How to Become a CFO: The Real Career Path, Skills & Decisions That Matter

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Derek Paulson, Vice President of FP&A at Pura Vida, joins Megan Weis to explore how a generalist mindset, cross-functional curiosity, and the discipline to never outsource critical thinking are defining the next generation of finance leadership, drawing from his journey across manufacturing, consumer brands, and the MBA classroom to his current role at a purpose-driven lifestyle brand.

In this Greatest Hits episode of CFO Weekly, Stephen Heath, Accounting Professor at the College of San Mateo, shared timeless wisdom on financial planning for college students, including why it matters, what mistakes to avoid, and how young adults can build a strong financial foundation before life gets complicated.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, David Liu, Chief Financial Officer at SuccessKPI, joins Megan Weis to explore the non-linear path to the CFO seat, drawing from his experience in GE’s Financial Management Program, roles at Amazon and Framebridge, and leadership across high-growth SaaS companies, sharing how breadth of experience, cross-functional curiosity, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty shaped his journey to finance executive leadership.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Ignacio “Nacho” Redondo, former Senior Vice President of Finance at Nextpower, formerly Nextracker, joins Megan Weis to explore what it truly takes to prepare an organization for an IPO, drawing from his twenty-five-year finance career spanning engineering, private equity, and global technology, including his experience as CFO of Nextracker during its transformation from a Flex subsidiary into a publicly traded solar energy company.

In this “Greatest Hits” episode of CFO Weekly, Megan Weis revisits an insightful conversation with Angie Paglinawan, former Director of Finance IT at Aristocrat and now a Finance Accounting Consultant. With over 25 years of experience spanning utilities, gaming manufacturing, hospitality, IT, and construction, Angie shares her journey from traditional accounting into strategic finance leadership. This episode is a masterclass in standardization, automation, and the evolving role of the CFO as a storyteller and change driver.

In this "Greatest Hits" episode of CFO Weekly, Megan Weis revisits a masterclass in leadership with Jessica McClain, current CFO of the American Staffing Association. Recorded during her tenure as CFO of Girl Scouts Nation's Capital, the 2023 Nonprofit CFO of the Year shares her roadmap for transitioning from public accounting to the C-suite by prioritizing continuous learning, emotional intelligence, and team development. Jessica’s insights offer a timeless guide for navigating technological disruption and mastering the strategic agility required of the modern finance professional.

In this Greatest Hits episode of CFO Weekly, Sara Wyman, CEO & Founder at Stackpack, joins Megan Weis to explore how modern CFOs are transforming vendor management through AI-powered automation and strategic oversight, drawing from her experience as former VP of Strategic Partnerships at Affirm, where she witnessed the chaos of managing hundreds of vendors without proper systems at high-growth companies.

In this Greatest Hits episode of CFO Weekly, Aaron Levine, Chief Financial Officer at Prophix, joins Megan Weis to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being a CFO at a company whose technology is built for CFOs. Aaron shares insights on the evolving role of the CFO in today's tech-driven landscape, the importance of data stewardship, and how innovative financial solutions can enhance collaboration across teams.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Patrick Villanova, Chief Financial Officer at BlackLine, joins Megan Weis to explore how agentic AI is shifting the office of the CFO from binary, "yes/no" automation to autonomous decision-making. Drawing from a decade of leadership at BlackLine and deep experience in SEC reporting, Patrick discusses the critical need for "deterministic" AI, systems where perfection is the only allowable outcome and how these agents act as a strategic "fifth person in the room". He shares why the future of finance belongs to "data-savvy" professionals who embrace technology to transition from manual doers to high-impact reviewers.

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Hari Sankar, Senior Vice President of Applications Development at Oracle, joins Megan Weis to explore how AI, automation, and cloud technology are transforming finance from a reactive, manual function into an automated, insightful, and connected strategic force, drawing from his fifteen-year journey at the intersection of finance and technology and Oracle’s mission to embed AI directly into core finance platforms.