Navigating CFO Leadership in the Age of AI Growth with Davinder Athwal
CFO leadership in the age of artificial intelligence and rapid growth is the focus of today's Secrets of Rockstar CFOs episode, where we dive into Davinder Athwal’s journey. In this episode, host Jack McCullough chats with Davinder, who is the Former CFO of Phenom, a groundbreaking AI-powered HR technology company and unicorn based in the Philadelphia area. They explore Davinder’s unique career journey, from his early days in the UK to becoming a financial leader in the US, and how his diverse background shaped his approach to finance and strategy. Listen in as Davinder shares invaluable insights on building world-class teams, navigating rapid growth, and the critical role of AI in transforming the job market, all while keeping an eye on what truly matters: happiness over mere success. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with actionable advice and a peek behind the curtain of a true Rockstar CFO.To book a demo with Planful, click here.
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Fintech Leadership Unlocked: Why the CFO Is Now the Chief Flexibility Officer with Jennifer Loo
What does it take to lead a mission-driven, fast-growing fintech company? In this episode, host Jack McCullough sits down with Jennifer Loo, CFO of Tala, a company revolutionizing access to financial services for the global majority. Jennifer shares her career path from LegalZoom to Reformation to Tala, revealing the lessons she learned from mission-focused businesses and how they shaped her leadership style. She discusses the evolving CFO role, balancing social impact with financial sustainability, and why being a Chief Flexibility Officer is the key to navigating an unpredictable world. Whether you're an aspiring CFO or a leader looking to make a difference, this conversation is packed with insights on strategy, partnership, and purpose-driven success. To book a demo with Planful, click here.
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Powering Innovation: The World of Advanced Computing Chips with Shelagh Glaser
Advanced Computing Chips are the engines of our digital world, and in this episode, we go behind the scenes with a true industry leader. Host Jack McCullough welcomes Shelagh Glaser, CFO of Synopsys, a company at the forefront of this technological revolution. Forget the tech jargon; this conversation dives into the human side of innovation. How do you empower the brilliant minds designing these complex chips? What's the vision driving the future of computing? Shelagh Glaser offers a fascinating glimpse into the mission-critical work that shapes our world, one chip at a time. To book a demo with Planful, click here.
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Inside GoFundMe: Greg Mrva on Innovation, Impact, and Purpose-Driven Leadership
In this episode, we sit down with Greg Mrva, CFO of GoFundMe, to explore what it takes to lead finance in a mission-driven organization. Greg shares his path from Wall Street to Silicon Valley, his pivotal career lessons, and how GoFundMe has raised over $30 billion to help people worldwide. He breaks down the platform’s unique business model — relying on voluntary tips — and the company’s major investments in trust, safety, and product innovation. Whether you're a finance leader or someone passionate about impact, this conversation reveals how purpose and profit can coexist to create lasting change. To book a demo with Planful, click here.
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LiveRamp & The Future Of Finance With Lauren Dillard
Strong leadership shapes the future of finance, and Lauren Dillard, CFO of LiveRamp, knows exactly what it takes. In this conversation with Jack McCullough, she shares how her diverse career—from investor relations to marketing—has influenced her approach to financial strategy and team building. Lauren discusses how LiveRamp drives data connectivity and why a CFO’s role goes beyond the numbers. She also reveals the key to fostering accountability, adapting to change, and making bold career moves. Don’t miss this inside look at leadership, innovation, and the evolving world of finance. To book a demo with Planful, click here.
The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has evolved from back-office support to strategic leader. It takes more than financial skills to master the responsibilities of this position successfully. Above all else, financial leaders need to know how to effectively plan for and execute in the face of the challenges and uncertainty inherent in their chosen industry. This begs the question, "What does it take to really excel in the role of chief financial officer?" Whether you are a seasoned CFO or just starting out in the field, you will find something useful in this podcast. Welcome to Secrets of Rockstar CFOs, a practical and actionable resource for Chief Financial Officers seeking to advance their careers. This is your friendly and helpful guide to master the challenges and opportunities of financial leadership.This podcast features the most successful CFOs in the world, from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 50 multinationals. The host of this podcast, Jack McCullough, is the author of “Secrets of Rockstar CFOs,”widely considered to be the definitive guide to the art of financial leadership. Here you can find the resources you need to advance your CFO career or launch it for the first time. Inspiring interviews with prominent CFOs and other thought leaders are featured in each episode. Get educated by the best in the business, companies like 3M, AstraZeneca and Zoetis. Listen in as these remarkable leaders discuss their career paths, the obstacles they have overcome, and the secrets they leveraged to achieve success. Get inspired to take your own strategic path to the next level by learning from the successes of these A-list CFOs. Master this field thoroughly to change the course of your career in a significant way. Explore new avenues you would never have considered before. Not only does Jack have fantastic guests who offer invaluable advice, but he also brings his own unique brand of insight, energy, and humor to the show. He established a worldwide network for mentoring and developing chief financial officers as president and founder of the CFO Leadership Council. To prepare the next generation of CFOs, Jack and his team utilize cutting-edge professional development programs and unrivaled peer networking. Combining his vast knowledge and experience with his lighthearted approach to interviews, Jack is the perfect person to serve as the show’s host. Before he founded the CFO Leadership Council, he served as chief financial officer for more than 25 different organizations. You can trust that he will steer the podcast in the same direction that he led CFO Leadership Council to become a leading organization in strategic and financial leadership. Learning from elite financial leaders is the surest path to a successful career. This top-notch podcast was produced with that aim in mind. Whether you are already a CFO looking to improve your performance or aspire to be one and need some direction to get started, you have come to the right place. Become the strategic leader you have always imagined by joining Jack and his guests in these lively and entertaining conversations full of empowering advice, encouraging lessons, and easy-to-emulate tactics. Use your exceptional abilities, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering focus to take over your field. Now is the time to take your professional life to a new and more satisfying level. Listen to the Secret of Rockstar CFOs at www.strategiccfo360.com/podcast
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