In this episode of CFO Weekly, Kumar Parakala, a distinguished CEO, founder, investor, and board director with 25+ years of experience, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are evolving from traditional financial guardians to strategic architects of organizational transformation, drawing from his experience co-founding KPMG's $3 billion technology advisory practice and recently exiting GHD Digital, valued at over $400 million with 700 professionals across nine countries.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Sara Wyman, CEO & Founder at Stackpack, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are transforming vendor management through AI-powered automation and strategic oversight, drawing from her experience as former VP of Strategic Partnerships at Affirm, where she witnessed the chaos of managing hundreds of vendors without proper systems at high-growth companies.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Apurv Bansal, CEO & Co-founder at Zenskar, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are revolutionizing their finance operations through AI-powered billing systems and dynamic pricing models, drawing from his experience as a Harvard Business School graduate and former Google product leader who witnessed firsthand the complexity of modern revenue recognition challenges.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Paul Peterson, Managing Partner at Wiss and Company LLP, joins Megan Weis to explore how Gen Z represents the solution to the CPA shortage rather than being part of the problem, drawing from his 30+ years of experience in developing talent and fostering innovation in public accounting firms.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Jessica McClain, Chief Financial Officer at Girl Scouts Nation's Capital, joins Megan Weis to explore the critical importance of continuous learning in financial leadership, sharing insights on emotional intelligence, team development, and adapting to technological disruption in the evolving finance profession.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Steve Mastin, Chief Financial Officer at 4M Building Solutions, joins Megan Weis to explore how centralization of financial and operational functions drives growth in private equity-backed environments, drawing from his extensive experience in financial transformation and M&A integration across diverse business sectors.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Dennis DuBois, a seasoned CFO at Creative Planning, joins Megan Weis to explore how interim and fractional CFOs serve as strategic resources for both buyers and sellers in private equity transactions, drawing from his diverse experience across hospitality, tech, and PE portfolio companies.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Nikhil Patel, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for the City of Detroit, joins Megan Weis to navigate the critical challenges of process friction in both government and private sectors, as well as ways to reduce it by optimizing and streamlining operations.

With unprecedented tariffs looming, how can businesses adapt their financial strategies? In this episode of CFO Weekly, Michael Perica, CFO at Rimini Street, and Sameer Katiyar, CFO at Cleo, join Megan Weis to discuss the far-reaching impacts of tariffs on global business operations.

The CFO role has evolved dramatically, especially for venture and growth-stage companies, where traditional MBA theory meets the harsh realities of startups. In this episode of CFO Weekly, Rick Smith, a five-time CFO and founder of Bonfire Advisory, joins Megan Weis to share hard-earned lessons from his new book and decades of experience building financial operations from the ground up.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Travis St. Ores, Chief Financial Officer at Comprehensive Logistics, joins Megan Weis to discuss the agility of modern middle-market CFOs. Learn how today's CFOs are becoming strategic quarterbacks for their organizations, balancing agility with financial discipline and leveraging new technologies like AI to drive growth.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Mohammed Wasim, Senior Data Insights Analyst at Molson Coors Beverage Company, joins Megan Weis to explore the transformative power of data analytics in modern finance, specifically how it can reveal stories and drive decisions that create meaningful change.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Angie Paglinawan, Director of Finance IT at Aristocrat, joins Megan Weis to explore the real-world evolution of finance leadership. From standardizing processes and implementing automation to mastering the art of financial storytelling, Angie offers practical insights for finance leaders.

Effective budgeting and forecasting require balancing data-driven analysis with practical business realities, especially for emerging companies navigating uncertain economic conditions. In this episode of CFO Weekly, Travis Grundy, Senior Associate of FP&A at Adventum, joins Megan Weis to share his unique approach to creating realistic budgets and forecasts that drive business success.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Darren Heffernan, Chief Executive Officer at Trintech, joins Megan Weis to explore how leadership incentives must evolve for the new generation of finance professionals. From fostering cross-functional collaboration to embracing AI and automation, Darren shares why traditional incentives no longer resonate with younger executives and what strategies actually drive performance.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Chris Reilly, Founder of Financial Modeling Education, joins Megan Weis to share practical insights to simplify and master financial modeling. Learn why understanding the three financial statements is universal across industries, how to effectively tell financial stories, and practical strategies for both small businesses and large enterprises to leverage financial modeling.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Sara Daw, CEO of The CFO Centre Group Limited, joins Megan Weis to talk about the role of a fractional CFO in the growth of modern entrepreneurial businesses. Learn when growing companies should consider bringing on a fractional CFO, how experienced executives can successfully transition to fractional work, and why this flexible model is reshaping the future of executive leadership.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Rich Zhou, Founder and CEO of Aquifer Growth, joins Megan Weis to discuss the evolving role of CFO and how that evolution necessitates a trifecta of finance, strategy, and leadership. They also touch upon financial planning in an ever-changing world and the adoption of cloud across the F&A function. With over a decade of experience in capital markets, corporate finance, and fintech, Rich has developed deep expertise in helping companies navigate financial complexities during crucial growth phases. His background includes serving as one of the first financial hires at a successful Toronto-based fintech company that grew from 5 to 300 employees. What You’ll Learn: How the CFO role has evolved from traditional accounting to become a critical strategic partner for growth and scalability Why the $1 million revenue mark is the crucial turning point for businesses to implement professional financial management The essential framework for building accurate financial forecasts beyond simple revenue projections How cloud adoption is transforming financial operations through improved accessibility, control, and real-time insights The emerging impact of AI and cloud technologies on reducing monthly closing times and improving financial decision-making

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Tom McDermott, Chief Financial Officer at Career Certified, joins Megan Weis to discuss business partnering and value drivers for private equity CFO, sharing insights from his diverse career spanning global technology companies, private equity, and education technology. Tom is an experienced executive and financial leader with vast experience in global technology companies across the US and UK. His expertise in business partnering and value creation has been demonstrated through successful roles at Vista-backed companies, PSG, and Fortune 500 organizations like NCR. Tom is known for his strategic approach to transforming transactional revenue models into recurring revenue streams and his success in managing M&A integrations. What You’ll Learn: How to transition from traditional finance roles to becoming a true business partner The importance of rapid M&A integration and having a clear integration playbook for driving value creation How to transform transactional revenue streams into recurring revenue through strategic storytelling and data support Why embracing VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) is essential for successful financial leadership The strategic approach to implementing AI across different business functions, from accounting to customer service

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Jordan Grumet, a Wealth With Purpose Mastermind at Earn & Invest, joins Megan Weis to discuss the profound connection between purpose, legacy, and financial independence. Jordan shares powerful insights on aligning wealth-building with meaningful living, overcoming purpose anxiety, and using money as a tool rather than a goal. Jordan is a hospice physician and financial independence expert. Combining his unique background in medicine and personal finance, he hosts the award-winning Earn and Invest podcast and is the author of "Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth and Living a Regret-Free Life" and "The Purpose Code." What You’ll Learn: How to define and discover your personal purpose anchors using childhood interests and regret reflection Why financial independence should be viewed as a tool rather than the ultimate goal The critical difference between meaning and purpose Time-hacking techniques to maximize productivity The connection between hospice care insights and building a regret-free financial life How to balance short-term spending with long-term legacy planning