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PODCAST

The Diary of a CFO

Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA

Whether you’re a current CFO, on the path to the role, or part of a finance team, this podcast is for you.The Diary of a CFO podcast takes you behind the scenes of modern finance leadership through honest conversations about how real finance leaders build their careers, make tough decisions, and navigate the weight of the CFO role.Hosted by award‑winning CFO Wassia Kamon, each episode gives you practical insight into how today’s best finance leaders:Build high‑performing finance and FP&A

business management

All Episodes

49:53

Building an AI-Ready Finance Team Without Losing the...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2026/02/12

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Tariq Munir, digital transformation advisor and author of Reimagine Finance, to explore what it actually takes to build an AI-ready finance team.Tariq shares why the biggest barriers to AI adoption are behavioral, not technological. He explains how to identify whether a team is truly data-driven, why streamlining workflows must come before automation, and how CFOs can create a culture of thoughtful experimentation

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51:18

The First‑Time CFO Playbook: The First 90 Days,...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2026/01/30

Stepping into your first CFO role can feel overwhelming. In this episode, former divisional CFO and GrowCFO Mentor Kevin Appleby shares what really changes when you move from finance leader to CFO.Drawing on years of experience working with finance leaders across industries, Kevin shares why many CFOs feel unprepared when they step into the role and how the real work begins after the reporting is done. The conversation examines how CFOs add value through judgment, questioning, and forward-looking

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26:54

Wassia Kamon’s 15-Year Journey from Staff Accountant...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2026/01/16

In this solo episode, Wassia Kamon shares how she went from staff accountant to CFO in 15 years, including the moments that didn’t look like progress at all.She talks about:Moments in her career that didn’t look like “progress” from the outside.Rethinking the value of credentials like the CPA, CMA, and MBA.Learning to lead under pressure and make decisions with incomplete information.What it was really like to grow her career while raising young kids.Promotions that looked impressive from the

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28:35

Beyond the Numbers: Leadership Lessons from...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/12/30

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, host Wassia Kamon sits down with Teri Kozub, a three-time CFO with more than 33 years of experience in nonprofit finance and current CFO at Community Legal Services of Mid Florida.Teri shares how her non-linear career shaped her leadership style, why nonprofit finance is far more complex than many assume, and how CFOs can lead effectively through uncertainty, risk, and mission-driven pressure.Expect to LearnWhy the CFO role extends far beyond numbers

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36:11

Executive Presence Explained: Why Top Performers...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/12/18

Executive presence is often cited as the reason leaders don’t get promoted, but rarely explained.In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Wassia Kamon sits down with executive coach Jill Avey to unpack what executive presence actually means, why high performers get stuck at the Director or VP level, and how promotions really happen at senior levels.00:00:00 – Welcome back!01:16:00 – What is executive presence? Jill’s model for understanding and building it07:50:00 – The challenges women face in

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46:09

Real Fraud Stories and Legal Protection for Your...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/12/10

Attorney and risk-management expert Natalia Greene reveals the real stories behind major fraud cases, including those featured on American Greed that she personally worked on.She also shares exactly how accountants, fractional CFOs, and boutique finance firms accidentally expose themselves to lawsuits, even when they’ve done nothing wrong.We cover: The wildest embezzlement schemes she’s seen in 20+ years of litigation Why accountants often get blamed first when fraud is uncovered The engagement

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42:14

What CEOs Want from Today’s CFO, with Executive...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, executive recruiter Mark Johnson shares insider perspectives on what CEOs are really looking for in today's CFOs. Discover how the expectations of finance leadership are evolving, what separates top candidates in interviews, and the essential qualities that define success in the modern C-suite. Whether you’re an aspiring finance leader or a seasoned executive, you’ll gain actionable advice to stand out and thrive at the top.Expect to LearnBeyond the Resume: Why

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60:17

80/20 Rule for FP&A Experts to Transform...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/11/17

Note:This episode is a pod swap from FP&A Unlocked. We’re sharing it here to help you discover another excellent show in the finance leadership space. All content belongs to the original podcast and host Paul Barnhurst.Note: This episode is a pod swap from FP&A Unlocked. We’re sharing it here to help you discover another excellent show in the finance leadership space. All content belongs to the original podcast and host Paul Barnhurst.In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst

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31:39

Agentic AI for CFOs, with Vivienne Wei, COO of...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/11/06

Join Vivienne Wei, COO of Unified Agent Force Platform at Salesforce and a leading thinker in financial technology, as she shares her journey from Wall Street to orchestrating enterprise-wide AI transformations.In this episode, Vivienne breaks down the realities and myths of AI in the finance function, from predictive models to generative AI, and reveals how agentic AI is creating a new category of digital workers, “AI agents,” that drive both productivity and resilience in modern businesses.You'll

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49:32

Building a Finance Function That Drives Growth:...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/10/30

