The CFO Show

Vena Solutions
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The CFO Show

With today's increasingly challenging business conditions, finance leaders are taking on more responsibilities and facing more change than ever.    Join Vena’s CFO Melissa Howatson for The CFO Show, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with forward-thinking finance and business leaders.  Get timely commentary on today’s biggest issues in business, hear from finance leaders on how their work is transforming their organizations and get practical advice for ushering your finance team into the future.    The CFO Show isn’t just a podcast; it’s your forecast for the future of finance. 

  1. Leveraging Intellectual Property for Growth, Investment and Competitive Advantage

    1 DAY AGO

    Leveraging Intellectual Property for Growth, Investment and Competitive Advantage

    Intellectual property (IP) is revolutionizing how companies build value. For many businesses, the key to sustainable growth lies not in their balance sheet, but in the ideas they own.  Erin-Michael Gill, founder of M&A firm Genaesis, LLC, and Chairman of a Federal Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property and Trade, shares his expertise in this episode. With over $1.2 billion in M&A and capital formation investments under his advisory, Gill is consistently recognized as one of the world's leading IP strategists.  Erin-Michael delves into the intersection of IP strategy, innovation, and deal-making. He discusses how CFOs can unlock the full potential of their IP portfolios to fuel growth, attract investors, and drive success in M&A transactions.  Discover why IP should be at the forefront of your business strategy and learn practical approaches to developing and managing IP assets.  Discussed in This Episode:  The pivotal role of IP and intangible assets in driving company valuation and growth, with a focus on M&A contexts. Why many businesses overlook their potential to monetize IP and other intangible assets. How a well-crafted IP portfolio can become a cornerstone of a company's growth strategy, attracting investors and securing competitive advantages. The various ways patents add value to a business, from legal protections to social proof.  Strategies for assessing, valuing, and positioning intangible assets to optimize outcomes in deal-making scenarios.

    44 min
  2. Forging a Powerful CFO-COO Partnership to Drive Organizational Success

    FEB 11

    Forging a Powerful CFO-COO Partnership to Drive Organizational Success

    The CFO-COO partnership is undeniably one of the most powerful alliances that can make or break a company's success. When working in perfect harmony, this duo creates a formidable force that drives strategic decisions, enhances operational efficiency, and propels growth.    In this installment of our finance business partnering series, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Sandra Clarke, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Blue Shield of California. Sandra, who spent the majority of her career in finance, progressed from analyst to CFO before taking on the COO role. She discusses the unique perspective of having been on both sides of the CFO-COO relationship, addressing the benefits of close collaboration as well as the challenges that may arise from competing priorities.    Discover what it takes to build a successful CFO-COO business collaboration that benefits the entire organization and learn how this dynamic partnership directly impacts a company's bottom line.   Discussed in This Episode:  The role of the COO, its variability across companies, and where it intersects with the CFO role in facilitating company strategy and boosting growth. How finance leaders can bring the most value to the operations team by understanding the business, identifying patterns in numbers that may indicate potential issues, and recommending optimal resource allocation. Key elements of a strong CFO-COO partnership, including humility, mutual trust in each other's expertise, and an unwavering focus on what's best for the business. Navigating tensions between CFO and COO roles when financial data doesn't support perceived operational needs, and strategies for collaboration in these challenging situations.

    32 min
  3. Crafting a Cost-Effective Employee Healthcare Strategy

    JAN 28

    Crafting a Cost-Effective Employee Healthcare Strategy

    Healthcare costs continue to be the most unpredictable expense for businesses, creating a challenging dilemma for CFOs. While healthcare benefits serve as a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining employees, the escalating costs are forcing many finance leaders to seek innovative ways to reduce expenses without compromising the quality of care or the attractiveness of their benefits packages. Anisha Sood is the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at First Choice Health, with more than 20 years of experience across the healthcare industry. Since joining First Choice Health in 2019, she has overseen finance and strategy, focusing on offering more cost-effective solutions to employers. In this episode, Anisha talks to host Melissa Howatson about why healthcare costs are rising and how providers like First Choice Health are bringing them down without sacrificing quality care. Discover how CFOs can adopt innovative approaches to manage both healthcare costs and employee benefits expenditures effectively during challenging economic times. Discussed in This Episode: Recent trends and changes in healthcare benefits, and factors contributing to rising costsHow First Choice Health is disrupting the traditional healthcare benefits model through expanded partnerships and reduced administrative costsStrategies to mitigate healthcare costs, including how insurers can tailor benefits to an employer’s unique needs, considering factors such as geography and remote workforceBalancing the CFO’s need to control costs with the CHRO’s goal of recruiting and retaining employeesThe growing importance of mental and behavioral health benefits in comprehensive healthcare packages

    50 min
  4. Building a Finance Function From the Ground Up

    JAN 14

    Building a Finance Function From the Ground Up

    The journey from being a solo finance expert to architecting a robust finance function is complex. Knowing where to begin and how to proceed can shape the future of your department and company. In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Amy Ward, CFO of Blue River PetCare, to discuss the intricacies of building a finance function from the ground up. Amy shares her journey from Senior Accountant to CFO, offering valuable insights into the strategic approach required to align finance with organizational goals and drive sustainable growth. Amy joined Blue River PetCare's team in 2014 as a Senior Accountant and, since then, has played a critical role in the development and management of their Accounting and Payroll teams. Discover how finance leaders should navigate hiring, technology investments, and cross-departmental collaboration as they build and nurture a finance team to drive long-term success. Discussed in This Episode:The most important considerations for finance leaders before making their first hireWhy Amy invested first in her accounts payable team, and how she now views this function as a breeding ground for talentHow to assess the technologies a business truly needs at various stages of its growthNavigating the challenges of transitioning from a small to a larger, more complex finance functionWhy culture fit is often overlooked in finance, but is just as important as in any other part of the businessWhy cultural fit is often overlooked in finance, but is just as important as in any other part of the business

