What does it really take to lead a private equity-backed business through growth, exit, and transformation while staying true to your leadership style?

In this episode, Stephan Burow, CFO at Lintbells, shares his journey from Unilever to high-growth scaleups like Gousto, and now to leading finance, tech, and people at a purpose-driven pet wellness company.

We dive into:

🧠 The mindset shift required to thrive as a PE-backed CFO

⏱  Why pace, 80/20 thinking, and intentional time management are make-or-break

🤝 How Stephan builds high-performance, people-first cultures

🧩 Secrets to handling exits and investor pressure

🐾 Why purpose matters

Whether you’re an aspiring CFO, in the middle of a scaleup journey, or leading through a private equity transaction, this episode is packed with insights and best of all - refreshing honesty.

🎧 Listen now and tell us: What’s the hardest part of leading in a PE-backed environment?

Chapters

00:00 – Intro & Background

02:00 – From Unilever to Scaleups

06:00 – Why Pace & Impact Matter

10:00 – Gusto, Growth & the 80/20 Rule

14:00 – Transitioning to CFO in PE

20:00 – Managing Investors & Exit Process

26:00 – AI, Finance & the Future

30:00 – Leadership, Mentorship & Culture

38:00 – Broadening the CFO Role

45:00 – Risks, Cybersecurity & What Keeps Him Up

48:30 – Legacy, Purpose & Final Advice