In this episode of Behind Numbers, we go far beyond titles and résumés to explore the story of a leader who built her career with conviction, resilience, and an unshakeable sense of direction.

I’m joined by Joy Mbanugo, CFO of CXAI, a publicly traded SaaS company using AI to transform how we experience workspaces. Joy’s journey spans EY, BlackRock, Google, and ServiceRocket—companies where she reshaped finance organizations, led through complexity, and built a reputation for being both deeply technical and boldly innovative.

But behind the impressive career is a story of perseverance, self-belief, and navigating spaces where she often had to push harder than most. Joy shares how her passion for finance began unexpectedly in high school, how her parents steered her toward law, and how she carved her path anyway—earning her law degree while working full-time at EY, moving across continents, and stepping fearlessly into the tech world.

We discuss the pivotal moments that tested her resilience: getting told she was “making a mistake” for wanting to move offices, being pressured to miss law school classes for audit work, or even hearing, “What makes you think you could be a CFO?” Joy reveals how she learned to block out the noise, trust her convictions, and lead with clarity—wisdom she now brings to her teams and to the next generation of finance professionals.

As the CFO of a company at the intersection of AI, workplace innovation, and analytics, Joy shares a front-row view of how AI is reshaping modern finance. From earnings prep to forecasting, memo writing, and real-time insights, she illustrates how AI can become a superpower for CFOs—not a threat. She breaks down:

• How companies can start adopting AI gradually

• Why securing an LLM behind the firewall is a game-changer

• How collaboration inside an LLM will redefine teamwork

• The future skills every finance professional must build

And for leaders wondering how to start implementing AI inside their organizations, Joy explains why it doesn’t require a massive transformation project—just the right approach, the right tools, and a willingness to evolve.

This conversation is inspiring, honest, and packed with insights for anyone navigating a career in finance, tech, or leadership. Joy’s perspectives on conviction, resilience, and the future of AI in the workplace make this an episode you won’t want to miss.