CFOs aren’t chosen for accounting skills.
The Diary of a CFO with Wassia KamonJune 20, 202500:00:52

CFOs aren’t chosen for accounting skills.

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, host Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA shares a powerful moment from past guest Jack McCullough, the president of CFO Leadership Council, where explains that going from technical lead to executive isn’t just about being the best at accounting.

It’s not the natural next step; it’s a whole mindset shift.

She shares a powerful moment from a past episode, someone who actually asked CEOs and board members what they look for in a CFO.

The answer? Almost none of them said finance.

Instead, they described traits like collaboration, resilience, empathy, agility, transparency, and empowerment.

It formed the acronym CREATE, and it’s become a shorthand for what real leadership looks like in the CFO role today.

That’s what gets you picked for the seat: not just skill, but presence.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here @Thediaryofacfopodcast

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