Diary of a CFO | Financial Strategies for Smart Business Growth

Ademola Isimeme Odewade, MBA, ACA, BSc. (Economics)
  • 4.4 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

Diary Of A CFO is a global Top 2.5% business finance podcast hosted by Ademola Odewade, MBA, ACA. Elite CFOs, founders and business leaders share practical strategies for cash flow, profitability, financial planning, AI-powered finance, leadership and sustainable business growth. Built for founders, CFOs, fractional CFOs, finance leaders and consultants who want to make smarter decisions, scale with confidence and lead with data. Expect real-world insights, proven frameworks and executive lessons for building stronger, more profitable businesses. Follow: @k-demsconsultingltd

  1. Aug 21

    AI, Bias & CFO Decision-Making Under Pressure | Dr David Rock

    What happens to financial judgement when AI, cognitive bias, uncertainty and executive pressure collide in the boardroom? In this episode of Diary of a CFO, Ademola Odewade sits down with Dr. David Rock, Co-Founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute and originator of the field of neuroleadership, for a powerful exploration of the neuroscience behind executive decision-making. This conversation goes beyond accounting and financial strategy. It examines the brain behind the numbers. Dr. Rock explains why even highly intelligent executives can make poor decisions under pressure, why recognising your own cognitive biases is harder than most leaders realise and how AI can either strengthen human judgement or encourage cognitive surrender. One principle captures the conversation perfectly: “Human in the lead, not human in the loop.” In this episode, you will learn: Why leadership creates three major cognitive challenges: capacity, self-regulation and social cognitionHow pressure and uncertainty can affect executive decision-makingWhy technical competence does not eliminate cognitive biasHow CFOs and finance leaders can use AI without outsourcing critical judgementWhy accountants, lawyers, marketers and other executives can interpret the same business information through completely different mental modelsHow the SEEDS framework helps teams identify patterns of biasHow the SCARF Model explains Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness and FairnessWhy stronger decision processes can matter more than relying on individual objectivity aloneWhy one of the most important jobs of a modern leader is simply to create clarity About Dr David Rock Dr. David Rock is Co-Founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute and the originator of the term neuroleadership. His work applies cognitive science to leadership, organisational behaviour and human performance. He is the author of Your Brain at Work and the forthcoming Good with Humans, which explores the neuroscience behind human motivation and the SCARF model. Connect with Dr David Rock NeuroLeadership Institute: https://www.neuroleadership.com/ NILES AI: https://www.askniles.ai/ Book: Good with Humans: Listen to Diary of a CFOSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JswbC0rNzS14f8dnj4sj0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/diary-of-a-cfo-financial-strategies-for-smart/id1820947348 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DiaryOfACFO

  2. Aug 16

    AI Won’t Replace You. Someone Using AI Will | Ashley Stahl on Career Reinvention

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at ⁠https://betterhelp.com/kingdems Ashley Stahl believes the future of work will not simply be about AI replacing humans. The bigger risk is being replaced by someone who knows how to use AI better than you. In this episode of Diary Of A CFO, Ashley Stahl joins Ademola Odewade for a powerful conversation about career reinvention, artificial intelligence, leadership, personal branding, intuition, entrepreneurship and finding meaningful work. Ashley’s own career has been anything but linear. She moved from national security into career coaching, entrepreneurship, authorship and helping experts turn their ideas into powerful signature talks. Her journey demonstrates why the skills developed in one chapter of your career may become your competitive advantage in the next. One of Ashley’s central ideas is simple: you cannot think your way into career clarity. You have to explore your way into it. Careers are experiments. Reinvention requires the willingness to test, learn, fail, recalibrate and move again. We explore: Why successful careers are no longer linearHow to know when your career is genuinely misalignedThe difference between your values and your skill setWhy career transitions should not automatically be fearedHow Ashley moved from national security into entrepreneurshipWhy a TEDx talk transformed her careerHow storytelling can create business opportunitiesWhy intuition matters in leadership and business decisionsThe difference between intuition and impulsivenessHow executives can create space for better decisionsWhy clarity comes from experimentation rather than overthinkingHow transferable skills can power career reinventionHow AI will reshape careersWhy employees who learn to leverage AI could outperform those who resist itWhy follower count may be one of the most overrated personal-brand metricsHow executives can build authority through ideas rather than viralityAshley explains that her TEDx experience became a major catalyst for her new career and showed her the commercial and professional power of developing a signature message. And on AI, her message is especially important: AI still requires strong prompts, strategic thinking and people who understand how to deploy it effectively. If you are a CFO, finance leader, executive, entrepreneur or ambitious professional wondering how to remain relevant as AI transforms work, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Diary Of A CFO explores the strategies, technologies and leadership principles shaping the future of finance and business. 🛠️ Explore the tools we use to create, grow and scale our podcasts and digital ecosystem: https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools

