The next episode of CFO. Focus Live! video podcast features former Vizio CFO & Chief People Officer Adam Townsend in conversation with Van Lai-DuMone, TEDx speaker and CEO of Worksmart Advantage CFO Focus Live!, the video podcast series for finance executives, takes on a cost every CFO knows well but few talk about publicly: the “second check” written every month — payroll — and everything that goes into finding, recruiting, and retaining the talent behind it. The episode features a conversation with Adam Townsend, the former Chief Financial Officer and Chief People Officer of Vizio, the television and soundbar company, interviewed by Van Lai-DuMone, TEDx speaker, author, and CEO of Worksmart Advantage, an expert on building teams that work well together. Townsend and Lai-DuMone will discuss how CFOs and Chief People Officers can think about payroll not just as a fixed cost, but as the primary lever for attracting, developing, and keeping the people who drive a company’s performance — drawing on Townsend’s experience leading both finance and people functions at a public company through an IPO, a pandemic, and a multibillion-dollar acquisition. CFOs and Chief People Officers (CPOs) are especially encouraged to attend. The session will run as an interactive roundtable on Zoom, with attendees invited to join on camera and participate in the discussion. Those who can’t attend live are welcome to watch or listen to the video podcast afterward, at their convenience. Registration: www.cfofocus.org About Adam Townsend Adam Townsend built his finance career at CBS and Showtime before joining Vizio, the television and soundbar company, as Chief Financial Officer and Chief People Officer. In that dual role, he led Vizio through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later helped guide the company through its multibillion-dollar sale to Walmart. After completing the post-acquisition integration and declining a relocation to Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, Townsend is now exploring his next opportunity. About Van Lai-DuMone Van Lai-DuMone is a TEDx speaker, author, and the CEO of Worksmart Advantage, where she works with executive teams on how to collaborate and perform well together. She is the host of the “Second Check” conversation series on CFO Focus Live!, interviewing finance and people leaders about the human side of running a company. About CFO Focus CFO Focus produces intimate gatherings and engaging conversations with CFOs in most major cities in the US and Canada. Led by leading business journalists like former CNBC correspondents Jane Wells, Bertha Coombs and Aditi Roy, CFO Focus features CFOs from large public companies, M&A companies and “hot growth” companies fueling their growth with excellent finance leaders. More at www.cfofocus.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jlockhart.substack.com
