The Modern CFO
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Top 10 The Modern CFO Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Modern CFO episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Modern CFO for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Modern CFO episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
11/09/21 • 36 min
In 2012, Woodie Neiss was a CFO and entrepreneur who was seeking to change the rules of the investment game. When President Obama signed his crowdfunding bill later that year, it opened a whole new world for individuals to participate in the private capital markets. Today, the crowdfunding industry has surpassed $1 billion in funding and takes place almost entirely online.
Woodie continues to empower entrepreneurs through his latest venture, GUARDD, where he automates the process of ensuring audited financials with the goal of creating a more liquid environment for private company founders and shareholders. He is a vanguard of empowering founders throughout the lifecycle of their businesses from fundraising to exit.
On this episode of The Modern CFO, Woodie shares how he architected the roadmap of Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), what is so powerful about crowdfunding, and why one-size regulation does not fit all.
Show Links
- Check out GUARDD
- Connect with Sherwood (Woodie) Neiss on LinkedIn or Twitter
- Check out Nth Round
- Connect with Andrew Seski on LinkedIn
Key Takeaways
2:30 - Tackle outdated investing laws
In his early days as an entrepreneur, Woodie was frustrated by the inability to tap into individuals as investors, like his large customer base.
“I had started a company with my brother-in-law called Flavor RX. We flavored medicine for children so they’re more compliant. The coolest thing about our company was a mother got her kid to take her medicine by going into the pharmacy and asking pharmacists to flavor it. The kid took the medicine and she's like, ‘Oh my God, you just saved me countless hours of struggling.’ I would get a phone call the next day: ‘How do I invest in your business?’ I thought, well, you can't because we can only raise money from accredited investors. When my lawyers told me this, I knew this was a complete missed opportunity. I have hundreds of mothers calling me saying, ‘How can I become an investor in your business?’ They can be a marketing agent for my company. Why can't I take money from them? These laws were written 80 years ago to protect retail investors, and you have to live by them. I thought was stupid.”3:53 - How the crowdfunding bill was signed
Woodie and two friends from business school ultimately drafted a new framework for Reg CF. President Obama signed it into the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act in 2012.
“We wrote this eight bullet-point framework for investment crowdfunding. We went to the SEC, they said it was cute. Then they said, You should head over to that building with the white dome on it.’ I kid you not. Naively enough, we just walked over there, because we had a few days in Washington. We started knocking on the doors of both Republicans and Democrats. People were shocked that entrepreneurs were there, so they listened.”6:04 - Connecting retail investors to the private capital markets
Today, crowdfunding doesn’t just live on websites—it’s been used on social media as well. Woodie never anticipated the breadth and reach of his bill, which he sees as bringing positive transparency to the investment space.
“The industry launched in May 2016. Just this past month it surpassed $1 billion in funding. When we put this together, I was thinking, ‘Wouldn't it be great to use a website to be able to allow people that have a customer list, or their own friends and family, to invest in their business the same way that a campaign on Kickstarter or Indiegogo can?’ To see people using Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Live as the outreach, the public solicitation, I think is awesome. It really connects the people to the entrepreneur in a way that a website just doesn't do by itself. I think the advances in technology are really benefiting the industry because it ties you closer to the people that are raising capital. I think that's all good, too, because I think it brings this level of transparency that you otherwise don't have in the private capital markets.”8:43 - Deciding which constraints would minimize retail investor risk
One major fear was that crowdfunding would end up like gambling, leading some investors to lose everything. That’s why Woodie and his team wrote in limits based on annual income.
“Any accredited investor can risk everything that they have in one company. Do they? No. They're smart enough to diversify their assets. Now, when we built this framework we we...
Kevin Appleby on the challenges facing new CFOs
The Modern CFO
03/03/21 • 53 min
Kevin Appleby helps run GrowCFO, a community and development resource for finance professionals. A PwC alum-turned instructor, Kevin realized that what CFOs really needed was a support system. He joined me on The Modern CFO podcast to talk about the challenges facing CFOs today, the importance of seeking out mentors, and how to embrace imposter syndrome by conducting thoughtful self-assessment.
- Check out GrowCFO
- Follow GrowCFO on LinkedIn
- Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn
- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn
Key Takeaways
Kevin’s journey: from CPA to the classroom
Kevin’s experience runs the gamut from CPA work to the chemical industry to working as a consultant for PwC. Ultimately he ended up in the classroom. When COVID hit, GrowCFO was the perfect segue.
