This episode features Alexander J. Freeman, CFO at Wursta, and a global finance leader with 20+ years of experience across American Express, Visa, Dell Technologies, HID Global, and Diebold Nixdorf.

Alex has led finance transformations across markets - from New York and Moscow to Dubai and Austin. In this episode titled "The Fine Balance of a CFO Between Finance & Operations," we unpack the real-world realities of scaling finance in high-growth companies.

Here’s what we explore:

1️⃣ From Risk to Strategy - How Alex’s path from controllership to global finance helped him lead with adaptability

2️⃣ Scaling with People First - Lessons from maturing a finance org in a high-growth company, and why team structure matters

3️⃣ Finance + Ops Synergy - How understanding operations deeply helps finance leaders become true business partners

4️⃣ Modern CFOTech - Why it’s crucial to align tools to your business context and evaluate ROI upfront

5️⃣ AI for Finance - How Alex and his team are experimenting with Gemini and building AI fluency across functions

6️⃣ Advice for Future Leaders - Keep learning, stay open to unexpected opportunities, and don’t wait to lead

💡 Favourite lines from the conversation: “Great things often come from unexpected places - books, conversations, or mentors. Keep the doors open and stay curious.”

A huge thank you to Alex for sharing his journey, lessons, and forward-looking views. This episode is packed with grounded, practical insights - and a global lens that’s rare and refreshing.

The Episode 11 podcast with Gary Lu, CFO, Biomerica focuses on ‘CFO Leadership at Public Firms: Strategy, Scale & AI’. We explore how CFOs aren’t just responsible for numbers—they’re managing investor expectations, navigating compliance, and embracing AI and automation to stay ahead.

🚀 Key takeaways from the episode:

1️⃣ CFOs as Strategic Leaders – The modern CFO’s role goes far beyond financial reporting. Gary shares how today’s finance leaders must balance growth, compliance, and operational efficiency, while also driving technology adoption and business strategy.

2️⃣ Public vs. Startup Finance – The difference isn’t just about size. Public companies require strict regulatory compliance and investor relations, while startups demand agility and risk-taking. The best CFOs understand how to blend both mindsets to drive success.

3️⃣ AI is changing the game—but only for those who embrace it – From real-time financial insights to predictive analytics, AI is making CFOs more proactive and data-driven than ever before.

One of my favorite moments from this conversation? Gary’s take on how traditional ERPs, while powerful, can be costly and time-consuming to implement, often requiring extensive customization and resources. In contrast, modern SaaS solutions bring flexibility, faster deployment, and lower costs, making it easier for finance teams to adapt and scale without the complexities of legacy systems.

A huge thank you to Gary for this insightful discussion! If you’re a CFO, finance leader, or just passionate about where finance is headed, this episode is a must-listen.