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#263 The Real Reason So Many New CFOs Feel Completely Alone, Andrew Tapson, GrowCFO Mentor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj4Io4us81k .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qgEZZxdGgOTL9SqbWsxIH Stepping into the CFO seat concentrates pressure, confidentiality, and ambiguity—often without a true peer group. In this episode, GrowCFO Mentor Andrew Tapson joins host Kevin Appleby to unpack why first-time CFOs experience isolation and how to build the scaffolding that restores clarity and confidence. Tapson explains how the role’s breadth, the need to “translate” across functions, and the lack of consequence-free spaces to test thinking create a unique loneliness—one that mentoring, selective networks, and practical operating rhythms can directly solve. Tapson blends four decades of finance leadership with a mentor’s mindset: create safe space, build a relevant network, and develop emotional intelligence to navigate complexity. He shares real-world practices to replace isolation with support—designing a personal advisory circle, investing in relationships that open doors, and delegating to protect strategic attention. The result is a pragmatic playbook for new CFOs to gain momentum, credibility, and durable resilience in their first 90–180 days. Key topics covered: Why new CFOs feel isolated: pressure, confidentiality, breadth of remit, and no safe sounding board Mentoring vs. coaching: creating a consequence-free space to talk through mistakes and options Build a selective, relevant network that opens doors and accelerates problem-solving Emotional intelligence and “translating the room” as core CFO capabilities Delegation and focus: moving from detail to enterprise-level decisions First steps: set up advisory rhythms, stakeholder access, and early-win narratives Links Andrew Tapson on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 03:52 Mentoring vs. coaching; creating a safe space for new CFOs 06:37 From cost-cutting to growth levers; solving problems with lateral thinking 11:15 Designing a selective, useful network for support and access 23:12 Emotional intelligence and staying relevant amid rapid change 28:30 Delegation, scope shift, and protecting strategic attention 33:2 The future of CFO mentoring and structured support systems Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net
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#262 How Relationship-Focused CFOs Gain Real Influence, Catherine Clark, GrowCFO Mentor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6TdUunLask .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a1JMPvXGUGhD6A8gC7E8m Influence is earned long before numbers hit the board pack. In this episode, Catherine Clark, GrowCFO Mentor, reframes influence as the practical outcome of deliberate connection. She and host Kevin Appleby unpack how remote and hybrid work have thinned everyday rapport, making it harder for finance leaders to shape decisions, mobilize teams, and retain talent. Their premise is simple: influence compounds when CFOs intentionally build trust, recognition, and emotionally intelligent dialogue across stakeholders. Catherine offers a playbook for finance leaders to operationalize connection: stakeholder mapping early and often, creating unstructured time for human conversation, signaling appreciation consistently, and showing up with presence—even through a screen. The episode highlights how small, repeated behaviors (gratitude, active listening, regular check-ins) turn into strategic leverage: faster alignment, better decision inclusion, higher engagement, and materially improved performance environments for finance teams and their partners. Key topics covered: Why remote/hybrid erodes spontaneous trust, and how CFOs can rebuild it with intentional routines Stakeholder mapping and early relationship-building as core influence mechanics, not “nice to haves Recognition and gratitude as low-cost, high-impact leadership signals that boost engagement and retention Emotional connection and presence (active listening, curiosity) driving performance and decision quality Practical cadence: unstructured touchpoints, pre-alignment conversations, and regular reconnection rituals Cultivating a culture of connection—small, repeatable behaviors that scale influence across the organization Links Catherine Clark on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 04:14 Remote/hybrid realities: the connection gap and its impact on leadership/retention 12:00 Relationship strategy: stakeholder mapping and early outreach to accelerate trust 27:42 Recognition and gratitude as influence multipliers 35:31 Emotional connection, interference removal, and performance outcomes 44:48 Building an organizational culture of connection and shared values 46:37 Final actions: small, consistent behaviors that compound into influence Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net
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#261 Why New CFOs Struggle and How Mentoring Fixes It, Jeremy Earnshaw, Executive Coach & Mentor, Clarendon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQXCNMM0zws .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XGL5Kr61RdspPniU8FD0B The transition to a CFO role is one of the most demanding steps in a finance leader’s career. Many newly appointed CFOs face overwhelming challenges, from building board relationships to reshaping organizational strategy, often leading to missteps and a sense of isolation. Recognizing these hurdles, this episode underscores the need for experienced guidance in the early days of CFO leadership. Jeremy Earnshaw, Executive Coach & Mentor at Clarendon, brings decades of executive finance expertise to the discussion. Through a practical and insightful conversation, Jeremy and host Kevin Appleby explore how tailored mentoring equips new CFOs with tools, confidence, and the emotional intelligence necessary to succeed. Their dialogue highlights real-world stories, actionable tactics, and the transformational impact of mentorship on both performance and well-being in the CFO suite. Key topics covered: Challenges and pitfalls commonly faced by new CFOs Importance of mentorship and coaching for new finance leaders Real-life scenarios where mentoring influenced CFO performance Key competencies new CFOs need, and how mentoring builds them The long-term benefits of investing in leadership development Links Jeremy Earnshaw on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 01:00 Introduction and importance of mentoring for CFOs 07:30 Top struggles for newly appointed CFOs 15:00 Jeremy Earnshaw’s mentoring philosophy and approach 24:10 Success stories: CFO transformations through mentoring 32:00 Actionable advice for organizations and aspiring CFOs Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net