“I became a management consultant and ended up working for PwC, mainly doing finance transformation projects, my client would typically be the finance director, the VP finance, or the CFO and often working with his team trying to find information for the project. And I found over time there are lots of stuff that I knew the answer to, but the client's own finance team didn't. I ended up spending time in the classroom teaching a lot of that stuff.”
Creating a dedicated CFO network
Almost every industry has numerous networking and educational resources. Kevin saw that the CFO world was an exception.
“There's nothing really out there for CFOs, senior finance people to communicate with each other and to help each other solve problems. There's plenty of space here to go to the big advisory firms, but nothing really here to allow CFOs to cooperate with each other and share learning.”
Helping CFOs break through the glass ceiling
A major challenge young CFOs face is breaking into the C-suite. GrowCFO helps prepare aspiring CFOs to succeed in the application process and beyond.
“What we found was there's a big glass ceiling. It's very difficult to break through into the C-suite...95% of the roles out there are looking for experienced CFOs, right? How do you ever get through that? So we put together the Future CFO program. We've got it accredited for 40 hours of CPD, continuing professional development, and it takes you on a nine module or a nine-step journey between being a very good, very accomplished head finance professional through to landing your first CFO job, how to move into that job. And it finishes with creating the plan for your first hundred days in your new CFO role.”
CFOs are asked to do it all
New CFOs are often in for a rude shock. The breadth and amount of work expected can be staggering.
“Why does GrowCFO exist? One of the things that we're very definitely seeing Andrew is that the kind of breadth of skills that a CFO needs to have these days is huge. And there's no way that any one person can be expected to be rounded at absolutely everything. I think communication is one of those interesting ones that you've got a guy who's used to being in the back office, used to be behind his favorite Excel spreadsheet, he's used to running the finance team, become CFO. Suddenly, he's going to talk to customers, to suppliers, to investors, to shareholders, countless other stakeholders. He's gotta be the right hand man to the CEO. Now suddenly he's got a whole new world to play in.”Promoting inclusion and diversity
Strong CFOs are often tactful and inclusive. Today, that means doing a quick check of your assumptions before communicating.
“The equity house looks for people like themselves. You as the CFO you're constantly thinking of communicating to yourself...one of my regular weekly tasks in GrowCFO is to write the weekly newsletter. Normally I write it. So the last few weeks I've written on a Sunday evening with a schedule set to go at about eight 30, Monday morning. And I do find myself looking back on this and suddenly realizing, Oh, Kevin, you've written this for another male CFO. Go back, take out all the references to he or him or whatever, and realize that probably 40-45% of the people that are reading this newsletter are female.”Learn to specialize & delegate
Since you can’t possibly do it all, what’s the answer? Kevin says the solution is to learn when to dig in - and when to pull back.
“You can be weak in something. And part of it is recognizing you're weak and maybe getting somebody else to help you rather than learn the skills yourself...The CFO cannot be good at everything. But if you've got a...02/26/21 • 34 min
Rob Masson is the CFO at Hypertherm, a 50-year-old company that is a leader in industrial cutting systems. He’s also a former Naval aviator who learned critical leadership skills firsthand. Rob joined us on the Modern CFO Podcast to share his unique perspective on management and the ways in which empowered, confident employees helped Hypertherm weather the COVID-19 crisis.
- Visit Hypertherm
- Connect with Rob on LinkedIn
Key Takeaways
Weathering COVID-19
The pandemic took an early toll on Hypertherm, but the company stayed true to its employee-centric values.
“We suffered, you know, over a 30% loss in sales almost overnight in April, and that caused a whole chain of events...We're an employee-owned company. We all share in the success of the company. And so we're all committed to each other. We have a no-layoff philosophy. So a lot of the normal things you do in public company settings and others, we don't do. And we have a very strong passion for that. So we will cut costs. We're very aggressive with that. But in terms of commitment to people, we don't do that. We come together as a team and solve the problem.”Overcoming obstacles as a team
Teamwork enabled Hypertherm to bounce back from COVID-19 amid global challenges.
