🎙️ From Auditor to Business Partner: Linda Cozzi's Counterintuitive CFO Strategy That Tripled Revenue at America's Oldest Country Club

In this inspiring episode, Linda Cozzi, Chief Financial Officer of the Philadelphia Cricket Club (est. 1854), shares her remarkable journey from discovering accounting by happenstance in a high school elective to becoming a CFO who breaks every traditional rule by actually encouraging managers to spend more money on employees rather than cutting costs. Through candid stories about an early-career controller who told her "you'll attract more bees with honey than with vinegar" that transformed her from auditor to business partner, missing a payroll posting during her divorce and being let go from her job which led to hitting rock bottom before surrendering control to God, and implementing an "enrichment fund" where department heads get in trouble if they DON'T spend their budgets thanking employees, Linda reveals how she increased Philadelphia Cricket Club's revenue from $11 million to $38 million, grew membership from 1,150 to 1,900, boosted employee satisfaction scores from 8 to 68, and achieved recognition as a Top 50 Platinum Club of America—all by spending 247% more on payroll, implementing four-day work weeks for managers in an industry known for grinding 16-hour days, and living by Richard Branson's philosophy that "happy staff equals happy members," proving that investing heavily in employee culture isn't just good for morale, it's the primary driver of revenue growth in hospitality.

✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:

• Discovered accounting by accident taking bookkeeping elective senior year of high school, no family members in field

• Joined Philadelphia Cricket Club 2012 as interim CFO during consulting work, took full year to clean up books

• Revenue growth: $11M (2012) to $38M (2024), membership growth: 1,150 to 1,900, payroll increased 247%

• Changed membership structure from à la carte (pick sports quarterly) to all-inclusive model, immediately increased revenue

• $17M capital projects on two campuses 2011-2012, another $17M in projects 2023, currently building golf performance center

• First in area to add Padel (racket sport from Spain/Mexico), constantly innovating facilities and member experience

• Top 50 Platinum Club of America (ranked #36), Top 150 Platinum Clubs of the World (ranked 120)

• "Enrichment fund" allocated to every department—managers must spend budget thanking staff personally (gift cards, cash, dinners)

🌟 Linda's Key Mentors & Influences:

Early Career Controller

Richard Branson Philosophy

The Dream Manager Book (Matthew Kelly)

God/Catholic Faith

Jim Smith Jr. (Director of Golf, Flowertown GM)

Dan Mearsman (Director of Grounds, Chief Planning Officer)

Wharton Business School

👉 Don't miss this powerful conversation about how increasing payroll 247% drove revenue growth, why employees getting in trouble for NOT spending their budgets creates loyalty, how surrendering control during rock bottom led to divine timing, and why the most counterintuitive CFO strategy—investing heavily in employee happiness—is actually the smartest financial decision a hospitality business can make.

🔗 Connect with Linda Cozzi:

LinkedIn: Linda Cozzi 

📄 Transcript Available: How Linda Cozzi Grew Philadelphia Cricket Club from $11M to $38M Through Employee Investment

📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast

🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast

📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

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