FinPod

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained on FinPod, we're tackling one of the most vital topics in business and finance: how companies handle financial crises and recessions.

When economic storms hit, corporate finance fundamentally shifts from long-term strategy to immediate, day-to-day survival. Your finance team becomes the nerve center, constantly stress-testing models, monitoring liquidity, and making real-time trade-offs.

Welcome back to What's New at CFI on FinPod! In this exciting episode, we're joined by Paul Barnhurst, The FP&A Guy, as he introduces CFI's brand-new course: FP&A Tool Selection.

Are you an FP&A professional struggling with chaotic Excel models, disconnected reports, or overwhelmed by the sheer number of available planning tools? This course is your ultimate guide! Paul walks us through why choosing the right tool is more strategic than ever and how to navigate the exploding FP&A software market.

In this episode, Paul reveals:

• Key signs it's time to upgrade from Excel: When do broken models, collaboration issues, and countless budget versions signal a need for a dedicated FP&A tool?
• Navigating the 150+ FP&A tools: Frameworks to narrow down your options based on desired functionality (spreadsheet-native vs. complete replacement), company size (small to enterprise), industry focus, and platform capabilities.
• The critical groundwork for tool selection: Why building robust requirements, writing a solid problem statement, and managing a rigorous RFP process are essential to avoid the "wow factor" and ensure a good fit.
• Paul's personal must-have productivity tools (beyond Excel!): Discover his favorite non-FP&A tools like ClickUp, ChatGPT, and Claude, and how he leverages them for productivity, research, and even devil's advocacy in decision-making.

This course is a must-have for anyone evaluating new FP&A software or seeking a smarter process for optimizing their finance tech stack. Learn from the expert and make informed decisions to empower your finance career!

Welcome to FinPod by CFI's "Careers in Finance" series! In this exclusive episode, we sit down with Tim Vipond, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). Go beyond the typical resume and uncover the fascinating career journey that led him to build the world's leading online finance education platform.

Tim shares his candid experiences starting from his early interest in finance, shaped by family and university, and his foundational investment banking analyst roles at firms like Scotia Capital. He opens up about the rigorous demands of Wall Street, the pursuit of perfection, and the steep learning curve for aspiring finance professionals.

Whether you're an aspiring investment banker, a current finance professional looking to pivot, or an entrepreneur seeking inspiration, Tim's story offers invaluable lessons on career resilience, risk-taking, and building a globally impactful business.

Want to understand how credit ratings actually affect your company’s financial decisions?

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we unpack how credit ratings from agencies like Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch impact everything from bond yields and stock prices to capital structure decisions.

Learn how companies like Ford, Apple, Kraft Heinz, and Netflix responded to downgrades, upgrades, and rating watchlists—and how finance teams manage their credit profile through strategy, communication, and capital discipline.

In this episode of Careers in Finance on FinPod, we sit down with Eric Byunn, Partner and Co-Founder of Centana Growth Partners, to unpack the journey behind one of the most respected voices in growth equity. From his early days at Harvard and McKinsey to product leadership at Netscape and founding his own investment firm, Eric shares candid insights on navigating career transitions, leading through uncertainty, and building a successful finance career with curiosity and conviction.

This episode is a must-listen for early-career finance professionals, consultants considering a pivot to investing, and anyone interested in how great investors think not just about deals, but about people, purpose, and long-term impact.

What’s really behind the rise of corporate stock buybacks? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down how buybacks work, when they create value, and when they can backfire. You'll learn the financial strategy behind share repurchases, how they compare to dividends, and what finance professionals need to know about timing, capital structure, and investor perception. Featuring real-world case studies from Apple, Boeing, and Bed Bath & Beyond, this is a must-listen for mid-career finance professionals navigating boardroom decisions and capital allocation models.

Are you building your budget—or defending your assumptions?

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore how cognitive bias quietly influences financial decisions in forecasting, capital planning, and corporate strategy.

Whether you’re in FP&A, M&A, or treasury, understanding behavioral finance can help you avoid critical missteps caused by overconfidence, anchoring, or groupthink.

Expanding into emerging markets? Finance teams face a whole new level of risk and opportunity. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we reveal how multinational companies manage currency risk, political instability, and regulatory complexity when operating in fast-growing economies.

Learn how Tesla structured its China expansion, how Coca-Cola hedges naira risk in Nigeria, and how Unilever handles pricing and compliance in India.

Behind the Course: Economic Analysis for FP&A – New from CFI

In this episode of What’s New at CFI on FinPod, we walk through our latest course release: Economic Analysis for FP&A, co-authored by instructors Mimi Hu and Meeyeon Park. Designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world finance, this course helps learners understand how FP&A teams drive strategic decisions—using scenario analysis, economic trends, and business partnering to influence the direction of a company.

Whether you're just starting out or stepping into leadership in FP&A, this episode offers key insights into how the course was built to support you. From practical retail-based examples to the importance of data storytelling and executive-ready presentation skills, Mimi and Meeyeon reflect on the lessons they wish they'd had earlier in their careers—and how this course now delivers them to you.

Is corporate finance about maximizing shareholder value, or should companies focus on broader stakeholder interests? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the evolving debate between shareholder primacy and stakeholder capitalism—and what it means for finance professionals today.

Whether you work in financial planning, strategy, or corporate development, this episode provides practical takeaways to help you align financial strategy with long-term value creation.