The Diary of a CFO
Whether you’re a current CFO, on the path to the role, or part of a finance team, this podcast is for you.
The Diary of a CFO podcast takes you behind the scenes of modern finance leadership through honest conversations about how real finance leaders build their careers, make tough decisions, and navigate the weight of the CFO role.
Hosted by award‑winning CFO Wassia Kamon, each episode gives you practical insight into how today’s best finance leaders:
- Build high‑performing finance and FP&A teams.
- Partner with CEOs, boards, and capital providers (banks, PE/VC, and impact lenders).
- Navigate growth, regulation, and transformation without burning out.
Whether you’re a current CFO, a senior finance leader, or a someone who wants a stronger handle on the numbers, you’ll walk away with tactics you can use and stories that make you feel less alone on your journey.
To suggest topics, email ask@thediaryofacfo.com.
To become a guest or sponsor of the show, visit thediaryofacfo.com.
Former Caterpillar Group CFO on The Leadership Skills Finance Professionals Must Master to Reach the Top
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast , host Wassia Kamon sits down with Dave DeFreitas , retired group CFO of Caterpillar Inc., to explore the unconventional career path that took him from staff accountant to the C-suite. Drawing on over 30 years of experience leading finance teams at one o...
Building an AI-Ready Finance Team Without Losing the Human Side, with Tariq Munir
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Tariq Munir, digital transformation advisor and author of Reimagine Finance, to explore what it actually takes to build an AI-ready finance team.
The First‑Time CFO Playbook: The First 90 Days, Imposter Syndrome and Leading the Business
Stepping into your first CFO role can feel overwhelming. In this episode, former divisional CFO and GrowCFO Mentor Kevin Appleby shares what really changes when you move from finance leader to CFO. Drawing on years of experience working with finance leaders across industries, Kevin shares why many C...
Wassia Kamon’s 15-Year Journey from Staff Accountant to CFO
In this solo episode, Wassia Kamon shares how she went from staff accountant to CFO in 15 years, including the moments that didn’t look like progress at all.
Beyond the Numbers: Leadership Lessons from Three-Time Nonprofit CFO, Teri Kozub
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Teri Kozub, a three-time CFO with more than 33 years of experience in nonprofit finance and current CFO at Community Legal Services of Mid Florida. Teri shares how her non-linear career shaped her leadership style, why ...
Executive Presence Explained: Why Top Performers Still Get Overlooked, with Executive Coach, Jill Avey
Executive presence is often cited as the reason leaders don’t get promoted, but rarely explained. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Wassia Kamon sits down with executive coach Jill Avey to unpack what executive presence actually means, why high performers get stuck at the Director or VP level,...
Real Fraud Stories and Legal Protection for Your Fractional CFO Firm with Attorney Natalia Greene
Attorney and risk-management expert Natalia Greene reveals the real stories behind major fraud cases, including those featured on American Greed that she personally worked on. She also shares exactly how accountants, fractional CFOs, and boutique finance firms accidentally expose themselves to laws...
What CEOs Want from Today’s CFO, with Executive Recruiter, Mark Johnson
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, executive recruiter Mark Johnson shares insider perspectives on what CEOs are really looking for in today's CFOs. Discover how the expectations of finance leadership are evolving, what separates top candidates in interviews, and the essential qualities that de...
80/20 Rule for FP&A Experts to Transform Decision-Making Through Analytics with Andrew Hull
This episode is a pod swap from FP&A Unlocked. We’re sharing it here to help you discover another excellent show in the finance leadership space. All content belongs to the original podcast and host Paul Barnhurst. In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst talks with Andrew Hull, a seas...
Agentic AI for CFOs, with Vivienne Wei, COO of Salesforce Unified Agentforce Platform
In this episode, Vivienne breaks down the realities and myths of AI in the finance function, from predictive models to generative AI, and reveals how agentic AI is creating a new category of digital workers, “AI agents,” that drive both productivity and resilience in modern businesses. You'll also ...
Building a Finance Function That Drives Growth: Lessons from Liberty Bank’s CFO, Paul Young
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.