  3. Aug 5

    How CFOs Can Turn AI Investment Into ROI | Oluchi Ikechi-D’Amico

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/kingdems How can CFOs and business leaders turn AI investment into measurable financial value? Oluchi Ikechi-D’Amico, Founder and CEO of Fully Bossed, joins Ademola Odewade on Diary Of A CFO to explain why successful AI transformation requires more than purchasing technology. Organisations must change behaviours, strengthen leadership capabilities and connect AI adoption to measurable outcomes such as revenue growth, cost reduction, operational efficiency and return on investment. Oluchi spent nearly two decades advising CEOs, boards and major financial institutions. Her experience includes senior roles at Accenture and EY-Parthenon, more than 30 transformation and M&A programmes and transactions with a combined value exceeding $15 billion. In this episode, you will learn: Why many organisations invest billions in AI without achieving the expected ROIHow CFOs can measure the business value of AI adoptionThe difference between adopting AI and enabling behavioural changeHow AI can reduce costs, improve efficiency and create new revenue opportunitiesWhy transformation programmes fail without effective leadershipHow to define the right KPIs before investing in business transformationWhy human judgement, storytelling and executive presence remain essentialHow Oluchi evaluated the risk of leaving an EY partner role to build Fully BossedWhat major M&A and organisational transformation programmes involveWhy leadership is defined by impact rather than job title Oluchi’s message to finance leaders is clear: AI can generate the report, but it cannot replace your ability to challenge the assumptions, defend the analysis and influence decisions in the boardroom. This conversation is essential listening for CFOs, finance directors, CEOs, founders, investors and transformation leaders seeking to generate measurable returns from AI. Watch the full video episode:https://youtu.be/ob5n15FUbaM Connect with Oluchi Ikechi-D’Amico:https://www.linkedin.com/in/oli-ikechi/ Discover Fully Bossed:https://fullybossed.com/ Explore the tools and resources I use to power my podcasts, business and content at: ⁠https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools Follow Diary Of A CFO for financial strategies, AI insights and practical leadership lessons for smarter business growth. What is the biggest barrier preventing organisations from achieving a return on their AI investments?

  4. Jul 27

    How Busy Professionals Can Use AI to Invest Smarter | Eric Chu, CFA

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/kingdems Eric Chu, CFA, CEO and co-founder of TradeDesk Securities, joins Diary Of A CFO to explain how busy professionals can use AI to research investments more efficiently without outsourcing their judgement. For professionals with investable income but limited time, this conversation offers a practical framework for thinking about AI, financial regulation, risk management and long-term investing. Eric built his career across investment banking, hedge funds and data centre development before co-founding an SEC-registered broker-dealer designed specifically for working professionals in their 30s and 40s. His experience during the 2008 financial crisis, including receiving a job offer from Bear Stearns that disappeared when the firm collapsed, shaped the disciplined approach to risk that now underpins TradeDesk Securities. You will learn in this episode: Why AI’s biggest advantage for investors is time, not information (23:11)What happens inside a data centre when you send an AI prompt (20:38)Why Eric describes the Bear Stearns collapse as his first real lesson in humility (14:27)The regulatory requirements TradeDesk Securities follows as a FINRA and SIPC member (18:17)Why individual investors may have a structural advantage over professional fund managers (28:03)How Eric and his team build trust in a highly regulated financial industry through direct expertise (31:44)Where AI in finance could go next, including sector-specific AI engines (33:58)Eric’s honest and non-committal perspective on cryptocurrency as an asset class (38:07) Guest: Eric Chu, CFA, is CEO and co-founder of TradeDesk Securities, an SEC-registered broker-dealer created to help working professionals invest using AI-powered insights and portfolio tools. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern and has spent almost 20 years working across investment banking, hedge funds and public company finance. His experience includes senior roles developing and financing data centre platforms across Asia. Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-chu-cfa-7159567/Guest company: https://www.tradesk.co/ Diary Of A CFO ranks in the Global Top 3% on Listen Notes and reaches audiences across 130+ countries. Explore the tools behind our podcast network: https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools #DiaryOfACFO #AIInvesting #Investing #FinancialStrategy #ArtificialIntelligence #WealthManagement #RiskManagement #FutureOfFinance

  5. Jul 21

    How a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Builds Lasting Impact | Lameen Abdul-Malik | Diary Of A CFO

