Strategy Meets Finance

Strategy and Finance
  • 4.8 (22)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts. Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat. On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions. Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.

  1. 2D AGO

    How Strategy Turns Growth Into Cash Flow | Ep 216

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Growth does not automatically create cash flow. A lot of businesses learn that the hard way.  Steve explains how strategy is supposed to turn growth into real free cash flow, not just more revenue and more chaos. He connects the dots between free cash flow, return on invested capital, and the three generic strategies so you can see whether your strategy is actually creating value or just sounding good on paper.  When the numbers line up, you generate strong margins, efficient use of capital, and cash that can be reinvested, used to pay down debt, or distributed. When they do not, growth can actually make the squeeze worse. If you want to understand how strategy should show up in your financial results, this will help you see what to measure and why it matters. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    10 min

  2. 6D AGO

    The 8 Cash Flow Levers Every Business Owner Should Know | Ep 215

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most business owners think they have a profit problem. What they really have is a cash flow problem.  Steve breaks down the eight cash flow levers that actually control how much money stays in your business. He walks through the four levers tied to profit and the four tied to invested capital. He also explains the order to look at them and why so many profitable companies still run out of cash. If you are working hard, showing profit on paper, but still stressed about payroll or your line of credit, this will help you see where the squeeze is really coming from and what to fix first. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. Free Financial Health Check: coltivar.com/check  LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    29 min

  3. FEB 16

    The 3 Generic Strategies and How to Tell If Yours Is Working | Ep 214

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Steve breaks down Michael Porter’s three generic strategies and explains what they really mean. More importantly, he walks through the numbers that reveal whether your strategy is producing real financial results or just sounding good in meetings. If you think you’re different, your margins should prove it. If you think you’re low cost, your capital efficiency should show it. And if you’re trying to do everything at once, that might be the real problem. This is a practical look at how to connect strategy to your financial statements so you can see what’s actually working.  _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    10 min

  4. FEB 12

    The Turnaround I Didn’t Think Was Possible | Ep 213

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  If you’ve ever laid awake at night wondering if your business is about to collapse, this one will feel real.  Steve shares the story of stepping into a company that was quietly running out of cash, losing money, and far closer to failure than most people knew. Jobs were on the line. Lenders were watching. The pressure was constant. He walks through what was actually happening behind the scenes, what almost broke the company, and how getting back to the basics of finance, focus, and disciplined decisions slowly pulled it out of the hole. If your business feels heavy right now, or you’re carrying more than anyone else knows, this story will resonate. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    15 min

  5. FEB 9

    The Most Dangerous Decision Business Owners Face | Ep 212

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most businesses don’t fail overnight. They fail because a hard decision keeps gets delayed.  In this episode, Steve shares real stories from business owners who were one decision away from saving their company and didn’t act in time. He talks about what actually puts everything at risk, why smart people freeze when they know something has to change, and how waiting almost always makes things worse. This isn’t about working harder or being more optimistic. It’s about recognizing the moment when doing nothing becomes the most dangerous choice you can make. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    13 min

  6. FEB 5

    Why Finance Matters More Than You Think | Ep 211

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most people think finance is someone else’s job. The CFO. The CPA. The controller. Steve doesn’t see it that way. In this episode, he explains why every single person in a business affects the financial outcome, whether they realize it or not. He shares a story from early in his career that completely changed how he views money, responsibility, and leadership. This isn’t about learning accounting or staring at spreadsheets. It’s about understanding what the numbers are actually telling you, and why avoiding them creates bigger problems over time. If you’ve ever said “I’m just not a numbers person,” this episode is for you. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    18 min

  7. FEB 2

    The Fastest Way to Get More Cash Flow | Ep 210

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Want more cash flow? This episode is for you. Steve breaks down why taking on more debt usually makes cash flow worse, not better. He shares a real example of a business that got buried by high-interest loans and explains how cash problems actually start much earlier than most owners think. You’ll hear a simple way to change how you price and structure your offer so cash comes in sooner, instead of months later. This works whether you’re in a tight spot today or just tired of feeling behind on cash. If payroll, vendors, or your line of credit are always in the back of your mind, this episode will hit close to home. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    20 min

  8. JAN 29

    5 Questions That Reveal If Your Strategy Is Working | Ep 209

    Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most business owners are confident their strategy is solid. Then they get asked a few simple questions and everything gets uncomfortable. In this episode, Steve shares five questions that quickly expose whether your strategy is actually working or just sounds good in meetings. These questions reveal where teams are misaligned, where money is leaking, and why results often stall even when everyone is working hard. If your business feels busy but progress feels slower than it should, this episode will make that clear fast. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

    14 min
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4.8
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About

Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts. Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat. On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions. Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.

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