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On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ken Boyd welcomes Barbie Jefferson, CFO at the YMCA of Greenville. Barbie has been a successful financial leader for many years but her passions go far beyond her professional aspirations. To Barbie, her role as CFO has never been an end in itself but a job that makes space for her to do the things she truly cares about: serving her community and spending time with her family. Barbie willingly left a publicly-traded company to work for a nonprofit, first a South Carolina state college and then eventually the YMCA of Greenville. This decision was motivated by a desire for a healthier work-life balance, but it also placed Barbie in a position where she could embody her own personal values in a way that advanced the mission of her organization. Barbie’s vision and that of the YMCA in Greenville were in lockstep, making Barbie an effective agent for fulfilling the goals set forth at the YMCA. The consistency between personal and organizational values not only made Barbie an ideal worker in her role but made the YMCA better equipped to serve its community. Barbie Jefferson YMCA of Greenville YMCA of Greenville - LinkedIn Ken Boyd Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ken Boyd welcomes Adanma Osuagwu, Director of Finance/Project Control at By Light. Adanma has a background in more than just finance. Her professional career has given her experience in project management, IT systems, and HR research. Such a diverse skill set serves her well not only in her financial management position, but also in the way she connects her role to the business at large. Adanma understands the people that make up her organization, just as well as she understands the numbers. This knowledge allows her to build bridges between the various departments of By Light. She creates relationships between her team, the technological tools they use, and the organization at large. These relationships help to create healthy team dynamics and a work environment that caters to her staff’s needs. This, in turn, promotes staff longevity, and a more efficient business. To Adanma, financial management is not just about understanding money. Rather, it’s about understanding the relationships between a business and all its assets, people included. Managing these assets means understanding the connection points between them, and providing the proper tools to create healthy interdepartmental relationships. Adanma Osuagwu By Light By Light - LinkedIn Ken Boyd Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ben Murray, Founder of The SaaS CFO, interviews Sarah Wilson, VP of Global Finance and Strategy at Tradeshift. Sarah is not only skilled in numbers and data analytics but has also developed a keen emotional intelligence. She knows how to relate those numbers and data points into a meaningful story that unites her team around a shared company vision. It’s this understanding and care for the people in her organization that have made her a talented team builder. Sarah has a background not only in finance but also HR, and her experiences have given her a broader understanding of the interconnected pieces of her organization. She’s merged these two elements of business together in her compensation philosophy, which reflects a concern for how Tradeshift’s finances affect employee well-being. Sarah doesn’t see herself as someone who manages both finances and people. Rather, she sees both elements as a singular asset that advances the company’s mission. No asset is an island and to see the way the pieces of an organizational puzzle work together and compliment each other is a foundational trait of the successful financial leader. Sarah Wilson Tradeshift Tradeshift - LinkedIn Ben Murray The SaaS CFO The Saas CFO - LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ben Murray, Founder of The SaaS CFO, welcomes Karen Friar, CFO at Benco Dental. Karen started at Benco as an intern in the finance department. Over the better part of two decades, she worked her way up from being a staff accountant all the way to her current role as CFO. Through that journey, Karen has been able to see the transformation that Benco has gone through as it has evolved to keep up with changing times, and Karen has been able to be a part of that evolution as well. While many might view modernization as a simple update to an organization’s tech stack or the adoption of new financial standards, Karen sees it as a more all-encompassing philosophy. To her, modernization means flexibility in company culture, hiring practices, work environment, and even the implementation of new KPIs. Society changes almost as rapidly as technology and keeping financial systems current means paying attention to the needs of the people running those systems. Financial success requires a holistic understanding of not only the systems and technologies in place but also the human capital needed to make those assets work most effectively. Karen Friar Benco Dental Benco Dental - LinkedIn Ben Murray The SaaS CFO The Saas CFO - LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ben Murray, Founder of The SaaS CFO, welcomes Will Johnson, Chief Financial Officer at Iterable, to discuss the ever-evolving role of the modern CFO. Will’s background is as both a venture investor and the CFO of