“It was quite a dramatic response from us internally to reset for the new norm. And then there were a lot of things on the capital structure side that we thought about with the treasury group and working with our banks, just to make sure we were secure from a cash flow and keeping that going...we serve some essential end markets. So we worked very diligently to keep our supply chain open, to make sure we had raw materials, stock, etc., since we source from all over the world. So it was really a team effort.”Crisis builds new muscles
Once you go through a crisis situation, you are better equipped to face the future.
“This year, actually, we really surprised the organization because our business came back quite strong and we really stepped forward and shared a lot of that profit back with our associates...When you go through crisis, you live through it, you gain new muscles. So I feel very confident. Hopefully we never have to face it again as a company, but we're now prepared more than we were prior. And I think we'd do even better the next time, just because of the response and teamwork of the company.”Navel experience in action
Rob’s Naval background played a critical role in his ability to keep cool under pressure.
“There's just a different experience you get as a Naval aviator than you get in other walks of life, and that's trained into you to compartmentalize and solve the problem. ‘There's no end until it's over’ kind of thing. And excellence is that way too. You demand a lot of yourself. And anytime I flew, we briefed as a team. We flew in the mission then we came back and we assessed what we did and how we could get better the next time...so it was a very critical look and that was all part of teamwork as well. And then the last thing is tenacity, which is what I started with. When you're in a crisis situation, you're not done until you've tried everything. And you don't let yourself think of anything but solving the problem and keeping with it. And I think that's the type of unique training I had as a Naval aviator that helps me in all sorts of situations.”The value of parallel expertise
While traditional jobs require a one-track mindset, the Navy instilled in Rob the ability to adapt to new situations.
Structural versus Operational CFOs
Rob sees himself as a leader first, and an operating CFO second.
“I was an economics major in college. So the art and the science of economics always appealed to me. And I think it's more of that side of operational finance, and what does finance tell you about the operations of the business. So I'm much more of an operating CFO if you will. And those are really, if you look at CFOs, you either h...12/06/23 • 35 min
From investor to public company CFO, BLADE's Will Heyburn shares his path to the selective role of leading a finance team from the private markets through an IPO and beyond.
In this episode of The Modern CFO, Will unpacks BLADE's unique evolution from passenger transportation to a leading medical organ transport provider and why they continue to focus on direct communication, data-driven decision-making, and building a customer-centric culture.
Will and host Andrew Seski discuss the intricate balance between risk management, client satisfaction, and staying adaptable, especially as a technology platform within the aviation industry.
Listen in for more secrets to BLADE's success and valuable lessons for aspiring CFOs navigating the future of technology within their own companies.
Want to give BLADLE a try? Listeners can use Will's promo code* available towards the end of the episode!
*Terms and conditions may apply
Show Links
How Turo Assembles Trust, Value, and Platform Power in the Car-Sharing Industry with Chuck Fisher
The Modern CFO
08/02/23 • 53 min
Have you ever wondered what the future of car-sharing looks like?
Turo CFO Chuck Fisher unpacks this with host Andrew Seski on this episode of The Modern CFO Podcast. Chuck also shares his perspective on the role of trust in car-sharing technology, the economic value created on Turo's platform, and how Turo is bridging the gap in transport insecurity.
Listen in as Chuck shares his most memorable pit stops and detours along Turo's journey, including the company's rapid growth in 2021.
From the role and impact of his mentors, to scaffolding platforms, hear Chuck’s route to the CFO seat and how Turo is using data-driven decision-making to create a more sustainable and equitable transportation system.
Show Links
Accounting for Variability with Jessica Holscott
The Modern CFO
06/27/23 • 27 min
Jessica Holscott didn’t always have a clear route to a public-facing C-suite role. She had spent many years in different industries — from lighting to vehicle manufacturing — transitioning through a variety of positions to become the well-rounded businesswoman she is today.
Most recently, she served as executive vice president (EVP) and chief financial officer (CFO) of WarnerMedia Studios & Networks. Prior to that, Jessica held several leadership roles, including EVP and CFO at HBO, senior vice president of investor relations at Time Warner, and CFO of NBCUniversal’s TV Stations division, where she brought a wealth of experience and knowledge in financial management, strategic planning, acquisitions, and more.
In this episode of The Modern CFO, Jessica talks with host Andrew Seski about the playbooks that guided her throughout her career and how she transitioned into the public-facing media landscape. An avid networker with deep roots in the entertainment industry and blue-chip consumer companies, Jessica also shares invaluable lessons for aspiring CFOs seeking mentorship.
