The Diary of a CFO

by Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA

Season 2

The Unlikely Journey of a $3 Billion CFO, William Washington III

He dropped out of high school. He was a single father. He started his career at a cottonseed company. Now he oversees $3 billion in annual revenue across 76 offices in 45 countries as the Global CFO of Baker McKenzie, one of the largest law firms in the world. In this episode, I sit down with William Washington III. William brings a rare combination of financial acumen and operational expertise shaped by senior roles at Hogan Lovells, Accenture, and Fannie Mae. He is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt and a Bloomberg New Voice on the future of finance. We get into what it actually looks like to lead finance across 45 countries and how he adapted his communication style for teams that speak different languages and operate in different cultures. How he evaluates a finance organization when he walks in on day one. The executive coaching session where a 360 review showed him something about his leadership he did not want to see. Why the drive that made him a great director was the same thing holding him back from becoming CFO. How he leads as a self-described introvert, including how he sets boundaries to recharge. Why he went back to school for a Master's in Law Firm Management just to understand his industry. And his philosophy on the three books every finance professional should always be reading. Whether you are a finance leader trying to grow into the CFO seat, already in it and figuring out how to lead at scale, or building resilience through a chapter that feels impossible, this conversation will meet you where you are.

S2 · E29

May 7, 2026

47:30

How to Cut Your Board Reporting Process From Weeks to Days (with Fabian Ferrada)

Most finance teams spend two weeks building a board report that gets reviewed in ten minutes. The formatting alone could take days. And if one number changes, the entire approval cycle restarts. In this episode, I sit down with Fabian Ferrada, Senior Solutions Engineer at Insight Software. Before moving to tech, Fabian spent over a decade in financial and operational leadership for a publicly traded company, carrying P&L responsibility on major projects across South America and the Middle East. We break down what a great board presentation actually looks like versus what most teams are delivering. Why three out of four manual disclosure processes contain at least one number appearing differently across documents. The real cost of broken reporting, and it is not just overtime. How to present bad news to a board and keep their trust. The difference between board reporting and investor reporting and why most manual processes can barely handle one. And a real case study where a company with 12 subsidiaries across 6 countries cut their disclosure process from weeks to days. If your team dreads reporting season or your board deserves better than what you are currently delivering, this episode will show you what the fix actually looks like. Brought to you by insightsoftware's Certent Disclosure Management (CDM). Visit insightsoftware.com/board-reporting to learn more.

S2 · E28

Apr 23, 2026

32:43

Excel vs FP&A Software: When to Make the Switch (with Paul Barnhurst)

Most finance teams stay on Excel longer than they should. The hard part is knowing when it is actually time to switch. In this episode, I sit down with Paul Barnhurst, also known as The FP&A Guy. Paul has trained thousands of finance professionals, hosts three podcasts including FP&A Unlocked, and has tested almost every major FP&A tool on the market. He is known for his clear, independent reviews and helping finance teams make smarter choices about the tools they use. We break down when Excel stops being enough and how to know it is time to move to a real FP&A tool. The biggest mistakes companies make when buying FP&A software, including the implementation traps that quietly kill projects. How to spot red flags in software demos and what to ask before signing anything. Where AI actually fits into the modern finance team and where it is just hype. What Paul found when his team tested Claude on real financial modeling cases. The difference between deterministic and generative AI and why finance leaders need to understand it. How FP&A teams will look different in the next few years. And the one soft skill Paul says is now more important than the technical ones. If you lead a finance team or you are an FP&A professional trying to figure out when to upgrade your tools and how to actually use AI, this episode is the honest map you have been looking for. 5UJlgIdbfhXeqC0FgeBJ

S2 · E27

Apr 9, 2026

35:36

Mistakes founders make during fundraising (from a cfo who has done 50+ M&A and Exit deals)

Most founders make the same fundraising mistakes and do not realize it until the cash is gone. In this episode, I sit down with Julianne Averill, a healthcare AI CFO, board director, and fractional CFO with over 20 years of experience helping life science and digital health companies scale through fundraising, M&A, and IPOs. She has been through over 50 transactions on both the buy and sell side and currently serves as a fractional CFO working with multiple founders. We break down how startup funding actually works from Seed all the way to IPO. What investors are really looking for at each stage. The difference between debt and equity and why getting that wrong can be one of the most expensive decisions a founder makes. The 9 mistakes she sees founders make during fundraising that kill deals before they start. What actually happens when a company goes public and why it is not the finish line most people think it is. How AI is changing the way investors discover and evaluate companies. And the ideal finance team structure as a company scales. Whether you are raising capital, sitting on a board, or leading finance at a growing company, this episode covers the full picture. FREE DOWNLOAD: Julianne shared her sample pitch decks during the conversation. Grab both here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GlZiV70W4zIulXhFgf1Z9TtkeLyyzR7r

S2 · E26

Mar 26, 2026

38:05

insightsoftware President Jennifer Warawa on How AI is Changing the Office of the CFO

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Jennifer Warawa, President of insightsoftware and a seven-time honoree as one of the top 25 most powerful women in accounting, to explore what CFOs must fix before implementing AI. Drawing on over 25 years of experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and leadership, Jennifer shares : Why systems and talent have not kept pace with the evolution of the CFO role, How AI amplifies what already exists rather than fixing broken foundations, What a successful AI implementation looks like and how to bring excited and skeptical team members along ---------- This episode is brought to you by insightsoftware. With Spreadsheet Server, you can spot trends in your data before they become problems and make faster, smarter decisions. Visit insightsoftware.com/reporting to see how it works. --------- 👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com 📬 Get Involved Have a question or topic suggestion? Email: Ask@thediaryofacfo.com

