c f o interviews

What does it take to turn a traditional finance team into a true strategic business partner? In this episode, Paul Young, CFO of Liberty Bank, shares how he connected strategy, budgeting, and talent development to create a finance function built for impact.

CFOs are expected to drive transformation, lead strategy, and still deliver flawless numbers every month. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down with Tom Hood, one of the most influential voices in finance leadership, to unpack what’s really behind the growing pressure on today’s CFOs.

Bona Allen has led finance at both public and private companies, navigated the savings and loan crisis, the 2008 crash, and COVID, and built strategies that kept projects and people moving through uncertainty. In this episode, he shares what it takes to lead finance through real estate booms, constr...

Not every CFO starts as a controller or FP&A lead. Axel Talout shares how banking and private equity shaped his journey, why your “different” background can be your edge, and how to intentionally build a team that fills your blind spots.

Mike High (CFO, NAIT; ex-Shell Deep Water CFO) shares leadership lessons from the Army to corporate finance: why the “platinum rule” beats one-size-fits-all leadership, what truly changes when you move from FP&A to the CFO seat, and how to carry a portfolio of crises without burning out.

Andrea Hecht went from audit to controller to the CFO seat at CSAA Insurance Group. In this episode she shares what actually changes at each step, how to link finance to strategy, and how to get Accounting and FP&A rowing in the same direction. We talk about the role allies play, why culture makes a...

Sheryl shares her remarkable journey, from starting as an accounting clerk in the 1980s to becoming a CFO 3 times, and now a trusted consultant for companies implementing NetSuite. She opens up about the lessons learned through chaos, the role of technology in finance, and how to build teams that a...

Christina Ross, serial CFO turned CEO of Cube, explains why spreadsheets aren’t the problem and what finance leaders should focus on instead. She shares multiple frameworks for moving from manual chaos to strategic clarity. This episode is packed with insights on real-time planning, clean data, and ...

In this exciting episode of The Diary of a CFO, host Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA talks to guest Dr. Tamer Alsayed, CPA, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Financial Officer at FII Institute. Dr. Alsayed shares over 23 years of experience in finance across various industries and countries. He discusses his journey ...

Jenny Fuss has led finance teams in Germany, China, and the United States. Each move meant learning a new way of working. In this episode, she shares how working and living in three different countries shaped her leadership style and helped her lead major transformations with clarity and confidence.

Tamica Williams went from relying on food pantries as a kid to leading the largest food bank in Georgia as CFO. She shares how she made the jump from teaching to accounting, built her career and why leadership is about showing up 100% no matter where you start.

Jack McCullough has spent decades in the CFO seat, but his biggest impact may be what he’s done for the next generation of CFOs. He’s the founder of the CFO Leadership Council, a global community of over 2,500 senior finance leaders, and the author of three books including Secrets of Rockstar CFOs a...

Accounting is her superpower and she’s using it in every way imaginable. Meet Professor Baseemah Nance, CPA! 📊 Chief Financial and Administrative Officer 📚 Accounting professor 📱 Amazing content creator ✍🏾 Author of a financial literacy book for kids

In this episode of the Diary of a CFO podcast, John Glasgow, CEO and founder of Campfire, discusses his career journey from a finance executive at Adobe and Bill.com to founding a modern accounting platform for tech companies. Glasgow talks about his entrepreneurial inspirations, the challenges of t...

In this episode of 'The Diary of a CFO' podcast, host Wassia Kamon converses with Sindy Wilson, a seasoned finance executive with over two decades of experience, including roles at Kickstarter, Lyft, Autotrader, and EY. The discussion covers Sindy's career journey, the unexpected pivots she took, an...

Being a CFO is like playing chess on a moving train—there’s always another fire to put out, another risk to assess, and another strategy to refine. Scott Meyers, CFO of Plurilock, has seen it all and brings a sharp perspective (and plenty of humor) to the conversation. From navigating board expectat...

Most career paths follow a predictable route, but Janice Stucke, CPA, took a different approach. From managing refugee programs around the world to leading digital transformations and now serving as CFO, she embraced growth through action. If that wasn’t enough, she also trained for and completed an...

CFOs across the globe face similar challenges, and my first international guest, Basem Waheed, CMA, CTP, proves it. As the CFO of Golden Chicken Farms Co. in Saudi Arabia, he led a digital transformation that cut his company’s month-end close process to just one day. His career journey offers valuab...

I sat down with rockstar CFO Jessica E. McClain to talk about leadership, career growth, and the human side of success. With accolades like Most Powerful Women in Accounting and Black CPA Centennial 40 Under 40, Jessica’s resume is impressive—but her approach to leadership is refreshingly down-to-ea...

Here’s what Brenda’s bold moves can teach us about leadership: Be Seen and Heard: Strategic influence starts with being in the room where decisions are made. Brenda emphasizes showing up, speaking up, and stepping beyond the numbers to offer broader solutions. Build Trust at All Levels: Trust isn’t...

Starting a new role as CFO goes beyond managing the numbers—it’s about setting the right tone, building early momentum, and aligning with the business on success. In this episode, Matt Ziegler shares insights from his first 90 days at GovExec, offering strategies any leader can use to establish a st...