CFO Thought Leader
@cfo-thought-leader.bsky.social
I elevate the voice of finance leadership.
What if your best margin lever is rhythm?
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
What if your best margin lever is rhythm?
Each acquisition must withstand two simultaneous shifts:
Moving from a general-contractor model to working directly with owners
Moving from a general-contractor model to working directly with owners
November 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Each acquisition must withstand two simultaneous shifts:
Moving from a general-contractor model to working directly with owners
Moving from a general-contractor model to working directly with owners
You can’t influence what you can’t explain.
Convera CFO Michael Borque gets right to the core: before a finance leader earns influence, they must be able to interpret how the business makes money.
Convera CFO Michael Borque gets right to the core: before a finance leader earns influence, they must be able to interpret how the business makes money.
November 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
You can’t influence what you can’t explain.
Convera CFO Michael Borque gets right to the core: before a finance leader earns influence, they must be able to interpret how the business makes money.
Convera CFO Michael Borque gets right to the core: before a finance leader earns influence, they must be able to interpret how the business makes money.
You don’t build trust with dashboards—you build it with people.
Cint CFO Niels Boon doesn’t come from accounting.
He comes from McKinsey, where client-facing work taught him how to read people before reading numbers.
Cint CFO Niels Boon doesn’t come from accounting.
He comes from McKinsey, where client-facing work taught him how to read people before reading numbers.
November 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM
You don’t build trust with dashboards—you build it with people.
Cint CFO Niels Boon doesn’t come from accounting.
He comes from McKinsey, where client-facing work taught him how to read people before reading numbers.
Cint CFO Niels Boon doesn’t come from accounting.
He comes from McKinsey, where client-facing work taught him how to read people before reading numbers.
Navan’s IPO, priced last night at $25 per share, marks more than a market debut—it highlights how emotional intelligence shapes strategic finance.
October 30, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Navan’s IPO, priced last night at $25 per share, marks more than a market debut—it highlights how emotional intelligence shapes strategic finance.
You’ve heard the term stablecoin — but do you know what it means?
At a recent dinner with fellow CFOs, Fireblocks CFO Michael Levine was struck by how many finance leaders still find digital assets confusing.
At a recent dinner with fellow CFOs, Fireblocks CFO Michael Levine was struck by how many finance leaders still find digital assets confusing.
October 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
You’ve heard the term stablecoin — but do you know what it means?
At a recent dinner with fellow CFOs, Fireblocks CFO Michael Levine was struck by how many finance leaders still find digital assets confusing.
At a recent dinner with fellow CFOs, Fireblocks CFO Michael Levine was struck by how many finance leaders still find digital assets confusing.
You can’t scale speed without trust.
CFO Amy Foo of Ignition reminds us that high-performing teams don’t just hit numbers—they move in sync.
“It’s about the people behind the numbers,” she says. “When teams feel safe and aligned, they move really fast together.”
CFO Amy Foo of Ignition reminds us that high-performing teams don’t just hit numbers—they move in sync.
“It’s about the people behind the numbers,” she says. “When teams feel safe and aligned, they move really fast together.”
October 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
You can’t scale speed without trust.
CFO Amy Foo of Ignition reminds us that high-performing teams don’t just hit numbers—they move in sync.
“It’s about the people behind the numbers,” she says. “When teams feel safe and aligned, they move really fast together.”
CFO Amy Foo of Ignition reminds us that high-performing teams don’t just hit numbers—they move in sync.
“It’s about the people behind the numbers,” she says. “When teams feel safe and aligned, they move really fast together.”
You don’t invest in AI. You invest in uncertainty.
Basis Technologies CFO Clayton Kossl reminds us that artificial intelligence isn’t a free pass to growth — it’s a new class of strategic risk.
Basis Technologies CFO Clayton Kossl reminds us that artificial intelligence isn’t a free pass to growth — it’s a new class of strategic risk.
October 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
You don’t invest in AI. You invest in uncertainty.
Basis Technologies CFO Clayton Kossl reminds us that artificial intelligence isn’t a free pass to growth — it’s a new class of strategic risk.
Basis Technologies CFO Clayton Kossl reminds us that artificial intelligence isn’t a free pass to growth — it’s a new class of strategic risk.