private, venture-backed organizations. It gives Will a uniquely holistic understanding of the finances involved in managing a SaaS organization. He has applied this understanding to his current role at Iterable, seeking to approach the CFO role in a way that engages the entire organization and involves him in operations, sales, and other non-traditional CFO capacities. This has allowed Will to stay on the leading edge of a role that is constantly evolving and to meet his organization’s needs in a way that a more traditional CFO might not be able to. One such need is in strategic future planning. Will is able to competently work with management teams to create financial forecasts, rather than simply analyzing past financial models, due to his willingness to engage in tasks that go beyond those that were historically expected of a CFO. Will’s immense success with Iterable is a testament to the need for the modern CFO to be adaptable and versatile in their work. Will Johnson Iterable Iterable - LinkedIn Ben Murray The SaaS CFO The Saas CFO - LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ken Boyd is joined by Shahrooz Roohparvar, CFO at Cal Poly Humboldt, to discuss the complexities of navigating higher education’s unique financial needs. Shahrooz thinks of himself more as a project manager than only as a CFO. He’s often directly involved in overseeing the operational side of Cal Poly Humboldt, which has offered its fair share of challenges in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. When students transitioned to primarily online instruction, and when they began making greater use of Cal Poly Humboldt’s mental health services, Shahrooz was doing more than financial projections. He was on the front lines of building out the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the school’s needs, often measuring success with intangible metrics, like student well-being. By bringing his resource management experience into his project oversight, Shahrooz has helped build Cal Poly Humboldt into a competitive, accessible higher education institution. His understanding of both concrete and abstract metrics of success allowed him to gain a holistic understanding of his organization’s needs and ensure they were met, even in a time of crisis. Shahrooz Roohparvar Cal Poly Humboldt Cal Poly Humboldt - LinkedIn Ken Boyd Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ken Boyd is joined by Fran Swain, Chief Financial Officer at Central Valley Ag Cooperative, to discuss the financial structure unique to a farm co-op. At Central Valley Ag, individual farm owners and producers pool their resources to maximize their collective assets. From a financial standpoint, this means Fran is managing the resources of multiple organizations, combined into one financial system. It offers unique challenges to financial management, but also unique advantages. Every member of the co-op’s board is themselves a farmer or producer. Every executive member, then, is by definition keenly aware of the needs of the organization. Under this structure, leadership is interwoven with operations and an increasing scale doesn’t necessarily lead to detachment from everyday functions. This is an essential component of Central Valley Ag. As a leader in the agriculture industry, the everyday functions of the organization are often on the frontlines of conversations surrounding businesses’ impact in the social and ecological sphere. Fran is tasked with managing his company’s resources in a way that not only strengthens the organization but also accounts for social and environmental responsibility. Fran Swain Central Valley Ag Cooperative Central Valley Ag Cooperative - LinkedIn Ken Boyd Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Betsy George, CFO at the City of Oxnard, to discuss some of the differences between public and private finance. While she now reports to a city council and works with public funds, Betsy got her start in the private sector. After spending some time working for a shipping company based in Los Angeles, she applied for a position with the City of Long Beach. Her experience in the shipping industry made her an ideal candidate, but she was initially hesitant to accept a job in the public sector. After spending some time with other city employees, Betsy found that her reservations about public sector work were completely unfounded. Work in the public sphere was built on a passion for serving the community and building more efficient public systems, and this new challenge was exactly what Betsy was looking for. Public work is often not so different from the private sector. Betsy still reports to a board, manages a budget, and makes use of an ERP system. Now, however, she works with the community to implement strategies that benefit the whole city. It is a uniquely challenging and profoundly rewarding new environment. Betsy George City of Oxnard City of Oxnard - LinkedIn Ben Murray The SaaS CFO The Saas CFO - LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Jack McCullough of the CFO Leadership Council speaks with Shannon Nash, Chief Financial Officer at Reputation. They discuss her personal journey to becoming CFO and her work championing diversity in her industry. Shannon has built a robust portfolio over the course of her impressive career. She began working towards becoming a CPA while still in high school, but