The CFOIQ Podcast

What does it really take to lead at the highest levels of finance? In this compelling CFO IQ conversation, Andy Zezas sits down with Talia Griep, EVP, Chief Administrative Officer & CFO at Benjamin Moore, and Mila Tartakovsky, Vice President of Finance and Regional CFO, North America at Daiichi Sankyo, for an honest and wide-ranging discussion about what it means to be an effective modern finance leader.

From executive presence, mentorship and sponsorship to navigating family and career, negotiating compensation, managing risk, and confronting imposter syndrome, Talia and Mila offer candid perspectives shaped by decades of leadership experience. They also explore how AI is transforming finance, why tomorrow's CFO must become a strategic business partner—not simply a steward of the numbers—and why the ability to turn financial data into a compelling business story is becoming an essential leadership skill.

A powerful conversation about the human side of leadership, the future of finance, and what it takes to build a career—and a legacy—that matters.

What does it take to be both an entrepreneur and a CFO? In this episode of CFOIQ, host Andrew Zezas sits down with Natasha Dillon, CFO and Co-Founder of Fundfy Merchant Funding, to explore the unique mindset required to build, scale, and lead a high-growth business while maintaining financial discipline. Drawing on her journey from childhood hustles and investment banking to launching and successfully exiting businesses, Natasha shares how entrepreneurial thinking has shaped her approach to finance, risk management, institutional capital, and strategic decision-making. She discusses the challenges of wearing multiple leadership hats, building institutional-grade financial infrastructure, navigating growth, and knowing when to pivot versus stay the course.

Whether you're a CFO, founder, finance executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation offers valuable insights into calculated risk-taking, leadership, scaling a business, and why today's most effective CFOs are increasingly expected to think like entrepreneurs.

What does it take to succeed as a CFO in a private equity-backed organization? In this episode of CFOIQ, host Andrew Zezas sits down with Ying Miao, CFO of Converge, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities finance leaders face when partnering with private equity investors. Drawing on her experience as both an operator and investor, Ying shares practical insights on value creation, financial discipline, capital allocation, reporting transparency, AI-driven finance transformation, and building trust with PE sponsors. From managing growth expectations and aligning incentives to leveraging technology and fostering stronger investor relationships, this engaging discussion provides CFOs with actionable strategies for driving enterprise value and achieving sustainable growth in today's increasingly competitive marketplace. Whether you're already working with private equity or preparing for your first PE-backed role, this episode offers a valuable roadmap for navigating the journey successfully.

M&A is roaring back in 2026, with global deal value estimated to reach $3.6 trillion—and CFOs are at the center of it all. In this episode of CFOIQ, Andrew Zezas sits down with seasoned CFO Brian Giambagno to break down the resurgence of mega deals, the shift toward bold consolidation strategies, and what it really takes to execute over 50 successful acquisitions while maintaining strong organic growth. From building scalable M&A integration playbooks and navigating private equity-backed expansion to managing cultural transitions and leading high-growth mid-market companies, this conversation delivers actionable insights for finance leaders and executives. Whether you're a CFO, private equity investor, or business leader, this episode dives deep into M&A strategy, post-merger integration, leadership, and the future of growth in today’s evolving market.

Discover how one of the fastest-growing sports in the world is being powered behind the scenes in this episode of CFOIQ. Host Andrew Zezas interviews Keith Helmuth of USA Pickleball to explore how USA Pickleball drives revenue through memberships, sponsorships, tournaments, and equipment certification, while navigating the challenges of 50%+ year-over-year growth. This episode covers nonprofit financial strategy, budgeting in high-growth environments, global expansion of pickleball, youth development initiatives, and the sport’s potential path to the Olympics. Perfect for CFOs, finance leaders, sports executives, and anyone interested in the business of sports, nonprofit management, and emerging market trends.

In today’s hyper connected marketplace, the Chief Financial Officer’s role has evolved far beyond traditional financial stewardship. This executive discussion explores how modern CFOs have become critical guardians of brand value, wielding financial discipline as a strategic weapon to protect and enhance corporate reputation. As stakeholders increasingly scrutinize not just what companies earn, but how they earn it, CFOs find themselves at the intersection of financial performance and brand integrity. They must navigate the delicate balance between short-term profitability and long-term brand sustainability, making decisions that resonate far beyond the balance sheet. Join Virginie Costa, a global business executive who has served as CFO for brands, such as Mondelez, Wella, Godiva, Burberry, and Hermes, as she shares her experience in how forward-thinking CFOs are redefining their mandate to protect their companies’ brands through rigorous financial governance, ethical investment strategies, and transparent reporting practices. Virginie will explore real-world scenarios where financial decisions directly impact brand perception, from ESG reporting and supply chain investments to crisis management and stakeholder communications. 

Gary Piscatelli has earned a reputation as a transformational and pragmatic leader in a global confectionary industry driven by factors including rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and innovative products. That market's valued at approximately $269 billion in 2024, and projected to reach around $468 billion by 2034 with a huge annual compound annual growth rate of 5.7%.  Gary joins us to share his views on harnessing finance as an engine for corporate growth.

For almost every industry in 2025, tariffs have become a way of life and something that almost every CFO has had to contend with.  But what are the global ramifications when an entire industry spreads its "wings" in a mass race to piece together the perfect supply chain puzzle in a marketplace where tariffs on thousands of parts can change with a single social media post. 

In this episode of CFOIQ, we go in-depth with Claude Draillard, CEO of AvionGarde LLC, and Former CFO of both Dassault Falcon Jet and Honda Aircraft, on how the aerospace industry is constantly redefining the game and thinking outside of the box to stay one step ahead of global market conditions. 

Juggling life and work is a challenge for any busy executive—but few master it quite like Mila Tartakovsky, Head of U.S. Finance at Daiichi Sankyo. Mila redefines what it means to reach the pinnacle of success in both her professional and personal worlds, showing how to make each strengthen the other.

In this episode of CFOIQ, we go in-depth with Mila on leadership, teamwork, mentoring, coaching, and the art of managing global teams—all while balancing life as top finance executive and mother to one daughter who’s an Olympic fencing champion and another who’s a newlywed planning her dream European destination wedding.

In this episode of CFO IQ, host Andrew Zezas shatters conventional wisdom about corporate real estate by revealing that your company’s property has multiple values simultaneously as many as 13 different valuations on the same day. Zezas breaks down how three different buyer types (corporate occupants, investor landlords, and sale-leaseback investors) will offer dramatically different prices for the exact same property. Using concrete examples, he explains why corporate occupants might pay top dollar while investor landlords could offer 30% less, all based on their unique objectives and risk calculations. This episode gives finance executives a strategic edge when considering property sales, showing why rushing to accept the first offer could potentially leave millions on the table. These insights help CFOs match their timing needs with the right buyer type, ensuring maximum value from real estate transactions.