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.

In Episode 10 – The Evolving Role of CFOs in Fintech Firms, we explored how CFOs navigate financial strategy across different environments—startups vs. enterprises—and what the future of finance tech holds. If you're curious about the evolving CFO role and the next wave of financial innovation, this episode is packed with insights.

A few key takeaways:

1️⃣ CFOs as Strategic Co-Pilots – The modern CFO isn’t just a numbers person. Subodh shared how CFOs must balance growth ambitions with financial sustainability and risk, acting as key advisors to the CEO and driving long-term business success.

2️⃣ Startups vs. Enterprises – What’s different? Large corporations prioritize stability and scale, leveraging structure and resources for sustained growth. Startups, meanwhile, thrive on agility and bold execution, turning high-risk bets into industry-changing innovations. Subodh’s insights reveal how both paths offer unique challenges—one builds legacies, the other reshapes industries at speed.

3️⃣ AI’s Role in Finance – AI isn’t just hype; it’s already reshaping finance through predictive analytics, credit risk assessment, accounts receivable automation, pricing models, and compliance automation. But we’re only scratching the surface of its full potential.

4️⃣ Career Growth in Finance – There’s no single path to becoming a CFO—whether through corporate finance, investment banking, or startups—but the key skills remain the same: deep financial expertise, strong storytelling, and the ability to enable business growth.

The standout moment was Subodh’s perspective on why today’s ERP and financial systems need to evolve beyond data collection and reporting, and embrace automation, intelligence, and predictive capabilities.

Finance leaders can’t afford to rely solely on historical data—they need real-time insights and forward-looking strategies to stay ahead.

A huge thank you to Subodh for sharing his expertise, experiences, and candid insights! If you’re in finance, fintech, or leadership, you won’t want to miss this one.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to lead finance at a global AI-first tech giant (or how to pivot from investment banking to CFO!), this podcast episode is packed with golden nuggets.

A few highlights from the episode:

1️⃣ The “CFO evolution”: Marc shared how the role has shifted from being a “numbers guardian” to a strategic co-pilot, especially in hyper-growth tech. Spoiler: It’s less about spreadsheets and more about strategic thinking, cross-functional alignment, and anticipating market shifts before they happen.

2️⃣ AI in finance – more than just automation: At InMobi, AI isn’t just a tool—it’s embedded into their financial strategy. But Marc made one thing clear: AI isn’t a magic fix. Without strong data infrastructure and optimized processes, even the best AI models fall short. He also shared why agentic AI—AI that can autonomously interact with external systems—could redefine finance in the years to come.

3️⃣ Leading teams across cultures: Having built finance teams in both the U.S. and India, Marc’s insights on bridging communication styles, decision-making rhythms, and even meeting dynamics were pure gold for global leaders.

One thing that stood out? Marc’s take on the “80/20 problem” in finance—how teams spend too much time on edge cases and routine tasks instead of driving real impact. His vision? Let AI handle the busywork so finance professionals can focus on the big, strategic decisions that actually move the needle.

Jon Gross, CFO at RepeatMD, with over 15 years of experience in finance and operations leadership has an impressive career that spans across industries like healthcare, technology, and venture-backed startups. From driving financial strategy at Mile High Labs to leading operational excellence at Keen and Redesign Health, Jon has consistently demonstrated expertise in scaling businesses, optimizing processes, and delivering impactful results. In this episode, Jon shares insights that will resonate with every finance professional, including: 🔹 His journey from intern to CFO and the turning points along the way 🔹 Two of the biggest challenges he's faced in his finance career 🔹 The evolving role of a CFO at firms moving beyond Series A funding 🔹 His take on the future of Quote-to-Cash and the current challenges in QTC processes 🔹 His experience as CFO at RepeatMD and its mission to empower aesthetic and wellness practices 🔹 Thoughts on improving today’s accounting software stack 🔹 Advice for aspiring finance leaders navigating today’s fast-changing landscape

Chris McCourt, CFO at Bergmeyer, brings over two decades of finance leadership across industries like technology, advertising, and real estate. He’s known for driving strategic growth, mastering P&L, M&A, and optimizing cash flow. His experience leading firms like Digilant, VaultLogix, and others highlights his expertise in financial transparency, risk management, and team performance. In this episode, Chris shares his incredible journey from Staff Accountant to CFO, the challenges he’s overcome, and his vision for the future of accounting. Here’s a sneak peek into what you can witness on this episode: 🔹 Key moments and turning points in Chris’s finance career 🔹 Insights into how accounting has evolved over the past decade and where it’s headed 🔹 Challenges in finance leadership during market shifts and how Chris tackled them 🔹 The role of generative AI in accounting – from automation to quick insights 🔹 His perspective on improving accounting software for better bookkeeping 🔹 Advice for finance professionals aiming to excel in today’s dynamic environment

⁠https://finfloh.com/⁠

Alyssa brings more than a decade of experience in finance, accounting, and audit across companies of diverse shapes and sizes. She currently serves as the CFO of Sisense, and prior to this, she held finance leadership roles at Akamai Technologies, Linode, Deloitte, and several other firms. She has also led major mergers and acquisitions, playing a pivotal role in some significant deals. Her deep expertise spans business finance, AR, AP, FP&A, and controllership, offering valuable insights for finance professionals navigating today’s dynamic financial landscape. In this episode, we'll delve into: 🔹 Alyssa's journey as a CFO, leading finance across multiple functions 🔹 Her experiences in large-scale M&A, including a $50B transaction 🔹 The challenges of implementing systems like ERP and automating A/R 🔹 Insights on navigating complex collections and improving DSO 🔹 The evolving role of AI in finance, from automating reports to decision-making

⁠https://finfloh.com/⁠