How InvoiceCloud’s CFO Turned AI Chaos into Acceleration
October 13, 2025 at 1:12 PM
How InvoiceCloud’s CFO Turned AI Chaos into Acceleration
AI is transforming the workplace—making mentorship more essential than ever.
In episode #1133, CFO Kimberlee Duval of Cymbiotika shares how mentorship shaped her leadership journey—and why it’s becoming a lifeline for young finance professionals navigating AI-driven change.
In episode #1133, CFO Kimberlee Duval of Cymbiotika shares how mentorship shaped her leadership journey—and why it’s becoming a lifeline for young finance professionals navigating AI-driven change.
October 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
AI is transforming the workplace—making mentorship more essential than ever.
In episode #1133, CFO Kimberlee Duval of Cymbiotika shares how mentorship shaped her leadership journey—and why it’s becoming a lifeline for young finance professionals navigating AI-driven change.
In episode #1133, CFO Kimberlee Duval of Cymbiotika shares how mentorship shaped her leadership journey—and why it’s becoming a lifeline for young finance professionals navigating AI-driven change.
You don’t drive growth by chasing numbers—you drive it by fixing what’s broken.
Early in her career, CFO Kimberlee Duval faced a high-growth storm few finance leaders forget: rapid global expansion, supply-chain complexity, and the uncertainty of a pandemic.
Early in her career, CFO Kimberlee Duval faced a high-growth storm few finance leaders forget: rapid global expansion, supply-chain complexity, and the uncertainty of a pandemic.
October 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
You don’t drive growth by chasing numbers—you drive it by fixing what’s broken.
Early in her career, CFO Kimberlee Duval faced a high-growth storm few finance leaders forget: rapid global expansion, supply-chain complexity, and the uncertainty of a pandemic.
Early in her career, CFO Kimberlee Duval faced a high-growth storm few finance leaders forget: rapid global expansion, supply-chain complexity, and the uncertainty of a pandemic.
You don’t need a bigger team—just a smarter one.
October 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
You don’t need a bigger team—just a smarter one.
Would you call an emergency board meeting 72 hours in?
In his first CFO role, Steve Sutter did.
While reviewing Elance’s financial statements during his first week, he discovered thousands of customer balances commingled with corporate cash — a compliance issue with major risk attached.
In his first CFO role, Steve Sutter did.
While reviewing Elance’s financial statements during his first week, he discovered thousands of customer balances commingled with corporate cash — a compliance issue with major risk attached.
October 7, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Would you call an emergency board meeting 72 hours in?
In his first CFO role, Steve Sutter did.
While reviewing Elance’s financial statements during his first week, he discovered thousands of customer balances commingled with corporate cash — a compliance issue with major risk attached.
In his first CFO role, Steve Sutter did.
While reviewing Elance’s financial statements during his first week, he discovered thousands of customer balances commingled with corporate cash — a compliance issue with major risk attached.
You can’t scale what you don’t simplify.
October 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
You can’t scale what you don’t simplify.
Are you measuring AI ROI the wrong way?
October 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Are you measuring AI ROI the wrong way?
Would you take a company public in chaos?
Beth Gaspich did—long before stepping into the CFO seat.
She recalls standing on the NYSE floor in 2008 as RiskMetrics went public. What began as a 25-person spin-out grew into a global enterprise.
Beth Gaspich did—long before stepping into the CFO seat.
She recalls standing on the NYSE floor in 2008 as RiskMetrics went public. What began as a 25-person spin-out grew into a global enterprise.
October 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Would you take a company public in chaos?
Beth Gaspich did—long before stepping into the CFO seat.
She recalls standing on the NYSE floor in 2008 as RiskMetrics went public. What began as a 25-person spin-out grew into a global enterprise.
Beth Gaspich did—long before stepping into the CFO seat.
She recalls standing on the NYSE floor in 2008 as RiskMetrics went public. What began as a 25-person spin-out grew into a global enterprise.
Are you measuring AI returns before scaling it?
CFO David Obstler (Datadog) says the team is in “experimentation mode”—lowering adoption barriers, keeping the cost structure unchanged, and waiting for hard productivity evidence (e.g., coding output) before ramping spend.
CFO David Obstler (Datadog) says the team is in “experimentation mode”—lowering adoption barriers, keeping the cost structure unchanged, and waiting for hard productivity evidence (e.g., coding output) before ramping spend.
October 2, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Are you measuring AI returns before scaling it?
