CBO Speaks

NACUBO
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CBO Speaks from NACUBO showcases our most seasoned CBO colleagues from top institutions around the country as they share stories of their journey as business officers. Their experiences inspire us and show us what's possible in our own work.

  1. Oct 16

    Education Is the Golden Key: A Career Built on Access With California State University San Marcos CBO Leon Wyden

    Leon Wyden is vice president of finance and administrative services and chief financial officer at California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, California. In this episode, Wyden joins host Melissa Farley to talk about how his parents' belief that education is the "golden key" carried him from Detroit's auto industry into higher education finance, what leading at Howard University, two Ohio institutions, and Frostburg State University taught him about understanding each campus on its own terms, and why he leads a 320-person division by getting out of his office and into its buildings. "You need to try and solve problems from someone else's point of view. And that is very, very hard to do." Wyden picked up that philosophy during his years in manufacturing, and he calls it a talent aspiring CBOs have to develop deliberately rather than one they're born with. The work, he says, starts with listening. "Sometimes what they're saying really isn't what they need. And in order to find that out, you have to listen intently." Join us for a conversation with Wyden as he discusses how CSUSM secured more than $90 million in state funding to build affordable student housing, how scenario planning prepares his team for shifting state support and a coming decline in high school graduates, and why he invests in people, not just positions—even when that means encouraging staff to grow somewhere else. Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  2. Sep 18

    Educator First, Rule Enforcer Second: Building Trust in Higher Ed Finance with Case Western Reserve CBO Brian Burnett

    Brian Burnett is executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In this episode, Burnett joins host Melissa Farley to talk about his unconventional path from a Colorado state budget analyst to chief financial officer at five different universities, why he's convinced patience beats fast decisions under pressure, and the Finance Academy model he's built at every institution he's served to open up the budget process to faculty and staff. "You work for an educational institution," Burnett says, recalling advice a mentor gave him early in his career as a chief business officer. He took the lesson to heart, building his leadership style around transparency rather than authority. "You see yourself as an educator first and a rule enforcer second, and I think you'll have more success." Burnett goes on to discuss how that mindset led him to create the Finance Academy, a recurring walkthrough of institutional finances for faculty and senior leaders, at every university he's served since. Join us for a conversation with Burnett as he discusses how Case Western Reserve is approaching AI adoption across teaching, research, and operations, his approach to building and developing the next generation of chief business officers, and the "Colors of Money" budgeting taxonomy behind the legacy of transparency he hopes to leave. Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  3. May 15

    Trust Before You Need It: Financial Resilience and Radical Transparency with Vermont State Colleges CBO Sharron Scott

    Sharron Scott is the chief financial and operating officer for the Vermont State Colleges in Montpelier, Vermont. In this episode, Scott joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating one of public higher education's most visible financial crises, making the case for radical transparency with boards and stakeholders, and how a systems-thinking mindset shaped her approach to institutional transformation. "Protect the organization's options and protect your own," Scott says. She explains that liquidity creates space for thoughtful decision-making, while trust gives leaders the flexibility to act without triggering resistance from boards, legislatures, and the communities they serve. "Both of those things require you to be honest—really honest—early, well before conditions are going to force your hand." Scott goes on to discuss how that combination of fiscal discipline and proactive transparency became the foundation of her approach as the Vermont State Colleges climbed from eight days of cash on hand in 2020 to roughly four months of reserves by the time of this recording. Join us for a conversation with Scott as she discusses what it means to lead with a "mile wide, inch deep" knowledge base, how she learned to put people before dollars—and why that shift made the financial decisions easier—and the advice she'd give to aspiring CBOs who bring a nontraditional background to the table. Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  4. May 1

    I Can Do Hard Things: Resilience, Leadership, and the Long Game with New England College of Optometry CBO Rich Kelley

    Rich Kelley is chief financial officer at New England College of Optometry in Boston. In this episode, Kelley joins host Melissa Farley to talk about the leadership philosophy he calls transparent accountability, the financial planning challenges facing tuition-dependent institutions, and the lasting value of mentorship and professional networks in higher education. "I started to realize that the more important skill is creating the conditions to help others arrive at the right answer," Kelley says—whether that means a provost, a president, or someone in admissions. This shift in perspective, from needing to have every answer to empowering others to find them, forms the foundation of a leadership approach he calls transparent accountability. "That just means that I'm as clear as I can be about what I expect, as clear as I can be about what I know, and transparent about the things that I don't know." Kelley goes on to discuss how this philosophy has helped him build credibility and trust across the institution, from the finance office to the senior leadership table. Join us for a conversation with Kelley as he discusses how endurance athletics have shaped his professional resilience, why financial jargon can become a barrier to collaboration rather than a badge of expertise, and what he sees ahead for higher education as institutions navigate demographic pressures, federal uncertainty, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Connect with Rich Kelley LinkedIn Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  5. Apr 3

