ERP migration can make—or break—your finance function. From outdated systems to cloud-based solutions, the stakes are high, and the risks are real.
In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson, CFO of Vena, sits down with Scott Jorgens, Sr. Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Endeavour Solutions. With more than 25 years of experience across finance, consulting, and technology, Scott shares how to plan and execute ERP migrations that deliver ROI.
They discuss the common pitfalls that derail projects, why change management is just as critical as technology, and how to ensure your data is ready to unlock automation, analytics and AI. Whether you’re just starting to evaluate systems or deep in implementation, this conversation is your guide to building ERP success.
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What does it take to lead a high-growth company through economic uncertainty, while still innovating for the future?
Larry Roseman, Chief Financial Officer of Thumbtack, joins us to explore the modern finance leader's role in balancing resilience, agility, and long-term value creation. With a career spanning investment banking, accounting, and tech, Larry shares how he's redefined capital allocation, empowered decision-making across teams, and built a finance organization that thrives on trust and flexibility.
Learn how to lead with clarity, empower innovation (without waste), and turn volatility into opportunity.
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Stepping into a PE-backed CFO role? You're not just signing up for financial reporting; you're stepping onto a burning platform.
Scott Engler, CEO & Co-founder of Sync Executive Partners, sits down to discuss what separates “A-player” CFOs from the rest in the high-stakes world of private equity.
Scott shares the mindset shifts, leadership capabilities, and stakeholder dynamics CFOs must master to drive transformation, align their teams, and quickly build investor confidence.
Whether you're already in a PE-backed seat or looking to make this career shift or leading finance elsewhere, this episode provides a framework to lead with confidence and clarity.
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Are you leveraging the full potential of strategic finance in your annual planning process?
In this episode of The CFO Show, Igor Stelea, Director of Strategic Finance, Analytics & Business Transformation at CFGI, unpacks what makes annual planning effective and what causes it to break down.
From aligning strategy with operational plans to integrating long-range forecasting and scenario modeling, Igor offers frameworks and hard-won insights on how mature finance teams turn planning into a competitive advantage.
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What if the secret to financial agility lies in reimagining the relationship between FP&A and Controllership? Tom Seegmiller, CFO at Texada, returns to explore the transformative power of aligning FP&A and Controllership.
Tom shares his journey from FP&A leader to full-spectrum CFO, and what he’s learned about the often-overlooked (but essential) collaboration between finance’s two core functions. Together, they unpack how siloed teams can unintentionally hold each other back—and how breaking down those walls can drive agility, enhance clarity, and increase business value.
Discover how aligning FP&A and Controllership could be the key to unlocking your finance team's full potential.
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Are you leveraging AI to its full potential in your finance department?
In this episode, we dive into the practical application of AI in finance with Anton Medvedev, former Senior Product Manager at Vena and CPA/CFA. With his unique blend of finance and tech expertise, Anton offers a roadmap for effectively adopting AI in your financial operations.
Anton shares insights on training AI models, understanding AI agents, and effective prompting techniques. He provides real-world examples that demystify this fast-moving technology. Whether you're experimenting with AI in Excel or trying to choose the right vendor, this episode offers practical strategies for getting started, scaling smartly, and ensuring your team stays ahead.
Learn how you can transform your finance team from AI novices to strategic innovators, harnessing the power of AI to drive value in your organization.
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In this episode, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Steve Browning, VP of Data Privacy and Corporate Security at Vena, and Kaz Takemura, Managing Director of FP&A Technologies at Modelcom, to explore how finance teams can adopt AI safely and strategically.
Steve and Kaz share practical, cross-functional strategies for embedding AI into business operations, from building the right teams to creating scalable governance frameworks. They also unpack the emotional and organizational barriers to AI adoption and offer tips to drive both innovation and risk management.
Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to optimize existing implementations, learn how to move from fear to forward momentum, without compromising security or trust.
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Is your finance team truly driving strategic value, or are you stuck in reactive mode?
