Great CFOs do more than manage the numbers—they lead, adapt, and shape the future of their organizations. In this episode, Ilana Esterrich, CFO of Planned Parenthood, shares how she steers her team through uncertainty and change while keeping a sharp focus on strategy and leadership.

With a background in the military, Ilana brings a unique perspective on building strong teams, fostering a growth mindset, and navigating the shifting financial and regulatory landscape.

Tune in for a candid conversation about what it really takes to be a CFO who drives impact, resilience, and innovation in today’s world.

Connect with Ilana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanaesterrich/

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: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.

This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business.

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

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]

In this episode, we reflect on the first season of the podcast. We discuss what we learned from the first 7 episodes featuring top CFOs and finance leaders.

As you listen, feel free to pause this episode and jump into the earlier episodes we highlight - our aim here is to give you a good overview of the best bits from the podcast so far!

Key highlights include the importance of getting out of the finance office, the value of startup experience, the need for patience in new CFO roles, the cultural challenges in digital transformation, and the blurring lines between data science and finance.

We also share our excitement for season two and let you know how you can get in touch to share feedback.

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

In this episode of the Growth Minded CFO podcast, hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy speak with Carl Seidman, an industry-leading finance educator and consultant.

Carl talks through his professional journey from Big Four consulting to establishing his own successful practice focused on FP& A processes and upskilling teams.

The discussion then focuses into the evolving role of finance professionals, emphasizing the importance of technical skills (but not only!), critical and strategic thinking, and effective communication.

Carl also highlights the continuous nature of learning and development, and the impact of AI and digital transformation on the finance function.

00:39 Welcome to the Growth Minded CFO

00:59 Meet Carl Seidman

02:06 Carl's Career Journey

02:52 Helping Companies Upskill

03:53 Differences in Company Sizes

08:01 Mindset Evolution in Finance

14:20 Training and Development in Finance

40:16 The Role of AI and Digitization

45:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Carl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlseidman/

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

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

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.

Find the video version of this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XPPsfNVwt-M

This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business.

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

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]

In this episode of 'The Growth Minded CFO,' hosts Lauren and Alex welcome Howard Katzenberg, CEO of Glean.ai.

00:00 Mindset Shift in AR and AP

00:33 Introduction to the Growth-Minded CFO Podcast

01:04 Meet Howard Katzenberg, CEO of Glean AI

02:06 Understanding Vendor Expenses with Glean AI

03:08 Revolutionizing Accounts Payable and Receivable

03:51 The Role of Analytics in Finance

06:44 Challenges in Traditional AR Processes

08:36 The Value of Automation and Insights

21:36 Building a Strong Spend Culture

26:20 The Strategic Role of the CFO

30:36 Howard's Journey from CFO to CEO

35:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Howard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardkatzenberg/

In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, we dive deep with Tatia Mays-Russell, the visionary CFO of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Discover how Tatia's unique journey from a material science engineer to a strategic finance leader has shaped her approach to business. Learn about her strategies for transforming the finance function into a strategic partner, empowering her team, and leveraging technology to drive innovation.

Key Takeaways:

Listen now to gain valuable insights and inspiration for your own career.

Connect with Tatia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatia-mays-russell-5a86362/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’. 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.

Find the full video version on youtube: https://youtu.be/g5VtzJPuXa4?si=CZA4FtggQYQeGrqT

This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business. Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at ⁠https://upflow.io/⁠

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]

In this episode of 'The Growth Minded CFO,' hosts Lauren and Alex welcome Charly Kevers, CFO of Carta.

Lauren and Alex sit down with Nick Wijnberg, a former Wall Street banker turned CFO and partner at Lorimer Ventures.

Nick shares his journey from high school investor to equity derivatives trader, structured credit specialist, commercial banker, and ultimately a company builder.

He discusses the importance of understanding investments and the VC ecosystem, the return on investment (ROI) required in early-stage startups, and the evolving role of a CFO within a company.

The conversation covers various topics like the impact of higher interest rates on financial decisions, and how Nick has brought together dual roles as a fractional CFO and investor.

Nick offers insights on preparing for board meetings, the importance of three-sheet financial models, and actionable advice for finance leaders gearing up for fundraising rounds.

Tune in to explore the dynamic interplay between finance, strategy, and operational success through the lens of an experienced CFO and investor.

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nwijnberg/

Find out more about Lorimer Ventures: https://www.lorimerventures.com/

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

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

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’. 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.

This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business. Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at https://upflow.io/

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]

In this episode, hosts Lauren and Alex sit down with Chris Ortega, the CEO and founder of Fresh FP&A.

Chris shares his inspiring career journey, from his early passion for finance to roles at Ernst & Young and leadership positions in fast growing software and pharmaceutical companies.

He discusses the foundation and philosophy behind Fresh FP&A, highlighting its focus on being Financial Partners and Advisors - and why all internal finance teams should position themselves the same way!

The conversation delves into the necessity of thinking like a business person for success in finance leadership, and why a collaborative approach that builds strong business partnerships with other departments is key.

Chris also emphasizes the role of emotional intelligence, authenticity, and learning from failure as key components of effective leadership.

This episode is rich with personal anecdotes and professional insights, illustrating how CFOs can inspire and empower their organizations beyond traditional financial metrics.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freshcfo/

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

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

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]

In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, hosts Lauren and Alex speak with Rita Kale, a seasoned CFO with experience in global firms like Roche and New York-based biotech startups.

Conect with Rita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritakale/

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

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

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]

Get the lowdown on what our new podcast is about in this introductory episode.

Forget the dusty stereotype of the CFO sitting in the corner, chained to a spreadsheet. Today's financial leader is a growth architect and a strategic partner in the organization’s success.

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’. 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.

Want to get in touch? Read out to our producer at [email protected]