In this special episode of Financial Modeler's Corner, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by CFO and startup finance educator Lauren Pearl for a storytelling session that’s equal parts funny and terrifying. They walk through “The Currency Catastrophe,” a true finance horror story about a global company, a junior analyst, and a massive mistake involving currency conversions. As the story unfolds, Paul and Lauren react, unpack what went wrong, and share their own war stories from years working in finance.

Lauren Pearl is a CFO, startup advisor, and finance educator who specializes in helping early-stage companies build strong financial foundations. With a career that spans startups, venture-backed firms, and a stint in top-tier management consulting, Lauren brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and practical execution. She's also known for her hands-on approach to teaching financial modeling and startup finance through courses, content, and mentorship.

Expect to Learn:

• What happens when you skip currency conversion in a global revenue allocation.
• Why getting the basics right is just as important as the big strategy.
• How one mistake can ripple across budgets, teams, and trust.
• The value of transparency and ownership is when something goes wrong.
• Why it’s crucial to put checks in your models, especially when currencies are involved.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “The finance department was such a dumpster fire, it created cloud cover for the mistake.” - Lauren Pearl
• “Modelers: always put currency checks in your spreadsheets. This stuff happens more than you think.” - Paul Barnhurst
• “Apologize and overcorrect. That’s the CFO playbook when you make a mistake.” - Lauren Pearl

Lauren and Paul share a story every finance professional can relate to, a small mistake that snowballs into something much bigger. Whether you’re new to finance or have been around the block, this episode is a reminder of why fundamentals matter and how a little humor can help you get through even the most stressful moments. If you've ever cringed at your own spreadsheet or scrambled to fix a report before a meeting, you'll feel right at home.

Follow Lauren :

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/
• Website - https://www.laurenpearlconsulting.com/link-list

Follow Paul: 

• Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com   
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy  
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefpandaguy

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In today’s episode:

[00:00] - Trailer

[01:43] - Welcome & Intro to the Horror Story 

[03:01] - Meet Lauren Pearl

[06:07] - The Story of the Currency Catastrophe

[09:54] - When Meetings Could Just Be Emails

[13:52] - Accounting Chaos and Rising Tension

[16:59] - The Currency Blunder Uncovered

[20:00] - Why the Mistake Mattered So Much

[24:33] - Quiet Fixes and Avoiding Fallout

[27:34] - Paul’s Own Finance Mishap

[30:13] - Lauren’s Pricing Error 

[34:19] - Final Lessons for Modelers 

[35:07] - Closing Thoughts