Beginning her career as an analyst, Carol Lee honed her technical skills both in pre-revenue start-ups and a multinational corporation with over $10 billion in revenue. These contrasting environments, she tells us, equipped her with a unique perspective on what it takes to be both scrappy and scalable.

Early in her career, Lee immersed herself in M&A activities, gaining insights from both the buy and sell sides. As an analyst, she was able to absorb vast amounts of financial information and build detailed models as she observed high-stakes negotiations from up close. These experiences were instrumental in understanding the end-to-end processes of M&A, from financial scrutiny to integration and synergy realization. This comprehensive view became invaluable to her as she emerged as a finance leader.

Lee’s tenure at 100-year-old Konica Minolta exposed her to large-scale operations and the intricacies of synchronized business processes. This period taught her the importance of structured, efficient workflows and the necessity of diverse go-to-market strategies. These insights became crucial when she transitioned to the fast-paced environment of Silicon Valley tech start-ups, where agility and rapid decision-making are essential.

In her first CFO role at GoodData, a VC-backed company, Lee embraced the chaos and speed of the start-up culture. Her ability to balance structured financial oversight with the need for flexibility and rapid experimentation became a hallmark of her leadership. This balance, coupled with a deep understanding of various business scales and sectors, defines Lee’s CFO mindset today.

Lee emphasizes the importance of communication, storytelling, and partnership in finance leadership. By integrating technical acumen with strategic foresight and a collaborative approach, she navigates the complexities of scaling businesses while fostering innovation and growth.