    30 min
  5. The CFO’s Reading List

    12/31/2024

    The CFO’s Reading List

    The best leaders are insatiable learners, constantly seeking knowledge to fuel their growth. They forge connections with peers, stay attuned to industry trends, and eagerly embrace fresh perspectives. In this special episode, host Melissa Howatson shares three of her top book recommendations, complemented by a curated selection of favorite reads from some past CFO Show guests. Discover what CFOs and business leaders are reading to advance their skills, step outside their comfort zones, and bring continuous value to their teams and organizations.

    18 min
  6. 5 Trends That Defined Enterprise Performance Management in 2024

    12/17/2024

    5 Trends That Defined Enterprise Performance Management in 2024

    In an era of rapid change and growing complexity, CFOs are turning to Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) to unlock deeper insights, enhance decision-making, and align operations with strategic goals. John Hagerty is a Distinguished Analyst at Dresner Advisory Services, an industry research firm that specializes in data, analytics, and performance management. He also has more than 40 years experience working at the intersection of finance and technology, in roles at Gartner, IBM and Oracle, both developing software and analyzing markets.  In this episode, John and host Melissa Howatson discuss the trends that have shaped FP&A and EPM in 2024, from EPM’s expansion across the business to regulatory changes that are impacting EPM investments.  Learn why CFOs should be thinking of EPM not just as a financial solution, but as a business solution, and how they should prepare their businesses for evolutions in EPM. Discussed in This EpisodeKey themes that have emerged in Dresner’s market research on EPM throughout 2024.Advice John and his team would give to CFOs looking to stay ahead of the curve on EPM.How CFOs can pragmatically embrace AI to boost productivity and accuracyTrends expected to shape EPM in 2025 and beyond.

    30 min
  7. Finance and Legal: A Winning Team-Up With the Jacksonville Jaguars CLO Megha Parekh

    12/10/2024

    Finance and Legal: A Winning Team-Up With the Jacksonville Jaguars CLO Megha Parekh

    Compliance and risk management thrive on a robust partnership between finance and legal departments. When CFOs and CLOs collaborate effectively, they cultivate a culture of trust and ethical business practices that enhance corporate governance and drive superior business outcomes. This episode explores the crucial alliance between finance and legal departments, focusing on the CFO and Chief Legal Officer (CLO) dynamic. Megha Parekh, Executive Vice President and CLO of the Jacksonville Jaguars, shares her extensive experience since joining the team in 2013. As part of her responsibilities, Megha oversees all legal matters for the Khan family's portfolio of sports and has advised on acquisitions, real estate developments, naming rights, and other major deals. Megha and host Melissa Howatson discuss the complex intersections of business and law, and the pivotal partnership and strategic collaboration between CFOs, CLOs and General Counsels.  From lessons learned to the impact of strong relationships, and from best practices in budgeting to effective project management, discover valuable insights on how finance and legal teams can collaborate to overcome challenges and achieve stellar business outcomes. Discussed In This Episode:The complementary roles of legal and finance, as well as the challenges that arise between the two departments.Top traits Megha has observed in successful CFOs she has worked alongside.The importance of treating colleagues as clients and delivering excellent service between in-house departments.The role of early communication in fostering strong cross-functional partnerships and mitigating business risks.Lessons Megha learned from negotiating the Jaguars’ stadium renovation deal and securing a 30-year lease extension.The value of curiosity and communication in legal and finance.

    36 min
  8. Navigating the ESG and Sustainability Landscape with Mark J. Lumsdon-Taylor | Part 2

    12/03/2024

    Navigating the ESG and Sustainability Landscape with Mark J. Lumsdon-Taylor | Part 2

    As the global push for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and sustainability gains momentum, CFOs face the challenge of translating complex mandates into actionable strategies that simultaneously satisfy regulators, investors, and the company's bottom line. Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Partner and Head of Sustainability at MHA (an independent member of Baker-Tilly International) guides UK and global business leaders through the process of integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into their operations. Mark joins host Melissa Howatson to explore the impacts of UK environmental regulations, sustainability reporting, and climate-related financial disclosures. In part two of our two-part series, discover the latest developments in sustainability regulations both in the UK and globally and learn how companies can prepare for this increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Discussed in This EpisodeIntegrating sustainability risk management across all company processes to address ESG concerns comprehensively, rather than treating them as isolated compliance tasks.The importance of establishing a board-level leader, ideally a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), to coordinate and elevate sustainability initiatives throughout the organization.Engaging a critical third-party advisor to periodically review ESG practices and prepare for upcoming regulatory changes.The necessity for companies to begin collecting baseline sustainability data now, ensuring readiness for future disclosures and maintaining strong customer relationships.Learn what part politics play in shaping sustainability legislation in the U.S. and Europe.

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

With today's increasingly challenging business conditions, finance leaders are taking on more responsibilities and facing more change than ever.    Join Vena’s CFO Melissa Howatson for The CFO Show, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with forward-thinking finance and business leaders.  Get timely commentary on today’s biggest issues in business, hear from finance leaders on how their work is transforming their organizations and get practical advice for ushering your finance team into the future.    The CFO Show isn’t just a podcast; it’s your forecast for the future of finance. 

Information

  • Creator
    Vena Solutions
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vena Solutions
  • Show Website
    The CFO Show

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