Host Melissa Howatson, welcomes Peter Emerling, Director in the Digital Transformation Practice at Citrin Cooperman, to explore the finance maturity model, the four stages of finance maturity and what it takes to move from reaction to transformation.
With over 18 years of experience advising businesses across industries and lifecycle stages, Peter breaks down the key components of a modern maturity model—from people and processes to data and governance—and shares practical ways finance leaders can assess where they stand and how to level up.
If you're struggling with siloed systems, manual workarounds, or transformation fatigue, this episode offers a roadmap toward building a smarter, more agile finance function. Learn how you can assess your current maturity level and take concrete steps towards finance transformation that drives real business impact.
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The era of reactive supply chain management is over. Are you ready for predictive resilience?
Nick McKeehan, Managing Director at Protiviti, shares CFO-focused insights on modern supply chain disruptions, from cybersecurity to geopolitical tensions. With 25 years in finance transformation, Nick guides the shift from reactive to predictive, tech-enabled decision-making.
Learn how visionary leaders collaborate across the C-suite, invest in digital twins and AI, and redefine supply chain resilience as a competitive edge.
This discussion equips finance leaders to navigate volatility, boost agility, mitigate risks, and drive change in today's complex business landscape.
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What’s driving finance leaders’ strategic planning in 2025—and its future trajectory?
In this data-packed episode, we welcome back Craig Schiff, CEO of BPM Partners to unpack the findings from Vena’s 2025 State of Strategic Finance Report. From AI adoption to strategic business partnering, Craig dives into key insights on how finance leaders are navigating change, deploying technology, and building more connected and capable teams. Drawing from the report’s insights, Craig reveals the critical direction finance teams must take to remain competitive and efficient.
Together with host Melissa Howatson, Craig explores major themes from this year's survey, including a surprising optimism among finance leaders, a rise in cross-functional collaboration, and the evolving role of AI within finance operations. If you're a finance leader seeking clarity on where the industry is headed, this is your roadmap.
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In today's unpredictable real estate market, CFOs are facing complex decisions that could significantly impact their bottom line.
In this episode, Scot Ginsburg, Executive Managing Director at Hughes Marino and author of ‘It's Not All About the Rent’, breaks down the current commercial real estate landscape and what finance leaders need to know to make smart, strategic choices.
From the office space downturn to industrial overbuilds, Scot explains why now the time is to rethink lease renewals, restructures, and how to negotiate with landlords. With almost three decades of experience exclusively representing tenants across various industries, he offers invaluable insights on avoiding costly lease mistakes and reveals why the mantra "it's not all about the rent" is crucial in today's market. Discover why traditional approaches to leasing may be costing your company more than you realize and learn the strategies that could save you money in the long run.
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As the startup funding landscape evolves, is your financial strategy keeping pace?
In this changing environment, a well-crafted financial strategy has become increasingly crucial for startups.
Janelle Gorman, CFO of York IE, York IE, an advisory and investment firm that helps technology companies grow, shares valuable insights on crafting financial strategies that can make or break a startup's success. Drawing from her extensive experience with high-growth startups, Janelle explores key topics such as optimizing cash flow, managing burn rates, and identifying the metrics that drive sustainable business growth.
Whether you're a CFO, finance leader, startup founder, or investor, this episode provides actionable strategies for building financial resilience and positioning your startup for success in the current economic climate. Discover how to transform financial challenges into opportunities for growth and long-term success.
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Revolutionizing tax functions is no longer a distant dream—it's happening now. This episode delves into the groundbreaking transformation of tax departments from cost centers to strategic powerhouses. Dave Helmer, EY Global Tax and Finance Operate Leader, and Daren R. Campbell, EY Americas Tax Technology and Transformation Leader, share their expertise on how Generative AI or GenAI and other cutting-edge technologies are elevating tax departments from mere cost centers to strategic business partners.
The discussion explores how innovative tax strategies are influencing everything from supply chain management to corporate transactions, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of a modernized tax function.
This episode examines the challenges and opportunities facing today's tax professionals. From talent acquisition to technological integration, it provides insights for finance leaders aiming to unlock the full potential of their tax departments and drive business value in an AI-driven world.
