The Diary of a CFO

The Diary of a CFO

por Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA
Temporada 2

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, and how promotions really happen at senior levels. 00:00:00 – Welcome back! 01:16:00 – What is executive presence? Jill’s model for understanding and building it 07:50:00 – The challenges women face in leadership roles and how to overcome them 10:35:00 – How to balance confidence with warmth and authenticity in leadership 13:25:00 – Preparing for high-stakes meetings: Strategies for executive success 15:36:00 – The power of listening and how it enhances your leadership presence 23:10:00 – Key obstacles keeping leaders stuck at the director level and how to break through 32:07:00 – How visibility, communication, and executive presence can advance your career This conversation explores: What executive presence is and what it’s not Why hard work and strong performance reviews aren’t enough The role of visibility, trust, and strategic perspective How leaders can show confidence without losing authenticity Common leadership traps that affect both men and women ------ Subscribe to the Finance Executive Track newsletter for actionable insights to become the obvious choice for top finance roles and thrive once you get there https://the-finance-executive-track.kit.com/signup Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs: https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

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 lawsuits, even when they’ve done nothing wrong. We cover: The wildest embezzlement schemes she’s seen in 20+ years of litigation Why accountants often get blamed first when fraud is uncovered The engagement letter mistakes that put firms at massive risk How scope creep silently increases your legal exposure The insurance policy every fractional CFO or firm owner needs (but few ever buy) The documentation habits that can make or break you in court Why client acceptance and annual reevaluation may be your best risk-prevention tool Whether you run an accounting firm, work as a fractional CFO, or simply want to protect your professional services business, this episode is packed with hard-won insights you won’t find in any textbook. ------ Subscribe to the Finance Executive Track newsletter for actionable insights to become the obvious choice for top finance roles and thrive once you get there https://the-finance-executive-track.kit.com/signup Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs: https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

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 define success in the modern C-suite. Whether you’re an aspiring finance leader or a seasoned executive, you’ll gain actionable advice to stand out and thrive at the top. Expect to Learn Beyond the Resume: Why today’s CFOs must stand out with emotional intelligence, resilience, and trust, not just credentials AI vs. Human Connection: How automation is reshaping hiring, and why relationships still make the difference Interview Strategy: Why performance alone isn’t enough, and how to truly impress in high-stakes executive interviews Path to CFO: What it really takes to land your first CFO seat, including mentorship, visibility, and cross-functional experience The Four Intelligence Pillars: How IQ, EQ, SQ, and AQ together define the next generation of finance leadership If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/ Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs: https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

Agentic AI for CFOs, with Vivienne Wei, COO of Salesforce Unified Agentforce Platform

Join Vivienne Wei, COO of Unified Agent Force Platform at Salesforce and a leading thinker in financial technology, as she shares her journey from Wall Street to orchestrating enterprise-wide AI transformations. 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 learn the essentials of upskilling for an AI-augmented workforce, the leadership behaviors needed to foster adoption, and actionable strategies for CFOs to harness AI for operational and strategic advantage. Whether you're a finance leader, tech executive, or simply curious about the future of work, discover practical lessons and frameworks to drive innovation and business value in the AI era. If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/ Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs: https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

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. Paul brings over 25 years of experience leading finance, strategy, business transformation, and digital innovation across major institutions such as Citizens Bank, TD Bank, CIT, and Siemens Financial Services. If you’ve ever felt stuck between strategy and execution, this one’s for you. We talked about: How starting strategy early makes budgeting faster and easier Why CFOs should own project management and transformation What it really takes to attract and keep top finance talent How he created a Business Transformation Office within the office of the CFO that helped Liberty Bank cut mortgage closing time in half and become a leader in their space. This conversation is a masterclass in modern CFO leadership. If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/ Don't forget to download the free guide on AI prompts every finance leader needs: https://www.wassiakamon.com/prompts

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. We talk about: ✅ How the CFO role has evolved from finance expert to strategic co-pilot ✅ Why upskilling and reskilling are the new competitive edge ✅ How to balance performance with transformation ✅ The real impact of AI and automation on finance teams If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing 5 jobs at once as a CFO, this episode is for you. Other resources mentioned in this episode: Upskilling & Reskilling Resources - Business Learning Institute (BLI) https://blionline.org Business Resilience Toolkit https://www.aicpa-cima.com/advocacy/download/business-resilience-toolkit F.A.M.E. Finance Assessment Model for Effectiveness https://blionline.org/finance-assessment-model-for-effectiveness

Getting the most out of your tech stack, with Anna Sagan

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar: https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/ 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 tool in finance Reporting limitations in ERPs Why companies underutilize the tools they pay for Whether you're a controller frustrated by ERP reports or a CFO aiming to future-proof your reporting stack, this episode delivers sharp insights and real-world advice. If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

Leading Through Market Cycles, with Real Estate and Construction CFO, Bona Allen

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar: https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/ What does it take to lead finance through real estate booms, construction slowdowns, and global crises? In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, I sit down with Bona Allen, a CFO with three decades of experience across real estate development, construction, and investment. Bona 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. We talk about: How the CFO role has changed Real estate vs construction finance Spotting business cycles Crisis leadership Building and keeping strong teams Bona also shares the career moves that shaped him, the mistakes that made him better, and why networking to help others is the best long-term strategy. If you’re in real estate, construction, or any cyclical industry, this conversation is full of lessons you can use to prepare, adapt, and lead. If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

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. Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar: https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/ If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/

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. We discussed: practical playbooks to lead through a portfolio of crisis, how to keep long-term work moving during emergencies, what most companies get wrong about FP&A, how to make digital transformation succeed. Get your CFO readiness score here: https://thecfo.scoreapp.com/ Whether becoming a CFO is your goal or not, this assessment highlights the competencies that matter most at the VP level and above, in finance. It’s completely free, and you will get personalized results instantly. Big thanks to insightsoftware for sponsoring this episode. Join our upcoming webinar on October 15th > https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/
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