S2 · E25

Mar 18, 2026

38:30

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 of the world's largest manufacturing companies, Dave shares why he had seven different jobs in his first six years before getting his first promotion, and how those lateral moves built the foundation for executive-level thinking. The conversation also explores: The situational leadership framework that allows leaders to adapt their approach based on where each team member is in their development, Why understanding how a company works matters more than functional expertise, The critical difference between managing change and leading improvements. This episode is for CFOs, aspiring CFOs, and senior finance leaders who want a realistic roadmap to the C-suite and the leadership skills that matter most once you get there. Key Timestamps 01:19 Three things that made the difference to group CFO 03:25 The power of lateral moves in career progression 12:06 Situational leadership framework explained 15:41 Leading a team where most direct reports are older than you 24:04 The difference between managers and leaders 28:16 Value stream mapping and process optimization 42:09 How university curriculum needs to evolve for AI 47:37 What finance professionals must do to adapt to AI Learn more about the podcast at https://www.thediaryofacfo.com Explore the CFO Readiness Scorecard at https://thecfo.scoreapp.com 👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com

S2 · E24

Feb 26, 2026

52:05

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. Tariq shares why the biggest barriers to AI adoption are behavioral, not technological. He explains how to identify whether a team is truly data-driven, why streamlining workflows must come before automation, and how CFOs can create a culture of thoughtful experimentation without compromising accuracy or compliance. They also discuss the emerging skills finance leaders need, including change management, emotional intelligence, and responsible AI governance. This episode offers clarity for CFOs and senior finance leaders navigating transformation, complexity, and the evolving expectations of the role. Key Takeaways AI Readiness Starts with Trust in Data Process Optimization Comes First Experimentation Requires Boundaries Growing a Digital Mindset Across Teams is Essential Key Timestamps 00:00:00 Welcome 01:22:00 The one litmus test that shows if your team is AI-ready 04:07:00 What broken workflows look like and why AI makes them worse 09:03:00 Earning the right to experiment in finance 13:00:00 Why most AI projects fail to deliver value 20:06:00 How to build a digital mindset across your team 24:14:00 The skills future CFOs need to develop now 25:40:00 Why CFOs are positioned to lead responsible and ethical AI 👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com 📬 Get Involved Have a question or topic suggestion? Email: Ask@thediaryofacfo.com Visit: https://www.thediaryofacfo.com 🔗 Connect with Guest Tariq Munir: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tariq-munir/ 🔗 Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/

S2 · E23

Feb 12, 2026

49:53

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 CFOs feel unprepared when they step into the role and how the real work begins after the reporting is done. The conversation examines how CFOs add value through judgment, questioning, and forward-looking insight, especially when the path forward is unclear. This episode is for CFOs, aspiring CFOs, and senior finance leaders who want clarity on what actually matters in the seat and how to grow into the role without trying to be everything to everyone. Key Timestamps 00:02 Intro 02:18 What separates good finance teams from great ones 05:48 Asking better questions to drive real insight 09:28 Developing business partnering skills through responsibility 12:42 Why CFOs must shift from backward-looking to forward-looking work 18:34 Imposter syndrome and confidence in new CFOs 24:56 Choosing which CFO skills matter most 37:56 The importance of FP&A and delivering bad news early 41:14 Why risk management sits with the CFO 44:22 What new CFOs should focus on in their first 90 days Learn more about the podcast at https://www.thediaryofacfo.com If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com Get Involved Have a question or topic suggestion? Email: Ask@thediaryofacfo.com Connect with Guest Kevin Appleby: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinappleby/ Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wassiakamon/ Connect with The Diary of a CFO Podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-diary-of-a-cfo-podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thediaryofacfopodcast/featured Website: https://www.thediaryofacfo.com X (Twitter): https://x.com/thediaryofacfo

S2 · E22

Jan 30, 2026

51:18

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. She talks about: Moments in her career that didn’t look like “progress” from the outside. Rethinking the value of credentials like the CPA, CMA, and MBA. Learning to lead under pressure and make decisions with incomplete information. What it was really like to grow her career while raising young kids. Promotions that looked impressive from the outside but were emotionally hard, including times when she had to support layoffs from the finance side. If you’re in accounting or finance and you feel like you’re doing everything “right” but still not moving fast enough, this episode will give you a practical sense of what to focus on next. Resources mentioned: 👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com Have a question or topic suggestion? Email: Ask@thediaryofacfo.com 🔗 Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/

S2 · E21

Jan 16, 2026

26:54

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 nonprofit finance is far more complex than many assume, and how CFOs can lead effectively through uncertainty, risk, and mission-driven pressure. Expect to Learn Why the CFO role extends far beyond numbers and reporting How nonprofit CFOs navigate uncertainty and funding volatility What trust and communication look like when leading outside your expertise Key Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction and career journey 03:18:00 Why nonprofit finance is not easier 09:03:00 Trust, communication, and leadership 18:47:00 Community and executive isolation 20:45:00 Endowments and long-term legacy Learn more about the podcast at https://www.thediaryofacfo.com Explore the CFO Readiness Scorecard at https://thecfo.scoreapp.com 👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com 📬 Get Involved Have a question or topic suggestion? Email: Ask@thediaryofacfo.com 🔗 Connect with Guest Teri Kozub: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-kozub-81058a12/ 🔗 Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wassiakamon/ 🔗 Connect with The Diary of a CFO Podcast on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-diary-of-a-cfo-podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thediaryofacfopodcast/ featuredWebsite:https://www.thediaryofacfo.comX

S2 · E20

Dec 30, 2025

28:35

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