In this episode, Kenny sits down with Kevin Appleby, Head of Partnerships of GrowCFO, to make sense of what AI actually means for modern finance teams. Kevin has spent years helping CFOs evolve from reporting engines into strategic operators, and he brings a grounded, refreshingly honest view of where AI fits into that shift.

We get into why finance still struggles with the same old problems – slow cycles, messy data, scattered tools – even as the technology around it accelerates. Kevin explains how leaders can navigate this moment without getting overwhelmed: by making better decisions about their data, demanding real value from vendors, and focusing on clarity over complexity.

The conversation also touches on the people side of change: how to support teams who fear losing their expertise, how to introduce AI without sparking panic, and why the most effective finance functions use technology to elevate their judgment, not replace it.

If you’re leading in finance, operations, or transformation, this episode will help you see AI not as a disruption to survive, but as a chance to redesign how your team works ≠ with more confidence, more insight, and fewer self-inflicted headaches.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Kevin’s Background

02:30 – What’s Really Changed in Finance

04:50 – Why CFOs Feel Overwhelmed by AI

06:10 – How to Choose the Right AI Tools

10:50 – Spotting “Real” vs. “Fake” AI

13:20 – Practical Examples of AI in Finance

17:15 – Plugins vs. Full Finance Transformation

22:20 – How AI Is Reshaping Finance Roles

30:40 – Leading Teams Through AI Change

32:50 – Quick Fire Round and Closing

Find us on socials:

🔗 Follow Kenny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyalegbe/

🤖 Follow Brim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinbrim/

📩 For business or guest inquiries: [email protected]