Learn how forward-thinking companies are leveraging their tax functions to navigate complex regulatory environments, drive efficiency, and inform critical business decisions.
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The AI revolution is here, and it’s transforming business as we know it.
In this episode, Hugh Cumming, Chief Technology Officer of Vena Solutions, discusses the new industrial revolution powered by artificial intelligence. With over 20 years of experience as a product and technology leader, Hugh offers insights into how AI is reshaping the modern business landscape.
The conversation delves into AI’s impact on finance and productivity, offering a glimpse into the future of work. Hugh outlines the emerging skill sets required to thrive in this new era and provides valuable advice on how professionals and organizations can stay competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Hugh explores the myriad ways AI is revolutionizing work by automating routine tasks, enhancing decision-making processes, and fostering creative problem-solving. From maximizing operational efficiency to nurturing creativity, Hugh offers practical examples and actionable insights for strategically integrating AI into business operations as a workforce partner.
Learn how AI is shaping the future of business and how you can position yourself and your organization at the forefront of this exciting new frontier.
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The art of corporate debt management has become a critical balancing act for CFOs, who must simultaneously fuel company expansion and preserve financial robustness.
Debt is a critical tool that, when leveraged effectively, can drive operational efficiency and business expansion. By structuring debt strategically, organizations can optimize liquidity, mitigate financial risk, and enhance overall capital efficiency.
Tom Panther, Chief Financial Officer of Corpay, a leading S&P 500 corporate payments company joins our host Melissa Howatson to discuss the complexities of debt management. Drawing on his 30+ years of experience in finance, Tom explains how CFOs can navigate debt management amid fluctuating market conditions and leverage these changes to benefit their organizations.
Discover Tom’s strategies for effective spend management, proactive cash flow monitoring, and successfully adapting to today’s new business landscape.
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Intellectual property (IP) is revolutionizing how companies build value. For many businesses, the key to sustainable growth lies not in their balance sheet, but in the ideas they own.
Erin-Michael Gill, founder of M&A firm Genaesis, LLC, and Chairman of a Federal Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property and Trade, shares his expertise in this episode. With over $1.2 billion in M&A and capital formation investments under his advisory, Gill is consistently recognized as one of the world's leading IP strategists.
Erin-Michael delves into the intersection of IP strategy, innovation, and deal-making. He discusses how CFOs can unlock the full potential of their IP portfolios to fuel growth, attract investors, and drive success in M&A transactions.
Discover why IP should be at the forefront of your business strategy and learn practical approaches to developing and managing IP assets.
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The CFO-COO partnership is undeniably one of the most powerful alliances that can make or break a company's success. When working in perfect harmony, this duo creates a formidable force that drives strategic decisions, enhances operational efficiency, and propels growth.
In this installment of our finance business partnering series, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Sandra Clarke, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Blue Shield of California. Sandra, who spent the majority of her career in finance, progressed from analyst to CFO before taking on the COO role. She discusses the unique perspective of having been on both sides of the CFO-COO relationship, addressing the benefits of close collaboration as well as the challenges that may arise from competing priorities.
Discover what it takes to build a successful CFO-COO business collaboration that benefits the entire organization and learn how this dynamic partnership directly impacts a company's bottom line.
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Healthcare costs continue to be the most unpredictable expense for businesses, creating a challenging dilemma for CFOs. While healthcare benefits serve as a powerful tool for recruiting and retaining employees, the escalating costs are forcing many finance leaders to seek innovative ways to reduce expenses without compromising the quality of care or the attractiveness of their benefits packages.
Anisha Sood is the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at First Choice Health, with more than 20 years of experience across the healthcare industry. Since joining First Choice Health in 2019, she has overseen finance and strategy, focusing on offering more cost-effective solutions to employers. In this episode, Anisha talks to host Melissa Howatson about why healthcare costs are rising and how providers like First Choice Health are bringing them down without sacrificing quality care.
Discover how CFOs can adopt innovative approaches to manage both healthcare costs and employee benefits expenditures effectively during challenging economic times.
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