    Relationships Are the Strategy: Building Career and Institution with Vassar College CBO Bryan Swarthout

    Bryan Swarthout is vice president for finance and administration at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. In this episode, Swarthout joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating the transition from corporate finance to higher education, leading with influence and servant leadership, and managing a broad institutional portfolio with strategic intentionality. "Be open to opportunities—you never know what project, role, or skill you could build through a new experience that will be the one to help you advance throughout your career," Swarthout says. He urges aspiring finance leaders to experiment, stretch beyond comfort zones, and invest time in learning the full breadth of the organizations they serve. "Build those relationships because they will serve the work that you do very well, as well as your career." Swarthout goes on to discuss how relationship-building is the connective tissue of effective higher ed finance leadership—enabling the trust and influence that moves people and institutions in the same direction. Join us for a conversation with Swarthout as he discusses leveraging AI as both an efficiency tool and a team-building opportunity, applying a mission-first framework to high-stakes financial decisions, and mentoring the next generation of higher education finance leaders. Check out NACUBO' other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  6. Feb 6

    Beyond the Balance Sheet: Creating Trust-Based Leadership with Oregon State University CBO Carla Hoʻā

    Carla Hoʻā is vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. In this episode, Hoʻā joins host Melissa Farley to talk about building organizational resilience, leading through complexity, and transforming higher education through relationship-centered leadership. "The role of the CBO has changed over time... moving from a more transactional leadership to a strategic level of leadership," Hoʻā says. She emphasizes that modern higher education finance leaders must be catalysts who get out of their offices to find paths forward for their organizations. "We cannot be passive leaders in this space. We have to be catalysts for our organizations." Join us for a conversation with Hoʻā as she discusses navigating institutional scale, implementing AI in administrative systems, building trust through shared governance, and creating lasting organizational impact through people-centered leadership. Links Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  7. Jan 23

    The Office of 'Let's Figure It Out': Transforming Financial Leadership with Wofford College CBO Chris Gardner

    Chris Gardner is chief financial officer at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In this episode, Gardner joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss the evolving role of higher education CFOs, building authentic leadership through relationship-focused management, and navigating institutional identity in challenging times. "I want people to hopefully feel like they could approach me, that I could be a partner in whatever situation they were navigating. The CFO or business office can very easily get the reputation of being the office of 'no'," Gardner says, reflecting on the legacy he hopes to leave. "I would much rather be known as the office of 'I'm not sure, but let's try and figure it out.'" Gardner emphasizes the importance of partnership and creative problem-solving in financial leadership. Join us for a conversation with Gardner as he discusses implementing major technology transitions at a small institution, maintaining institutional identity in a changing higher education landscape, and developing the next generation of financial leaders through mentorship and empowerment. Links Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

  8. 11/21/2025

    Students First, Always: A Leadership Journey with Lafayette College CBO Audra Kahr

    Audra Kahr is executive vice president for finance and administration at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. In this episode, Kahr joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss her journey from private sector accounting to higher education leadership, building exceptional teams, and creating a legacy focused on student success.   "Leadership is about really taking everything you've encountered throughout your life and making it come to life in better ways. As leaders, we fail all the time. We don't always get the right answer," Kahr says. This philosophy shapes how she approaches team building and institutional growth. "What I will do is own it if I get it wrong. I will be honest. I've lived my career by the values that I set early on, and I think if you demonstrate that for your team they can then emulate that."   Join us for a conversation with Kahr as she shares insights on managing diverse responsibilities, adapting to higher education's changing landscape, and maintaining a student-centered approach to financial leadership.   Links Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

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CBO Speaks from NACUBO showcases our most seasoned CBO colleagues from top institutions around the country as they share stories of their journey as business officers. Their experiences inspire us and show us what's possible in our own work.

Information

  • Creator
    NACUBO
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    175
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © National Association of College and University Business Officers
  • Show Website
    CBO Speaks