The CFO Show

Vena Solutions
  • 4.9 (17)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 biweekly 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. thecfoshowpodcast.com

  1. Integrating Finance and IT: Insights From the CIO of Brookfield Residential

    OCT 7

    Integrating Finance and IT: Insights From the CIO of Brookfield Residential

    In this episode, Brookfield Residential  CIO Brandon Sharp joins host Melissa Howatson to share his unique career journey and to reveal why tighter alignment between finance and IT drives true transformation.  Brandon reflects on lessons learned while leading major initiatives in homebuilding and real estate, from navigating shadow IT to building cross-functional trust. He offers practical insights on transparency, influence, and project management—and explains why finance leaders who are “data curious” often become the critical bridge to IT.  This discussion highlights practical strategies to strengthen IT–finance partnerships, accelerate transformation, and foster alignment that delivers business-wide impact.  Discussed in This Episode:  How to transform IT–finance collaboration into a growth engine The “Tell Them” Triad for influence Balancing time, cost and quality in transformation projects Identifying and empowering data-curious champions within finance  For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    31 min
  2. From Series C to G: Carta’s CFO on Adapting to Change

    SEP 23

    From Series C to G: Carta’s CFO on Adapting to Change

    How do you scale finance operations to keep pace with a business that’s doubling in size every few months? In this episode of The CFO Show, Carta CFO Charly Kevers shares how he has navigated constant change while helping the company grow from Series C to Series G and reach a $7.4B valuation.  Charly opens up about the tactical lessons he has learned leading finance in a high-growth environment, from building a team of engineers dedicated to finance systems, to embedding innovation into everyday workflows, to experimenting with AI use cases that free teams from repetitive tasks. He also reflects on the cultural side of scaling, explaining why curiosity, adaptability and surfacing issues early are non-negotiable traits for his team.  The audience will walk away with practical ideas for leveraging technology, strengthening cross-functional partnerships, and making space for innovation, even when the pace feels overwhelming.  In This Episode:  Why adaptability and curiosity are must-haves for finance talent How Carta scaled operations without endlessly increasing headcount The role of a dedicated finance engineering team Partnering across IT, HR, and go-to-market for systems alignment Embedding innovation into day-to-day work (and making time for it) Using hackathons and AI pilots to uncover new efficiencies For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    29 min
  3. ERP Migration Without the Chaos: What Finance Leaders Need To Know

    SEP 9

    ERP Migration Without the Chaos: What Finance Leaders Need To Know

    ERP migration can make—or break—your finance function. From outdated systems to cloud-based solutions, the stakes are high, and the risks are real.  In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson, CFO of Vena, sits down with Scott Jorgens, Sr. Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Endeavour Solutions. With more than 25 years of experience across finance, consulting, and technology, Scott shares how to plan and execute ERP migrations that deliver ROI.  They discuss the common pitfalls that derail projects, why change management is just as critical as technology, and how to ensure your data is ready to unlock automation, analytics and AI. Whether you’re just starting to evaluate systems or deep in implementation, this conversation is your guide to building ERP success.  Discussed in This Episode:  The biggest triggers that signal it’s time for a new ERP system Data readiness: how to ensure clean, consistent, automation-ready data The underestimated cost of change management, and how to get it right Why “minimal viable product” ERP rollouts often fail How to align finance, IT, and operations around a shared ERP vision  For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    34 min
  4. Balancing Stability and Innovation: The CFO Playbook From Thumbtack

    AUG 26

    Balancing Stability and Innovation: The CFO Playbook From Thumbtack

    What does it take to lead a high-growth company through economic uncertainty, while still innovating for the future?  Larry Roseman, Chief Financial Officer of Thumbtack, joins us to explore the modern finance leader's role in balancing resilience, agility, and long-term value creation. With a career spanning investment banking, accounting, and tech, Larry shares how he's redefined capital allocation, empowered decision-making across teams, and built a finance organization that thrives on trust and flexibility.  Learn how to lead with clarity, empower innovation (without waste), and turn volatility into opportunity.  Discussed in This Episode:  Why CFOs must shift from fixed annual planning to rolling investment cycles The power of decentralized decision-making in fast-moving companies How to empower teams with "envelope budgeting" and shared accountability Why flexibility and financial discipline must go hand-in-hand How to balance profitability and growth through portfolio-style capital planning Tactics for encouraging innovation without a near-term ROI For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    23 min
  5. What Makes a Top-Tier Private Equity CFO?

