#224 The Future of Finance: How Power BI and AI Are Redefining the CFO Role with Rishi Sapra

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6sIeKqInI1Ur549AprBRnw

How Are Power BI and AI Redefining the CFO Role?

Power BI and artificial intelligence are transforming how finance leaders operate. In this podcast, Rishi Sapra, Microsoft MVP and GrowCFO Facilitator, explores how modern CFOs can use data, automation, and AI to make faster, smarter decisions. From building interactive dashboards to automating reporting, this episode shows why mastering these tools is no longer optional — it’s a competitive necessity.

Rishi Sapra, a GrowCFO Facilitator and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP), brings a wealth of experience from top-tier financial institutions to demystify the power of business intelligence technologies. Through his expertise, finance professionals can understand how advanced analytics platforms are not just technological tools, but strategic assets that can drive organizational performance and competitive advantage.

The podcast explores the intricate world of Power BI, showcasing how modern finance professionals can leverage data visualization, automation, and AI-driven insights to make more informed decisions. By bridging the gap between complex technical capabilities and practical business applications, Sapra provides a comprehensive overview of how emerging technologies are reshaping the financial analysis landscape.

This session offers a deep dive into the transformative potential of Power BI, illustrating how finance leaders can move beyond traditional reporting to create dynamic, interactive, and intelligent financial narratives that drive strategic decision-making.

Key topics covered:

Power BI's role in creating comprehensive semantic models for financial data

The importance of context and storytelling in financial reporting

Automation capabilities that streamline financial data processing

Integration of AI and copilot technologies in financial analytics

Practical approaches to building interactive financial dashboards

Bridging the gap between technical complexity and business value

The future of data management through unified platforms

Strategies for handling diverse skill levels in financial technology training

The critical role of education in adopting advanced analytics tools

Transforming financial reporting from static to dynamic insights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXnwOwe0_s&t=7s

Links

Rishi Sapra on LinkedIn

Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn

GrowCFO Mentoring

Timestamps

0:03:22 Initial introductions and background context

0:06:37 Podcast formal introduction

0:08:37 Discussion of Power BI teaching approach

0:11:30 Motivation for teaching technical subjects

0:13:58 Experiential learning in technical training

0:20:34 Power BI's core functionalities in financial reporting

0:31:14 Course structure and content details

0:38:13 Future trends in Power BI and AI integration

0:41:11 Historical challenges in performance management

0:45:56 Concluding insights on technology and education

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