Kevin Appleby and Bill Genovese discussed the convergence of digital technologies between the CFO and CEO/IO roles, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between these two roles. Kevin Appleby and Bill Genovese later discussed the importance of cost avoidance, cybersecurity, and cultural change in navigating digital transformation, highlighting the need for organizations to adapt to new technologies and ways of thinking. Both conversations emphasized the value of collaboration and sharing experiences to better navigate the complexities of digital transformation.

Key topics covered include:

An overview of Bill Genovese’s background in financial services and technology consulting

The concept of digital convergence and how technologies overlap to solve business problems

Examples of how ERP systems evolved to integrate finance functions

The CFO-CIO partnership in regulatory compliance projects like Basel II

Opportunities for cost avoidance and cloud strategies through legacy modernization

Cybersecurity considerations like the zero-trust architecture

Emerging technologies like quantum computing and associated risks

When a company should consider hiring a dedicated CIO/CTO role

The importance of culture and mindset for successful digital transformation 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ABQhD9miI&t=10s

Links

Bill Genovese on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

GrowCFO Mentoring

Timestamps

0:00:11 Introduction and welcome

0:00:48 Bill Genovese introduction

0:00:51 Bill discusses his background

0:03:49 Kevin shares experience at IBM

0:04:04 Continued discussion of Bill’s background at IBM

0:05:01 Kevin recalls experience leaving IBM

0:05:28 Bill defines digital convergence using an overlapping circles diagram

0:07:05 Discussion of technology convergence e.g. smartphones

0:07:20 Bill shares he still has an original Palm Pilot

0:07:31 Kevin agrees about going back to old technologies

0:09:39 Kevin discusses finance systems integrating from other systems

0:11:36 Bill discusses ERP implementations in the early 2000s

0:12:36 Kevin discusses ongoing issues with budgeting/forecasting

0:13:21 Discussion of better budgeting solutions from the early 2000s

0:14:38 Kevin introduces discussing CFO-CIO partnerships

0:14:46 Bill discusses regulatory compliance projects

0:17:50 Kevin agrees to spend money intelligently 

0:18:10 Bill discusses his relationship with CFOs

0:19:56 Discussion of multi-cloud strategies and related risks

0:20:50 Kevin raises security concerns about multi-cloud

0:24:48 Bill discusses zero trust architecture and quantum risks

0:25:14 Bill’s view on when a company needs a CTO role

0:26:11 Discussion of Bill’s CFO Tech Outlook article

0:26:50 Bill discusses other publications and viewpoints

0:28:51 Discussion of Bill’s experience in China

0:30:09 Kevin thanks Bill for the discussion 

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