In this episode, CJ sits down with Ryan Roccon, CFO of Zapier, to explore the power of storytelling in finance, decision-making frameworks, and the company's commitment to extreme transparency. Ryan highlights the significance of storytelling in finance to connect complex data with company strategy. He explains how he adapts a story for a specific audience and how he avoids “robot mode” when repeating it. The discussion delves into Zapier's unique approach to transparency, how this plays out, the benefits of it, the challenges of it, and how it has become an integral part of the company’s culture. Ryan unpacks the unique dynamics of being a remote-first, bootstrapped company with a cash flow break-even or better requirement. The conversation also covers the importance of effective decision-making, where Ryan suggests that most decisions are reversible and breaks down different frameworks for effective decision-making and fostering organizational buy-in.
—
SPONSORS:
RightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. Whether it's multi-element arrangements, subscription renewals, or complex usage-based contracts, RightRev takes care of it all. That means fewer spreadsheets, fewer errors, and more time for your team to focus on growth. For modern revenue recognition simplified, visit rightrev.com and schedule a demo.
Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Brex makes it easy to control spend before it happens, automate annoying tasks, and optimize your finances. Find out how Brex can help you make every dollar count at brex.com/metrics.
Planful is a financial performance management platform designed to streamline financial tasks for businesses. It helps with budgeting, closing the books, and financial reporting, all on a cloud-based platform. By improving the efficiency and accuracy of these processes, Planful allows businesses to make better financial decisions. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.
Vanta's trust management platform takes the manual work out of your security and compliance process and replaces it with continuous automation. Over 9000 businesses use it to automate compliance needs across over 35 frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Centralize security workflows, complete questionnaires up to five times faster, and proactively manage vendor risk. For a limited time, get $1,000 off of Vanta at vanta.com/metrics.
—
FOLLOW US ON X:
@cjgustafson222 (CJ)
—
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Preview and Intro
(02:34) Sponsor – RightRev | Brex
(06:31) What Storytelling Is in Finance
(09:01) Adapting Your Story for the Audience
(12:19) Avoiding “Robot Mode” When Repeating a Story
(17:30) Sponsor – Planful | Vanta
(19:37) Frequently Used Analogies
(21:33) The Cohort of Companies Zapier Compares Itself To
(23:33) Storytelling to Potential New Employees
(24:38) Zapier’s Extreme Transparency
(26:08) The Challenges of Extreme Transparency
(29:36) Avoiding Creating Anxiety by Oversharing
(31:11) Zapier’s Cash Flow Break-Even or Better Requirement
(34:18) Other Rules and Ambitions at Zapier
(34:55) Burdening the P&L by Product Line
(37:24) Getting People to Use the DACI Framework
(40:51) The “Fist to Five” Framework
(44:51) Making It Safe to Fail While Expecting Excellent Performance
(48:35) What Ryan Would Most Like to Automate
(49:46) The US Steel and Stanley Cup Story
(52:21) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Mistake Made Early in Ryan’s Career
(53:31) What Ryan Wishes He Had Known Earlier in His Career
(54:27) Finance Software Stack
(55:25) Craziest Expense Story