From Combat Zones to Corporate Finance: Stephen McLain on Leading in High-Stakes Environments
The Diary of a CFO with Wassia KamonMay 24, 202500:40:53

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 strategy development.
In this episode, he shares what finance professionals can learn from leading in high-stakes environments. We talk about strategic thinking, transitioning from military to corporate finance, and the leadership gaps most companies overlook.


Chapters:
0:00:00 - What it’s like to manage money in combat zones
0:07:59 - Transitioning to the private sector
0:17:30 - Why companies should value veterans
0:30:11 - His top advice for growing your career in finance