CFO Weekly Personiv

Sharon Barber-Lui, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President at North America Teva Pharmaceuticals, joins Megan Weis to unveil the multifaceted role of the CFO, the need for the CFO to connect with all aspects of the business, as well as the importance of diversity, inclusion, and innovation.

Sharon has over 20 years of executive experience in BioPharma, biotech, and public accounting, focusing on commercialization, finance, and operations. Before joining Teva Pharmaceuticals, she was the Senior Vice President of Global Finance at EQRx. Sharon also spent over 22 years at Merck.

In this episode, we discuss:
- Why CFOs must connect with all aspects of the business
- Key traits for successful CFOs
- Driving innovation through diversity and inclusion
- The integration of technology and data analytics in finance

Everyone thinks the main job of a CFO is to maintain the financial health of an organization. While true, Stacey Ryan-Cornelius believes that being a CFO has transcended beyond keeping books to becoming a strategic business partner, working closely with all business leaders to ensure organizational success. To learn more about the topic, Stacey joined us in the latest episode of CFO Weekly.

Stacey is the Global Chief Financial Officer at Ogilvy, bringing over 30 years of experience in the entertainment, media, and communications industry. As an innovative and strategic business partner, she is dedicated to driving growth. Stacey is also an NYS Licensed CPA, a Certified Management Accountant, a member of Chief, and serves as a Trustee Board member of Marymount Manhattan College.

In this episode, we discuss:
- How CFOs drive strategic organizational success
- The creative mindset of a CFO
- Aligning financial leadership with organizational goals
- Leading transformational initiatives
- The role of diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Traditionally, CFOs have been associated with established corporations. However, we've been noticing their growing presence in startups, including early-stage businesses. We were wondering: what are the primary challenges faced by CFOs in early-stage startups? To answer the question, we have Felix Beccar.

With more than 15 years of experience in management consulting and technology, Felix serves as the CFO at Mural, a top visual collaboration platform, where he leads the global finance team. Felix is also an Advisor for Brevity and Funnel IQ, an Investor at Mapo Tapo, as well as an Entrepreneur In Residence at INSEAD.

In this episode, we discuss:
- What role do CFOs play in early-stage startups?
- The CFO-COO combination and its impact on startups
- How to stay ahead in hiring and technology implementation
- The importance of aligning financial goals with operational objectives
- How to maintain financial discipline during rapid scaling

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and for small businesses, it is even more vital. Accurate cash flow forecasting allows business owners to better manage their finances, make informed decisions, and plan for the future. To help us better leverage cash flow forecasting for financial leadership and strategic decision-making, we discuss it with Colin Hewitt.

Colin is the CEO and Co-founder of Float Cash Flow Forecasting. He has spent more than twenty years in the software industry, focusing on helping small businesses understand their finances. Colin co-founded Flow to offer simple, precise tools for scenario planning and budgeting that work with well-known accounting platforms. Previously, he served as the Director at IfLooksCouldKill.

In this episode, we discuss:
- How accurate cash flow forecasting empowers CFOs
- How Float's scenario planning allows CFOs to navigate market uncertainties
- Integrating advanced tech in cash flow management
- Best practices for CFOs to master cash flow in uncertain times

Big companies need a better art of problem-solving. You can't simply rely on luck or intuition. Data and analytics must become your greatest allies in your decision-making process. However, it's not just about employing any tool you find; it's about finding the right tool for your needs. In the case of big companies, Dhiraj Rajaram has the solution.

Dhiraj is the founder of Mu Sigma, where he leads the company's strategic direction. Before starting Mu Sigma, he gained experience at Booz Allen Hamilton and PwC. Dhiraj was listed in Fortune Magazine's "40 under 40" in 2011 and 2013. In 2012, Ernst and Young India honored him with the "Entrepreneur Of The Year India" award in the Services sector. Additionally, in early 2014, CNBC TV18 India Business Leaders Awards presented him with the Young Turk award.

In this episode, we discuss:
- The financial benefits of systemized decision-making
- The art of problem-solving
- Financial planning and optionality through analytics
- The changing role of CFOs
- AI and machine learning in finance

People expect CFOs to be masters of everything, not just finance. Strategy, technology, marketing, or customer engagement, a financial leader truly has to get a strong grasp on every aspect of a business. Impossible, some might say. But not for Daniel Welch, who joined us in this episode of CFO Weekly to share his personal performance as an executive as well as strategies for successfully scaling high-growth businesses.

Daniel has a deep passion for developing and enhancing value in consumer-focused companies with standout products and strong customer connections. Before Kate Farms, he served as the CFO of Oura Health, led corporate finance and development at Sonos, and has a background in investment banking.

In this episode, we discuss:
- How to maintain high levels of performance in finance leadership
- Key strategies for scaling high-growth businesses
- The importance of leveraging technology in high-growth companies
- Building efficiency in finance teams