CFO David Obstler (Datadog) says the team is in “experimentation mode”—lowering adoption barriers, keeping the cost structure unchanged, and waiting for hard productivity evidence (e.g., coding output) before ramping spend.
CFO David Obstler (Datadog) says the team is in “experimentation mode”—lowering adoption barriers, keeping the cost structure unchanged, and waiting for hard productivity evidence (e.g., coding output) before ramping spend.
Are you measuring growth by headcount cuts—or customer trust?
NICE CFO Beth Gaspich shares how acquisitions aren’t just about cost synergies. With more than 10 deals completed during her tenure, NICE recently acquired Cognigy to scale conversational AI across its cloud platform.
NICE CFO Beth Gaspich shares how acquisitions aren’t just about cost synergies. With more than 10 deals completed during her tenure, NICE recently acquired Cognigy to scale conversational AI across its cloud platform.
October 1, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Are you measuring growth by headcount cuts—or customer trust?
NICE CFO Beth Gaspich shares how acquisitions aren’t just about cost synergies. With more than 10 deals completed during her tenure, NICE recently acquired Cognigy to scale conversational AI across its cloud platform.
NICE CFO Beth Gaspich shares how acquisitions aren’t just about cost synergies. With more than 10 deals completed during her tenure, NICE recently acquired Cognigy to scale conversational AI across its cloud platform.
How do you keep customers for the long haul?
CFO David Obstler of Datadog puts it plainly: “We work with (customers) because we want to have very long-term relationships.”
CFO David Obstler of Datadog puts it plainly: “We work with (customers) because we want to have very long-term relationships.”
September 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
How do you keep customers for the long haul?
CFO David Obstler of Datadog puts it plainly: “We work with (customers) because we want to have very long-term relationships.”
CFO David Obstler of Datadog puts it plainly: “We work with (customers) because we want to have very long-term relationships.”
Can a simple transaction unlock strategy?
Laura LaPeer recalls a moment when finance shifted from execution to impact.
As interest rates moved and cash began to accumulate, she asked: What if treasury could do more than manage sweeps? What if procurement could be more than compliance?
Laura LaPeer recalls a moment when finance shifted from execution to impact.
As interest rates moved and cash began to accumulate, she asked: What if treasury could do more than manage sweeps? What if procurement could be more than compliance?
September 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Can a simple transaction unlock strategy?
Laura LaPeer recalls a moment when finance shifted from execution to impact.
As interest rates moved and cash began to accumulate, she asked: What if treasury could do more than manage sweeps? What if procurement could be more than compliance?
Laura LaPeer recalls a moment when finance shifted from execution to impact.
As interest rates moved and cash began to accumulate, she asked: What if treasury could do more than manage sweeps? What if procurement could be more than compliance?
What does $1 billion really mean?
CFO Laura LaPeer sets the bar high: UHY’s next big milestone is to hit $1 billion in revenue in 4–5 years.
But she reminds us — this isn’t just a growth story.
CFO Laura LaPeer sets the bar high: UHY’s next big milestone is to hit $1 billion in revenue in 4–5 years.
But she reminds us — this isn’t just a growth story.
September 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
What does $1 billion really mean?
CFO Laura LaPeer sets the bar high: UHY’s next big milestone is to hit $1 billion in revenue in 4–5 years.
But she reminds us — this isn’t just a growth story.
CFO Laura LaPeer sets the bar high: UHY’s next big milestone is to hit $1 billion in revenue in 4–5 years.
But she reminds us — this isn’t just a growth story.
What happens when a CFO faces crisis six months in?
In early 2023, Ben Gammell had just stepped into the CFO role at Brex when SVB collapsed. Within days, startups risked missing payroll.
In early 2023, Ben Gammell had just stepped into the CFO role at Brex when SVB collapsed. Within days, startups risked missing payroll.
September 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
What happens when a CFO faces crisis six months in?
In early 2023, Ben Gammell had just stepped into the CFO role at Brex when SVB collapsed. Within days, startups risked missing payroll.
In early 2023, Ben Gammell had just stepped into the CFO role at Brex when SVB collapsed. Within days, startups risked missing payroll.
AI won’t forecast your future—at least not yet.
old lack the data needed for reliable modeling
old lack the data needed for reliable modeling
September 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
AI won’t forecast your future—at least not yet.
old lack the data needed for reliable modeling
old lack the data needed for reliable modeling