    AUG 12

    What Makes a Top-Tier Private Equity CFO?

    Stepping into a PE-backed CFO role? You're not just signing up for financial reporting; you're stepping onto a burning platform.  Scott Engler, CEO & Co-founder of Sync Executive Partners, sits down to discuss what separates “A-player” CFOs from the rest in the high-stakes world of private equity.  Scott shares the mindset shifts, leadership capabilities, and stakeholder dynamics CFOs must master to drive transformation, align their teams, and quickly build investor confidence.  Whether you're already in a PE-backed seat or looking to make this career shift or leading finance elsewhere, this episode provides a framework to lead with confidence and clarity.  Discussed in This Episode:  What makes a PE-backed CFO different from a public or VC-backed one The #1 mindset shift you need: ownership of all outcomes Why transformation, not just reporting, is now a CFO's responsibility How top CFOs drive performance, alignment and strategic clarity How to build credibility with stakeholders For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    59 min
  6. Annual Planning: Beyond Numbers to Business Growth

    JUL 29

    Annual Planning: Beyond Numbers to Business Growth

    Are you leveraging the full potential of strategic finance in your annual planning process?     In this episode of The CFO Show, Igor Stelea, Director of Strategic Finance, Analytics & Business Transformation at CFGI, unpacks what makes annual planning effective and what causes it to break down.  From aligning strategy with operational plans to integrating long-range forecasting and scenario modeling, Igor offers frameworks and hard-won insights on how mature finance teams turn planning into a competitive advantage.  Discussed in This Episode:  The link between strategic planning and annual budgeting Why “planning the plan” matters more than you think How to use OKRs to align strategic and financial priorities Best practices for rolling forecasts and scenario planning Common pitfalls that derail planning (and how to avoid them) For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    38 min
  7. Beyond Silos: Uniting FP&A and Controllership for Impact

    JUL 15

    Beyond Silos: Uniting FP&A and Controllership for Impact

    What if the secret to financial agility lies in reimagining the relationship between FP&A and Controllership? Tom Seegmiller, CFO at Texada Software, returns to explore the transformative power of aligning FP&A and Controllership.  Tom shares his journey from FP&A leader to full-spectrum CFO, and what he’s learned about the often-overlooked (but essential) collaboration between finance’s two core functions. Together, they unpack how siloed teams can unintentionally hold each other back—and how breaking down those walls can drive agility, enhance clarity, and increase business value.    Discover how aligning FP&A and Controllership could be the key to unlocking your finance team's full potential.  Discussed in This Episode:  What CFOs get wrong about Controllership, and how to fix it The hidden friction between finance subfunctions How to create “earned” seats at the table across the organization Why both FP&A and Controllership must focus on top-line growth Tools, leadership habits, and structural approaches that make cross-functional alignment stick How AI is helping finance teams build leverage and efficiency  For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    34 min
  8. How Finance Teams Are Learning to Lead with AI

    JUL 1

    How Finance Teams Are Learning to Lead with AI

    Are you leveraging AI to its full potential in your finance department?  In this episode, we dive into the practical application of AI in finance with Anton Medvedev, former Senior Product Manager at Vena and CPA/CFA. With his unique blend of finance and tech expertise, Anton offers a roadmap for effectively adopting AI in your financial operations.  Anton shares insights on training AI models, understanding AI agents, and effective prompting techniques. He provides real-world examples that demystify this fast-moving technology. Whether you're experimenting with AI in Excel or trying to choose the right vendor, this episode offers practical strategies for getting started, scaling smartly, and ensuring your team stays ahead.  Learn how you can transform your finance team from AI novices to strategic innovators, harnessing the power of AI to drive value in your organization.  Discussed in This Episode:  The core components of a good AI prompt What AI agents are and how they improve speed, security, and execution Why early adopters are key to driving internal change How to evaluate vendors on AI readiness for finance Common missteps teams make with AI and how to avoid them Why CFOs must personally engage and lead the AI learning curve For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
17 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 biweekly 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. thecfoshowpodcast.com

Information

  • Creator
    Vena Solutions
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The CFO Show

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