Why Every CFO Feels Stretched and What to Do About It, with Tom Hood
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.
Getting the most out of your tech stack, with Anna Sagan
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down with Anna Sagan, Senior Principal Solutions Engineer, who brings over two decades of experience in financial software and strategic reporting. We talked about: The evolving expectations from finance teams Why Excel is still the most loved BI too...
Leading Through Market Cycles, with Real Estate and Construction CFO, Bona Allen
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...
Non-Traditional Pathways to the CFO Seat, with Axile Talout
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.
The CFO Playbook for Handling Crises and Building FP&A Functions, with Mike High
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.
Moving From Big 4 Auditor to Controller to CFO, with Andrea Hecht
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...
Accounting vs FP&A: Which Path Gets You to CFO Faster?
Wassia Kamon has done both. In this solo episode, she reveals why neither route guarantees success on its own and what truly sets future CFOs apart.
Sheryl Shaw on Scaling Finance Teams and Embracing Technology
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...
Inside FP&A: Christian Wattig’s Guide to Smarter Forecasting and Strategic Impact
Christian Wattig is the program director of Wharton’s FP&A Certificate and the founder of InsideFP&A. In this episode, he shares his path from Procter & Gamble to becoming a leader in finance education, along with the pivotal lessons he learned along the way.
The Role of Treasury in M&A and Business Strategy, with Summa Simmons
In this episode, Summa Simmons, Associate VP of Treasury at Victoria’s Secret & Co., shares what most people get wrong about treasury and why it's a strategic powerhouse. She explains how treasury helps companies manage cash, risk, and financial readiness during major business decisions like mergers...
Why Culture Is Your Biggest Cybersecurity Risk, with Dutch Schwartz
Most companies think cybersecurity is about firewalls and IT policies. But the real risk often starts with culture. In this episode, Dutch Schwartz, VP of Cloud Services at SideChannel and former security leader at AWS and Raytheon, shares why companies with poor culture are three times more likely...
How the Best Finance Leaders Operate, Plan, and Forecast, with Christina Ross
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 ...
The Art of Becoming a Strategic CFO, with Dr. Tamer Alsayed
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 ...
The #1 Mistake Keeping Controllers from Becoming CFOs
Welcome to Season 2 of The Diary of a CFO. In this kickoff solo episode, I share behind-the-scenes highlights from Season 1, why some careers stall at the executive door, and what actually opens it.
What I Wish Finance Professionals Knew Sooner, with Syed Nadeem
Syed Nadeem, ACMA, CFM was building the kind of career many finance professionals work toward. ✅ He had the certifications. ✅ The global experience. ✅ The leadership role. Then, out of nowhere, he lost his job. That was his turning point. He started focusing on skills no certification had taught...
Solving Revenue Recognition Nightmares for SaaS Companies, with Apurv Bansal
If you’ve ever lost sleep over complex contracts, usage-based pricing, or revenue schedules that live in hundreds spreadsheet tabs, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Apurv Bansal, co-founder and CEO of Zenskar, to talk about how AI is helping SaaS companies automate billing and revenue recogni...
Beyond Compliance: Kendra LaFleur on Becoming a Trusted Advisor
Audit Director at FORVIS Mazars and board treasurer for Girls on the Run Georgia, Kendra LaFleur opens up about her journey from intern to partner, how she grew into strategic leadership, and how she navigates the evolving role of finance in mission-driven organizations.
From Combat Zones to Corporate Finance: Stephen McLain on Leading in High-Stakes Environments
Stephen McLain led 250 soldiers as an Army Commander. He built internal controls in Iraq to fight fraud and misuse of funds. And, he defended military budgets in front of NATO. Now, he helps corporate finance and accounting teams fix problems with their internal processes, financial modeling, and s...
Why Treasury is More Than Managing Cash, with Matthew Harlan
Treasury often works behind the scenes, but Matthew Harlan shows why it should be a key player at the table. We cover what treasury leaders bring to IPO readiness, how to rethink working capital, and how finance teams can collaborate better across functions.