also earned a JD from the University of Virginia Law School. She was also the producer of a documentary film. It may seem like an atypical route to becoming a CFO, but Shannon takes pride in her diverse background. For her, the most valuable asset someone can bring to a team is their unique experience. For that reason, Shannon continues to be a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion within the finance and technology fields. More diverse teams have been proven to outperform their less diverse counterparts. While Shannon appreciates that diversity is simply good business, she seeks to make the world a more inclusive place for the sake of people, not for the sake of numbers. Shannon Nash Reputation Reputation - LinkedIn Colored My Mind - Film National Society of Black CPAs National Society of Black CPAs - LinkedIn Jack McCullough CFO Leadership Council CFO Leadership Council - LinkedIn This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ken Boyd speaks with Jennifer DuPlessis, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations at Lovejoy ISD, about the struggles of managing financial systems with scarce access to resources. While many businesses have had to face unique challenges in the wake of Covid-19, working within a school district carries its own special kind of adversity. Like so many, Jennifer has had to contend with employee shortages and reduced funding. She does this, however,  while working in an industry notorious for its tight budget and limited staffing. Before working in Lovejoy, Jennifer was a part of Arlington Independent School District, an area with many more resources available to it. Transitioning to a smaller district forced Jennifer to adapt quickly, and her resourcefulness has been an important asset in this new environment. From technology that maximizes system efficiency, to tax codes that allow for increased funds, Jennifer uses every tool available to her to rebuild her institution’s finances and earn the public’s trust. Through the work she does, Lovejoy ISD is building working budgets in an environment of scarcity. Jennifer DuPlessis Lovejoy ISD Lovejoy ISD - LinkedIn Ken Boyd Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Krista Dusil, CFO at Be The Match, a non-profit organization that manages the most diverse blood stem cell registry in the world. Krista began her career in public accounting and, early on, she moved to a large healthcare firm. On her path to becoming a CFO, she spent some time outside of finance in various roles in operations, product, and venture capital to expand her overall business acumen. After a successful exit with a behavioral health company, Krista continued on a mission-driven path in her career. That’s when she took the position of CFO at Be The Match. When asked about the transition to the non-profit world, she says the biggest challenge was getting used to not always making decisions based on maximizing profits. Like any traditional finance role, metrics are the driver for decisions but, at Be The Match, their top-priority metric is lives impacted, including transplants facilitated and cellular therapy delivered.. Additional metrics center around delivering the optimal product to improve outcomes for patients and increasing diversity on the national registry to provide equal access to transplant for patients regardless of race or ethnic background. The result is they look to minimize margins which enables them to reinvest in their mission, to impact as many lives as possible today and well into the future. Krista Dusil Be The Match - LinkedIn Be The Match Ben Murray The SaaS CFO - LinkedIn The SaaS CFO Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.

On this episode of the Leaders of Modern Finance podcast, host Derek DeWinter welcomes two of his colleagues at the DeWinter Group, Tony Tilleskjor and Andy Dunayczan. The discussion is centered around the current breakneck pace of the recruiting market today compared to years past, and they take a look into their crystal ball about what the market will look like moving forward. They all agree that this is the fastest market they have ever seen, and Tony points out that clients have to move quickly right now if they want to bring in top talent. Most of the top candidates are weighing several offers, and companies that drag their feet are going to get passed by. Andy observes that there is a huge demand for the Corporate Controller position right now, mostly due to the evolving role of the CFO. He also sees high demand for the Director of Technical Accounting and SEC Reporting due to the number of companies going public. With such high demand, candidates are in the driver’s seat. Moving forward, companies that don’t keep up with current compensation or don’t allow remote work are going to struggle. It’s a fascinating discussion. Derek DeWinter Tony Tilleskjor Andy Dunayczan DeWinter Group DeWinter Group Stampli This episode is brought to you by Stampli. The Most Powerful Way to Process & Pay Invoices. Stampli is the only Accounts Payable Automation software that centers communications on top of the invoice so that accounts payable collaborates better with approvers, vendors, and anyone involved with purchases to quickly resolve issues and questions, resulting in 5x faster approvals. Contact us to see why users love using Stampli and schedule a demo at Stampli.com.