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/kingdems What separates leaders who achieve success from those who create lasting impact? In this episode of Diary Of A CFO, host Ademola Odewade sits down with Lameen Abdul-Malik, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, transformation advisor, lawyer and former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) leader, to explore how leaders build systems, develop future leaders and create impact that lasts for generations. From Nobel Peace Prize-winning work to Africa's development, healthcare transformation and leadership, this conversation is packed with practical lessons every executive can apply. Drawing on more than 25 years of international leadership, Lameen shares lessons from helping establish Zambia's first cancer hospital, contributing to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning work of the IAEA and advising governments, CEOs and institutions across Africa. He explains why great leadership is measured not by titles or recognition, but by the lives transformed and the systems left behind. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why impact matters more than outputs and activity• How world-class leaders build systems instead of chasing recognition• The leadership lessons behind the Nobel Peace Prize journey• Why succession planning determines whether leadership truly succeeds• How to measure qualitative impact alongside quantitative metrics• Why mindset always comes before skillset and toolset• Lessons from building Zambia's first cancer hospital• The biggest opportunities for Africa's future development• How to define success on your own terms instead of society's expectations• Why humility, service and courage are competitive advantages for modern leaders Guest Links: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lameen-abdul-malik/📖 Book: IMPACT Framework Power Your Growth With The Same Tools We Use: We run the Diary Of A CFO and The King Dems Podcast ecosystem using best-in-class AI, business, finance, productivity and media tools trusted by founders and executives. Explore our complete tool stack:https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools Smarter tools. Better growth. Bigger wins. Hosted by Ademola Odewade, MBA, ACA, BSc (Economics) If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Diary Of A CFO on Spotify and leave a rating. Your support helps us educate, inspire and empower more leaders across the world. #DiaryOfACFO #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #ExecutiveLeadership #NobelPeacePrize #Transformation #Impact #Africa #Innovation #CFO #SystemsThinking #BusinessGrowth #Economics #Legacy

  6. Jul 13

    Why Great Strategies Fail: The Hidden Culture Behind Financial Performance | Dr. Suzy Burke

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/kingdems Why do brilliant business strategies fail despite strong financial plans, ambitious targets and carefully designed performance measures? Dr. Suzy Burke argues that strategy may live in a slide deck, but culture lives in what happens on Tuesday morning. Dr. Suzy Burke is an organisational psychologist, four-time founder, former Fortune 20 executive, co-founder of Accountability Inc. and lead author of Headamentals: How Leaders Can Crack Negative Self-Talk. In this practical conversation with Ademola Odewade, she explains why CFOs and business leaders must look beyond financial performance to understand the culture, accountability and human behaviour driving the numbers. In this episode, you will learn: Why brilliant strategies fail faster and more expensively inside broken culturesHow CFOs can identify cultural problems before they become financially expensiveWhy accountability should be a daily operating habit, not a disciplinary toolThe three areas to examine when inheriting a struggling organisationHow clarity, visible scorecards, named owners and weekly check-ins improve executionWhy metrics only create value when people take ownership of the outcomesHow healthy cultures surface bad news before it damages performanceWhy senior executives receive less honest feedback as they riseHow psychological safety strengthens decision-making, innovation and executionWhy measurement bridges the gap between vision and financial performanceHow leaders can balance short-term pressures with long-term sustainabilityWhich human capabilities AI cannot replaceHow AI can reduce administrative work and preserve time for judgement, relationships and trustWhy a leader’s negative self-talk can influence the performance of an entire team Dr. Burke also shares lessons from Xerox, her approach to sustainable culture change and the systems leaders can use to turn strategy into measurable execution. This conversation is a powerful reminder that financial results do not exist independently of people. Culture shapes behaviour, behaviour shapes execution and execution ultimately shapes the numbers. Connect with Dr. Suzy Burke: Website: https://www.suzyburke.phd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzy-burke-phd-ab77071a Headamentals: https://headamentals.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Headamentals-Leaders-Defeat-Negative-Self-Talk/dp/1774585898 Discover Diary Of A CFO: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DiaryOfACFO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JswbC0rNzS14f8dnj4sj0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/diary-of-a-cfo-financial-strategies-for-smart/id1820947348 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/3e37b332-e747-4fda-9295-fa9d5e922463/diary-of-a-cfo-financial-strategies-for-smart-business-growth Newsletter: https://newsletter.kingdemspodcast.com/ Tools and resources: https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools Hosted by Ademola Odewade, MBA, ACA, BSc (Economics), Chartered Accountant, former Big Four professional and founder and CEO of K-Dems Consulting Ltd. Subscribe, share this episode with a CFO or business leader in your network and tell us: What is the clearest sign that an organisation’s culture is beginning to damage its financial performance? #CFO #FinancialLeadership #OrganizationalCulture #StrategyExecution #ArtificialIntelligence

  7. Jul 10

    How Strategic CFOs Build Trust, Influence Strategy and Lead with AI | Wassia Kamon

