logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
45m 21s

The C-Suite Sweet Spot: CFO and CEO as I...

Vena Solutions
About this episode
The CEO-CFO partnership is arguably the cornerstone of an organization’s success, shaping not only its financial health but its strategic trajectory. This relationship is a delicate balance of mutual respect, candid dialogue, and aligned vision. A thriving CEO-CFO dynamic goes beyond simple collaboration; it involves a continuous cycle of challenging each other’s perspectives, reinforcing financial discipline, and driving innovative strategies. 

Our host and CFO of Vena, Melissa Howatson, shares such a dynamic relationship with Vena CEO Hunter Madeley. Together, they explore the unique perspectives of their respective roles and how aligning them is key to ensuring that the business is healthy today and positioned for sustainable growth.

Learn how the CEO and CFO partnership can be a strategic catalyst for success and discover how this strategic alliance is more than just a business necessity—it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of an organization, ensuring its resilience today and its growth well into the future.


Discussed In This Episode: 
  • What’s top of mind for today’s CEOs and how finance leaders can support them through uncertain economic times
  • The evolving role of CFOs, and whether they should be perceived as order-takers or strategic sparring partners in shaping the future of the business
  • How CFOs can use their unique vantage points to help other functional leaders be more future-centric
  • The horizons of investments, and how CFOs can help CEOs commit to short and long-term goals
Up next
Oct 7
Integrating Finance and IT: Insights From the CIO of Brookfield Residential
In this episode, Brookfield Residential CIO Brandon Sharp joins host Melissa Howatson to share his unique career journey and to reveal why tighter alignment between finance and IT drives true transformation. Brandon reflects on lessons learned while leading major initiatives in h ... Show More
30m 37s
Sep 23
From Series C to G: Carta’s CFO on Adapting to Change
How do you scale finance operations to keep pace with a business that’s doubling in size every few months? In this episode of The CFO Show, Carta CFO Charly Kevers shares how he has navigated constant change while helping the company grow from Series C to Series G and reach a $7. ... Show More
29m 8s
Sep 9
ERP Migration Without the Chaos: What Finance Leaders Need To Know
ERP migration can make—or break—your finance function. From outdated systems to cloud-based solutions, the stakes are high, and the risks are real. In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson, CFO of Vena, sits down with Scott Jorgens, Sr. Director of Marketing and Strategi ... Show More
34m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
1,036: The Power of AI in Shaping Strategic Finance Leadership | Zane Rowe, CFO, Workday
In 2012, after nearly two decades in the airline industry, Zane Rowe made a bold career pivot. Leaving behind his role as CFO at United Airlines, Rowe stepped into the tech world, joining Apple in a sales role—a move many saw as risky but one that would ultimately shape his persp ... Show More
36m 17s
Jul 23
Why Finance Teams Must Learn Faster Than Ever | Tim Vipond, Co-Founder, CEO of CFI
When Tim Vipond was asked to help rebuild Newmont Goldcorp’s corporate model, the scale was daunting: “20 tabs across… each tab being many hundred rows deep,” he tells us. The model had to account for the intricate economics of mining—from extraction to refinement—and it all had ... Show More
34m 43s
Dec 2024
How a Tech Founder Transformed into a CEO Championing M&A Growth
Art Papas, CEO at Bullhorn,   Growth through M&A is about strategy, timing, and bold leadership. The stakes are high, but the rewards are transformative for those who get it right. In this episode, Art Papas, CEO of Bullhorn, shares his journey from tech founder to M&A leader, an ... Show More
1h 7m
Aug 25
What Does Your Board Want Out of AI?
What do corporate boards really want from AI initiatives—and how can executive teams prepare to deliver? Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker is joined by CEO David DeWolf and Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao for a revealing discussion on how boardroom expectations around AI ... Show More
34m 27s
Apr 2025
Corporate Finance Explained | AI in Corporate Finance
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping corporate finance, moving beyond simple automation to become a powerful strategic partner. Discover how AI is fundamentally changing financial decision-making in this Deep Dive episode of Corporate Finance Explained (FinPod).Explo ... Show More
16m 38s
Jun 2025
From Flailing to AI Forward Motion - A Planning Aces Episode
In this Planning Aces episode, Jack Sweeney and co-host Brett Knowles spotlight three CFOs who are advancing their organizations' FP&A capabilities through thoughtful AI adoption. Andrea Hecht of CSAA Insurance discusses aligning generative AI with enterprise strategy and efficie ... Show More
41m 2s
Aug 7
The Prove-It Mentality: Rethinking ROI in the Age of AI - A Planning Aces Episode
In Episode 47 of Planning Aces, Jack Sweeney and resident thought leader Brett Knowles explore the evolving role of FP&A through the lens of three forward-looking CFOs. Dan Zhang (ClickUp), John Rettig (Bill), and Josh Schauer (insightsoftware) share how they’re driving enterpris ... Show More
44m 37s
Sep 15
#321 Developing Financial AI Products at Experian with Vijay Mehta, EVP of Global Solutions & Analytics at Experian
Financial institutions are racing to harness the power of AI, but the path to implementation is filled with challenges. From feature engineering to model deployment, the technical complexities of AI adoption in finance require careful navigation of both technological and regulato ... Show More
49m 28s
May 2024
How Knowledgeable is Your Executive Team on AI?
What’s the number one AI skill you can implement today? How can you ensure your executive team is up to speed with AI advancements?  First, Courtney, David, and Mohan revisit the topic of gauging your executive team's AI IQ and discuss the significance of both top-down and grassr ... Show More
33m 6s
Jun 2025
Lessons Learned from 30 Days of Company-Wide AI
What happens when you give every employee access to the paid version of ChatGPT? At Knownwell, it wasn’t just a tech decision—it was a culture shift. Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker, CEO David DeWolf, and Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao explore the real-world implicatio ... Show More
35m 28s