What does it take to turn a traditional finance team into a true strategic business partner?In this episode, Paul Young, CFO of Liberty Bank, shares how he connected strategy, budgeting, and talent development to create a finance function built for impact.Paul brings over 25 years of experience leading finance, strategy, business transformation, and digital innovation across major institutions such as Citizens Bank, TD Bank, CIT, and Siemens Financial Services.If you’ve ever felt stuck between

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41:23

Why Every CFO Feels Stretched and What to Do About...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/10/16

CFOs are expected to drive transformation, lead strategy, and still deliver flawless numbers every month. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down with Tom Hood, one of the most influential voices in finance leadership, to unpack what’s really behind the growing pressure on today’s CFOs.We talk about:✅ How the CFO role has evolved from finance expert to strategic co-pilot✅ Why upskilling and reskilling are the new competitive edge✅ How to balance performance with transformation✅ The real

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31:47

Getting the most out of your tech stack, with Anna Sagan

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/10/09

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar:https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down with Anna Sagan, Senior Principal Solutions Engineer, who brings over two decades of experience in financial software and strategic reporting.We talked about:The evolving expectations from finance teamsWhy Excel is still the most loved BI tool in financeReporting limitations

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36:56

Leading Through Market Cycles, with Real Estate and...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/10/01

Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar:https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/What does it take to lead finance through real estate booms, construction slowdowns, and global crises?In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, I sit down with Bona Allen, a CFO with three decades of experience across real estate development, construction, and investment. Bona has led finance at both public and

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44:30

Non-Traditional Pathways to the CFO Seat, with Axile...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/09/24

Not every CFO starts as a controller or FP&A lead. Axel Talout shares how banking and private equity shaped his journey, why your “different” background can be your edge, and how to intentionally build a team that fills your blind spots.Brought to you by insightsoftware. Register for our upcoming webinar:https://insightsoftware.com/resources/get-out-of-the-reporting-rut-how-finance-leaders-drive-strategic-impact/If becoming a CFO is part of your goals, get your CFO readiness score here:

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40:44

The CFO Playbook for Handling Crises and Building...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/09/17

Mike High (CFO, NAIT; ex-Shell Deep Water CFO) shares leadership lessons from the Army to corporate finance: why the “platinum rule” beats one-size-fits-all leadership, what truly changes when you move from FP&A to the CFO seat, and how to carry a portfolio of crises without burning out. We discussed:practical playbooks to lead through a portfolio of crisis, how to keep long-term work moving during emergencies, what most companies get wrong about FP&A,how to make digital transformation

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40:30

Moving From Big 4 Auditor to Controller to CFO, with...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/09/10

Andrea Hecht, EVP & CFO at CSAA Insurance Group, walks through the real shifts at each step of her career — from auditor at Big 4 accounting firm, EY, to Controller, and ultimately CFO. She explains how the focus moves from technical detail to culture, strategy, and leadership. We cover:Why the first move from public accounting to industry didn’t work, and why the second one did.How interviews and expectations change as you move up.What makes the Controller → CFO leap so challenging.How to get

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21:56

Accounting vs FP&A: Which Path Gets You to CFO Faster?

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/09/04

Controller vs FP&A : which path gives you a better shot at the CFO seat? Wassia Kamon has done both. In this solo episode, she reveals why neither route guarantees success on its own and what truly sets future CFOs apart. Drawing on her first year as a CFO, Wassia introduces her Executive Readiness Framework and explains how to develop the executive substance, influence, and presence boards and CEOs look for. Whether you're in the weeds of the close or building forecasts, this is the episode

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32:24

Sheryl Shaw on Scaling Finance Teams and Embracing...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/07/29

This week on The Diary of a CFO, host Wassia Kamon is joined by Sheryl Shaw, Senior Manager at Bridgepoint Consulting and a former CFO with three decades of experience leading finance teams through transformation.Sheryl shares her remarkable journey, from starting as an accounting clerk in the 1980s to becoming a CFO 3 times, and now a trusted consultant for companies implementing NetSuite. She opens up about the lessons learned through chaos, the role of technology in finance, and how to build

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34:31

Inside FP&A: Christian Wattig’s Guide to Smarter...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/07/23

Christian Wattig is the program director of Wharton’s FP&A Certificate and the founder of InsideFP&A. In this episode, he shares his path from Procter & Gamble to becoming a leader in finance education, along with the pivotal lessons he learned along the way.You’ll learn:Why forecasting accuracy remains a major challenge for finance teamsHow to apply multiple forecasting methods for better resultsWhat separates great financial models from the restHow AI is reshaping FP&A work beyond

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43:09

The Role of Treasury in M&A and Business Strategy,...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/07/16

In this episode, Summa Simmons, Associate VP of Treasury at Victoria’s Secret & Co., shares what most people get wrong about treasury and why it's a strategic powerhouse. She explains how treasury helps companies manage cash, risk, and financial readiness during major business decisions like mergers and divestitures.Summa also opens up about her own journey from accounting to treasury, and what it means to be a true business partner across teams. You’ll learn:How treasury supports M&A and

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56 results

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