Forget the dusty stereotype of the CFO sitting in the corner, chained to a spreadsheet. Today's financial leader is a growth architect and a strategic partner i...
A VC's perspective on the modern CFO, with Nick Wijnberg
Lauren and Alex sit down with Nick Wijnberg, a former Wall Street banker turned CFO and partner at Lorimer Ventures.
Nick shares his journey from high school investor to equity derivatives trader, structured credit specialist, commercial banker, and ultimately a company builder.
He discusses the importance of understanding investments and the VC ecosystem, the return on investment (ROI) required in early-stage startups, and the evolving role of a CFO within a company.
The conversation covers various topics like the impact of higher interest rates on financial decisions, and how Nick has brought together dual roles as a fractional CFO and investor.
Nick offers insights on preparing for board meetings, the importance of three-sheet financial models, and actionable advice for finance leaders gearing up for fundraising rounds.
Tune in to explore the dynamic interplay between finance, strategy, and operational success through the lens of an experienced CFO and investor.
00:00 Introduction to Growth Minded CFO
01:04 Meet Nick Wijnberg: From Wall Street to Company Builder
02:00 Nick's Journey: From Investor to CFO
05:02 The Challenges of Being an Operator
08:21 The Importance of Empathy and Experience
15:01 Balancing Roles: Investor and CFO
19:55 Adapting to a High Interest Rate Environment
20:59 The Evolving Role of the CFO
24:03 Managing Financial Conversations with Founders
27:20 Empowering Teams Through Financial Strategy
29:09 The CFO's Role in Board Meetings
34:35 Preparing for Fundraising as a CFO
39:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nwijnberg/
Find out more about Lorimer Ventures: https://www.lorimerventures.com/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high performing organizations.
This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business. Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at https://upflow.io/
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
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39:59
Business leader, not 'human calculator': The role of the CFO, with Chris Ortega
In this episode, hosts Lauren and Alex sit down with Chris Ortega, the CEO and founder of Fresh FP&A.
Chris shares his inspiring career journey, from his early passion for finance to roles at Ernst & Young and leadership positions in fast growing software and pharmaceutical companies.
He discusses the foundation and philosophy behind Fresh FP&A, highlighting its focus on being Financial Partners and Advisors - and why all internal finance teams should position themselves the same way!
The conversation delves into the necessity of thinking like a business person for success in finance leadership, and why a collaborative approach that builds strong business partnerships with other departments is key.
Chris also emphasizes the role of emotional intelligence, authenticity, and learning from failure as key components of effective leadership.
This episode is rich with personal anecdotes and professional insights, illustrating how CFOs can inspire and empower their organizations beyond traditional financial metrics.
We hope you enjoy the episode!
00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction
00:22 Chris Ortega's Background and Career Journey
02:12 The Role of CFOs and CEOs
06:56 Transitioning to CEO and Fresh FP&A
14:43 Building Collaborative Finance Teams
18:41 The Consultative Approach in Finance
19:38 The Power of Empathy in Finance
20:55 The Concept of First Team
22:11 Balancing IQ and EQ
25:39 Embracing Failure as a CFO
30:24 Inspiring Leadership and Authenticity
33:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freshcfo/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
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36:56
Acting like an owner and the value of international experience, with Rita Kale
In this episode of The Growth Minded CFO, hosts Lauren and Alex speak with Rita Kale, a seasoned CFO with experience in global firms like Roche and New York-based biotech startups.
The conversation delves into the evolving role of the CFO, emphasizing the importance of understanding and engaging with business processes beyond traditional financial functions.
Rita shares her unique journey from international finance roles to leading financial operations in India, as well as how her early career experiences with ERP implementations have given her a unique view on finance technology projects.
Rita also highlights the importance of work-life balance, and how she discovered running as a tool for personal reflection and problem-solving.
The episode also touches upon the challenges and rewards of transitioning from large corporations to startups, which Rita has done several times in her career to date, showcasing the need for adaptability and strategic thinking in modern CFO roles.
Conect with Rita on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritakale/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
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38:27
Introduction to The Growth-Minded CFO
Get the lowdown on what our new podcast is about in this introductory episode.
Forget the dusty stereotype of the CFO sitting in the corner, chained to a spreadsheet. Today's financial leader is a growth architect and a strategic partner in the organization’s success.
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high performing organizations.
Want to get in touch? Read out to our producer at [email protected]
Forget the dusty stereotype of the CFO sitting in the corner, chained to a spreadsheet. Today's financial leader is a growth architect and a strategic partner in the organization’s success.
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and smash the ‘back-office shackles’.
Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high performing organizations.
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