In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, co-hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy sit down with Nicolas Boucher, finance professional turned AI educator, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of corporate finance.

When ChatGPT first launched, most attention went to marketing and content creation. But Nicolas saw something different. He became one of the earliest voices in applying AI to finance—eventually building a following of 1M+ on LinkedIn and publishing guides that have shaped how finance teams use AI today.

Topics covered in this episode:

• How Nicolas transitioned from early adopter to global finance AI expert.
• The moment AI evolved from writing to real quantitative analysis.
• How misusing AI can damage your credibility—and how to avoid it.
• The importance of workflow context and your business environment: Why Microsoft Copilot could work when ChatGPT might not.
• Why CFOs must “manage” AI tools like they would a team member.

“AI won’t replace you, but misusing it might.” — Nicolas Boucher

00:59 Meet Nicholas Boucher: AI and Finance Expert

01:42 Nicolas' Journey into AI and Finance

03:53 The Impact of AI on Finance

08:00 Real Use Cases of AI in Finance

11:57 Hype vs. Reality in AI Tools

16:37 Focused AI Solutions for Finance

19:13 Data Challenges in AI Implementation

21:45 Corporate Licenses and AI Adoption

25:23 Common Mistakes in Using AI for Finance

30:05 The Role of the CFO in AI Integration

32:39 Practical Steps for CFOs to Leverage AI

35:12 Managing AI as a Team Member

Don’t miss this one if you want to future-proof your finance team.

Subscribe for more conversations with forward-thinking CFOs and finance leaders.

Connect with Nicolas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bouchernicolas/

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/

Find the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UhEavWaZEbQ

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and explore how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high-performing organizations.

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Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at https://upflow.io/.

And find out about our own AI functionality in Upflow at https://upflow.io/features/upflow-ai.

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