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/kingdems What does it take to become a strategic CFO in the AI era? Wassia Kamon explains how finance leaders earn boardroom trust, influence business strategy, build visible authority and maintain human accountability as technology accelerates financial work. Wassia is a CFO, finance educator and 2025 Atlanta Business Chronicle CFO of the Year. In this candid conversation with Ademola Odewade on Diary Of A CFO, she moves beyond technical finance to reveal the judgement, relationships, resilience and intentional visibility that shape trusted financial leadership. In this episode, you will learn: • Why the modern CFO must understand marketing, HR, technology and the wider business model, not only accounting and reporting. • How CFOs earn trust by listening first, understanding why existing processes exist and connecting finance with business priorities. • Why visible expertise can shorten the time required to build credibility before an interview, board meeting or strategic conversation. • How joining a nonprofit or professional board can reduce boardroom fear and strengthen executive judgement. • Why founders should treat debt as a strategic financial tool while understanding its cost, risk and purpose. • Which finance activities AI can automate and why accountability, controls, explanation and final judgement must remain human. • Why finance professionals who ignore AI may face the same disadvantage as graduates who never learned Excel. • How executive presence can be developed through observation, listening, composure and disciplined focus. • Why mentorship, continuous learning and intentional personal branding can accelerate a finance career. • How ambitious leaders can pursue professional impact without allowing achievement to consume their health, family or identity. About Wassia Kamon Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA, is Chief Financial Officer at Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs. She was named the 2025 Atlanta Business Chronicle CFO of the Year in the community service category and is a two-time CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 honoree. She also serves as Guest Faculty for the Wharton Online FP&A Certificate Program and hosts The Diary of a CFO. Connect with Wassia Website: https://www.wassiakamon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon The Diary of a CFO: https://thediaryofacfo.com Explore Diary Of A CFO YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DiaryOfACFO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JswbC0rNzS14f8dnj4sj0 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/diary-of-a-cfo-financial-strategies-for-smart/id1820947348 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/3e37b332-e747-4fda-9295-fa9d5e922463/diary-of-a-cfo-financial-strategies-for-smart-business-growth Podcast hub: https://kingdemspodcast.com Newsletter: https://newsletter.kingdemspodcast.com LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/19417009/ Tools behind the network: https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools Diary Of A CFO ranks in the Global Top 3% on Listen Notes and reaches audiences across 120+ countries as part of The King Dems Podcast Network. Help us move towards the Global Top 1% by following, rating and reviewing the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Affiliate disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. We may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Sponsorship does not determine our editorial conclusions.

  8. Jul 7

    How Great CFOs Build High Performance Cultures and Better Leaders | Arthur Carmazzi

    Sponsored by BetterHelp. Start your growth journey with a credentialed therapist and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/kingdems Company culture is not just an HR responsibility. It is a financial performance driver. Arthur Carmazzi explains why CFOs and executive leaders who understand organizational psychology make better decisions, build stronger teams and create more resilient businesses. In this episode of Diary Of A CFO, Ademola Odewade sits down with Arthur Carmazzi, globally recognised as one of the world's leading experts on organisational culture and creator of Directive Communication Psychology. Together they explore how finance leaders can move beyond spreadsheets to build organisations where communication, trust and accountability become measurable competitive advantages. You'll learn:• Why culture directly impacts profitability and business performance • How CFOs influence organisational culture beyond finance • The hidden financial cost of poor leadership communication • Why psychological safety improves execution and innovation • How neurodiversity can become an executive advantage • Practical leadership frameworks for finance executives • Why AI should enhance executive judgment rather than replace it • How communication psychology improves decision making Whether you're a CFO, finance director, founder, CEO, board member or aspiring executive, this conversation provides practical leadership insights that extend far beyond finance. The strongest businesses are not built by numbers alone. They are built by leaders who understand people. Diary Of A CFO reaches business leaders across 120+ countries and is ranked among the Global Top 3% of podcasts on Listen Notes. ⭐ Help us reach the Global Top 1% by following the show and leaving a rating on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Power your business with the same tools we use: https://kingdemspodcast.com/tools Connect with Arthur CarmazziLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurcarmazzi/ Website: https://www.carmazzi.net Connect with Ademola OdewadeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ademola-isimeme-ai-odewade-b883a0382/ Subscribe to The AI-Powered Executive: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7420737045377105920 Join our LinkedIn Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/19417009/

See All (88)

Trailer

4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Diary Of A CFO is a global Top 2.5% business finance podcast hosted by Ademola Odewade, MBA, ACA. Elite CFOs, founders and business leaders share practical strategies for cash flow, profitability, financial planning, AI-powered finance, leadership and sustainable business growth. Built for founders, CFOs, fractional CFOs, finance leaders and consultants who want to make smarter decisions, scale with confidence and lead with data. Expect real-world insights, proven frameworks and executive lessons for building stronger, more profitable businesses. Follow: @k-demsconsultingltd

Information

You Might Also Like