Continuing in the series of interviews with CFOs from pre-IPO companies recorded live from the New York Stock Exchange, in this episode, CJ is joined by Marcos Torres, CFO of Huntress. Marcos talks about his unusual career path and how he believes there are outsized prizes for people who take the path less traveled. He discusses the qualities of a good CFO such as critical thinking and adaptability, and how this relates to the survival of the fittest versus the survival of the strongest in Darwin's theory. He explains the significance of having a clear vision, making strategic decisions in the face of ambiguity, and the role of the CFO as a business leader, not just a finance leader. Listen out for an exciting fundraising announcement.

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SPONSORS:

Mercury is the fintech ambitious companies use for banking and all their financial workflows. With a powerful bank account at the center of their operations, companies can make better financial decisions and ensure that every dollar spent aligns with company priorities. That's why over 100K startups choose Mercury to confidently run all their financial operations with the precision, control, and focus they need to operate at their best. Learn more at mercury.com.

Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust®; Members FDIC.

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than 37,000 thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and get a customized KPI checklist. 

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Planful is a financial performance management platform designed to streamline financial tasks for businesses. It helps with budgeting, closing the books, and financial reporting, all on a cloud-based platform. By improving the efficiency and accuracy of these processes, Planful allows businesses to make better financial decisions. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.

Leapfin is accounting automation software that automatically prepares and posts reliable journal entries. High-growth businesses like Reddit, Canva, and Seat Geek choose Leapfin to eliminate manual tasks, accelerate month-end close, and enable accounting leaders to provide faster insights to help their companies grow. To automatically standardize your revenue data with measurable business impact, check out leapfin.com today. 

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@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(02:19) Sponsor - Mercury | Netsuite

(04:32) Marcos’s First Job and Early Tech Nostalgia

(10:14) Outsized Prizes for People Who Take the Path Less Traveled

(12:44) The Importance of Critical Thinking for CFOs

(14:29) Underwriting Uncertainty

(15:56) The CFO as a Business Leader, Not a Finance Leader

(18:11) Sponsor - Maxio | Planful | Leapfin

(21:15) Survival of the Fittest Versus Survival of the Strongest

(22:42) Adaptability and Failure

(25:22) The Importance of Clarity of Vision

(26:58) The Art of Saying No

(31:53) Advice From Abe Lincoln and Its Application

(34:03) Dealing With Ambiguity

(37:05) Long-ass Lightning Round: Hiring Mistakes and Other Advice 

(41:22) Finance Software Stack and the Value of Data

(44:05) Craziest Expense Story

(44:50) An Exciting Announcement From Huntress

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