Show Links
Beyond the Ballpark: Winning Strategies for CFOs with John Nickolas of The Philadelphia Phillies
The Modern CFO
05/17/23 • 36 min
It is a real privilege to invite you to listen to this exclusive podcast episode featuring John Nickolas, the esteemed CFO of the Philadelphia Phillies since 2007. With a rich background that includes notable contributions to Philadelphia's business landscape through esteemed firms like KPMG, Safeguard Scientifics, and Internet Capital Group, John's leadership has been instrumental in shaping the success of the city's iconic ventures.
In this episode of The Modern CFO, host Andrew Seski engages in a compelling conversation with John, delving into the intricacies of managing a publicly visible yet privately-owned enterprise such as a professional sports franchise. Drawing from his extensive experience, John shares veteran insights that hold relevance for CFOs and aspiring leaders alike. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives from a seasoned industry expert.
Show Links
09/06/22 • 39 min
Finance and accounting processes are vital elements of any business. In many cases, business leaders expect the finance and accounting department to run as smoothly as possible to ensure that payments are processed swiftly and reports are made on time to gather insights and inform decision-making.
But what if there was a way to improve the efficiency of these vital business processes? That’s exactly what Rose Punkunus set out to do with her seed stage startup, Sudozi — a software platform designed to help finance and accounting teams automate workflows, keep track of vendors and budgets, and improve financial decisions.
In this episode of The Modern CFO, Sudozi Founder, CEO, and CFO Rose Punkunus talks with host Andrew Seski about her experience starting her own firm—a software platform designed to help finance and accounting teams automate workflows, keep track of vendors and budgets, and improve financial decisions.
Show Links
08/17/22 • 29 min
There’s more to your average sports game than meets the eye. It takes a dedicated team working off the court to prepare for each game and ensure fans show up and players are paid their due.
These and more are matters in which Rachel Pearcy, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the WNBA's Dallas Wings, is an expert. Drawing from her college athletics experience and history working in the power sports industry, Rachel works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure strategic growth for Dallas Wings season after season.
In this episode of The Modern CFO, Rachel talks with host Andrew Seski about what it’s really like managing a professional sports team as well as how she keeps herself and the organization grounded in pursuit of success.
Show Links
- Check out Dallas Wings
- Connect with Rachel Pearcy on LinkedIn
- Check out Nth Round
- Connect with Andrew Seski on LinkedIn
06/14/22 • 38 min
Navigating today’s digital world is daunting, especially for businesses. There’s no shortage of tactics to leverage–emails, blogs, videos, webinars, podcasts, ads–and a seemingly endless supply of apps and platforms to execute those initiatives. So, how do you break through the noise and get your company noticed?
For Cory Hogan, CRO of Lob, the key is revenue leadership. Whether you’re helping build a community for your employees or offering potential customers a personalized ad experience, your job as a leader is to meet people where they are. And taking a unique approach might just help push your brand over the top.
In this episode of The Modern CFO, Cory explains how Lob is connecting the digital world with the physical one, what it takes to provide the right environment for hybrid employees, and the strategy of today’s CROs.
Show Links
- Check out Lob
- Connect with P. Cory Hogan on LinkedIn
- Check out Nth Round
- Connect with Andrew Seski on LinkedIn
Key Takeaways
7:15 – Cultivating an entrepreneurial, organizational spirit
The ambition and motivation that comes with being an entrepreneur have been a part of Cory’s DNA since childhood.
9:17 – Making the most of your ad spend
At Lob, the goal is to connect the digital world with the physical one through a tech-first approach to marketing.
10:45 – Personalize your marketing
Personalized, timely, and physical marketing tools get your customers’ attention, and Lob’s clients have seen on average 19-times better returns than some other digital-only marketing methods.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Modern CFO have?
The Modern CFO currently has 49 episodes available.
What topics does The Modern CFO cover?
The podcast is about Management, Entrepreneur, Software, Podcasts, Finance, Business and Cfo.
What is the most popular episode on The Modern CFO?
The episode title 'Accounting for Variability with Jessica Holscott' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Modern CFO?
The average episode length on The Modern CFO is 37 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Modern CFO released?
Episodes of The Modern CFO are typically released every 20 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of The Modern CFO?
The first episode of The Modern CFO was released on Feb 24, 2021.
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