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#260 How To Get AI ROI In 30 Days: The Playbook Finance Leaders Miss, Dan Fletcher, CFO, Planful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pQsPAurZ5E .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/56xLS3vYYYDi3bsssHeBfq Understanding how to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for rapid returns has become essential for today’s finance leaders. While many organizations invest in AI, few manage to achieve tangible value quickly. This episode tackles a critical strategic challenge: how CFOs and finance teams can deliver measurable ROI from AI initiatives within just 30 days—a key success factor for staying competitive, agile, and efficient in a fast-changing market. Kevin Appleby speaks with Dan Fletcher, CFO of Planful, to uncover the often-overlooked strategies that accelerate AI’s impact in finance. Their conversation explores the evolving landscape of finance technology, upcoming consolidation trends in the CFO tech stack, and practical steps for achieving quick AI wins. Dan also shares insights on how early, effective adoption of AI empowers finance leaders to move their teams from manual processes to strategic, insight-driven advisory roles—positioning finance as a true business partner for the future. Key topics covered: Mindset change is the hardest aspect of finance digital transformation Accurate, clean data is critical for successful AI adoption and savings AI enables finance teams to spend less time crunching numbers, more time adding value Savings are real when AI is applied to transactional and repetitive processes AI leads to more frequent, adaptive forecasting and better business partnering Boardroom strategy discussions increasingly focus on AI-driven transformation Links Dan Fletcher on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 18:47 Future trends and generative AI’s impact on finance transformation 26:46 Real-world adoption stories, efficiency gains, and lessons for fast implementation 29:21 Step-by-step advice for CFOs on launching high-impact AI projects 34:51 Preparing finance teams for new job roles and skills in an AI-driven environment 38:26 Forecasting the biggest finance leadership challenges on the horizon Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net
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#259 He Reveals the First AI Project That Actually Saved Money, Marco Torrente, Interim Group CFO, Bakuun Holdings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGwhmpyXA-U .entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Lv2wr2B8h40VtL9K2oWH9 As AI transforms the business landscape, finance leaders are seeking practical examples of true value creation—not just hype. In this episode, Marco Torrente, Interim Group CFO at Bakuun Holdings, joins host Kevin Appleby to share real financial transformation lessons from the front lines. Marco’s candid reflections move beyond generic AI discussions to pinpoint what actually saves money, emphasizing the importance of getting digital transformation right and building team mindsets that embrace technology. The conversation explores the practicalities of starting the AI journey, including improving transactional systems and data quality, as well as how AI enables FP&A teams to shift from data crunching to value-adding activities. Marco further reveals that while AI projects haven’t yet drastically reduced headcount, they empower teams to deliver faster, more adaptive business forecasts and partner more effectively with the business. Listeners gain actionable insights on risk analysis, business partnering, and future-proofing the finance function in an era of rapid technological change. Key topics covered: Mindset change is the hardest aspect of finance digital transformation Accurate, clean data is critical for successful AI adoption and savings AI enables finance teams to spend less time crunching numbers, more time adding value Savings are real when AI is applied to transactional and repetitive processes AI leads to more frequent, adaptive forecasting and better business partnering Boardroom strategy discussions increasingly focus on AI-driven transformation Links Marco Torrente on LinkedIn Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn GrowCFO Mentoring Timestamps 03:57 Overcoming mindset challenges in tech and finance teams 07:45 How clean data and smart choices spark successful AI projects 14:48 Impact of AI on workflows—shifting FP&A from data crunching to insights 18:16 Balancing business strategy with transformation and risk 26:15 Real savings and workforce impact: redeployment not just reduction 30:04 Future plans, ongoing learning, and actionable advice Find out more about GrowCFO If you enjoyed this podcast, you can subscribe to the GrowCFO Show with your favorite podcast app. The GrowCFO show is listed in the Apple podcast directory, Spotify and many others. Why not subscribe there today? That way, you never miss an episode. GrowCFO is a great place to extend your professional network. Join GrowCFO as a free member today and participate in our regular networking events and webinars. Premium members can also access our extensive training center and CFO Digital Toolkit. You can enroll in our flagship Future CFO or Finance Leader programs here. You can find out more and join today at growcfo.net
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