a practical look at how to connect strategy to your financial statements so you can see what’s actually working.  _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    10 min

  8. FEB 12

    The Turnaround I Didn’t Think Was Possible | Ep 213

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  If you’ve ever laid awake at night wondering if your business is about to collapse, this one will feel real.  Steve shares the story of stepping into a company that was quietly running out of cash, losing money, and far closer to failure than most people knew. Jobs were on the line. Lenders were watching. The pressure was constant. He walks through what was actually happening behind the scenes, what almost broke the company, and how getting back to the basics of finance, focus, and disciplined decisions slowly pulled it out of the hole. If your business feels heavy right now, or you’re carrying more than anyone else knows, this story will resonate. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    15 min
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3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts. Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat. On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions. Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.

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