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PODCAST

The Diary of a CFO

Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA

Whether you’re part of a finance team, work closely with CFOs, or aspire to become a business executive, this podcast is for you! The Diary of a CFO takes you behind the scenes of finance leadership. This is the podcast where finance leaders share the lessons, challenges, and wins that shaped their careers.I’m your host, Wassia Kamon, and I’m excited to take you with me on my journey as a newly appointed CFO as I share hidden challenges, unspoken rules, and lessons I’ve learned along the way.In each

business management

All Episodes

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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44:29

Why Culture Is Your Biggest Cybersecurity Risk, with...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/07/09

Most companies think cybersecurity is about firewalls and IT policies. But the real risk often starts with culture.In this episode, Dutch Schwartz, VP of Cloud Services at SideChannel and former security leader at AWS and Raytheon, shares why companies with poor culture are three times more likely to face a breach. We talk about how leadership, disengaged employees, and outdated mindsets quietly open the door to cyber threats.You'll also hear:The $25 million AI voice scam that could have been

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44:26

How the Best Finance Leaders Operate, Plan, and...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/07/03

Christina Ross, serial CFO turned CEO of Cube, explains why spreadsheets aren’t the problem and what finance leaders should focus on instead. She shares multiple frameworks for moving from manual chaos to strategic clarity. This episode is packed with insights on real-time planning, clean data, and leading high-impact finance teams.In this episode, we cover:The four layers of strategic financeHow to plan faster and forecast smarterPartnering across departments for better dataLeading with speed,

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35:54

The Art of Becoming a Strategic CFO, with Dr. Tamer...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/06/25

In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Wassia Kamon speaks with Dr. Tamer Alsayed, CFO at the Future Investment Initiative and author of The Art of Becoming a Strategic CFO. With over two decades of experience across industries and regions, Dr. Tamer offers a clear-eyed view of what today’s finance leaders need to succeed.The discussion covers:How the CFO role has evolved beyond reporting and complianceWhat it means to think and lead strategically in financeLessons from working on IPOs, M&A

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28:08

The #1 Mistake Keeping Controllers from Becoming CFOs

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/06/19

Welcome to Season 2 of The Diary of a CFO. In this kickoff solo episode, Wassia Kamon shares behind-the-scenes highlights from Season 1, why some careers stall at the executive door, and what actually opens it.You’ll hear:The real reason technical skills alone won’t get you promotedThe 3-digit P.I.N. code to executive leadershipWhat separates great CFOs from the restWhy work-life harmony beats balanceWhat’s new in Season 2?🎥 Full-video episodes on YouTube🗞 A brand-new Substack called Off the

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34:02

What I Wish Finance Professionals Knew Sooner, with...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/06/11

In this episode, Syed Nadeem shares the lessons he wishes more finance professionals learned early on. He talks about why certifications alone won’t get you promoted, and why your mindset, human skills, and personal brand matter just as much as your technical skills.Syed also shares how losing his job became a turning point. He built a global brand and started helping others grow in their careers. From business partnering to leadership, this episode is full of insights that can help you stay

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38:22

Solving Revenue Recognition Nightmares for SaaS...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/06/05

If you’ve ever lost sleep over complex contracts, usage-based pricing, or revenue schedules that live in hundreds spreadsheet tabs, this episode is for you.I’m joined by Apurv Bansal, co-founder and CEO of Zenskar, to talk about how AI is helping SaaS companies automate billing and revenue recognition end-to-end. We unpack why legacy tools can’t keep up with modern pricing models, what finance teams really need from automation, and how to avoid the most common implementation mistakes.Special thanks

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32:02

Beyond Compliance: Kendra LaFleur on Becoming a...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/05/29

Audit Director at FORVIS Mazars and board treasurer for Girls on the Run Georgia, Kendra LaFleur opens up about her journey from intern to partner, how she grew into strategic leadership, and how she navigates the evolving role of finance in mission-driven organizations.

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40:52

From Combat Zones to Corporate Finance: Stephen...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/05/22

Stephen McLain led 250 soldiers as an Army Commander. He built internal controls in Iraq to fight fraud and misuse of funds. And, he defended military budgets in front of NATO.Now, he helps corporate finance and accounting teams fix problems with their internal processes, financial modeling, and strategy development.In this episode, he shares what finance professionals can learn from leading in high-stakes environments. We talk about strategic thinking, transitioning from military to corporate

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37:51

Why Treasury is More Than Managing Cash, with Matthew...

The Diary of a CFO ·

2025/05/15

Treasury often works behind the scenes, but Matthew Harlan shows why it should be a key player at the table. We cover what treasury leaders bring to IPO readiness, how to rethink working capital, and how finance teams can collaborate better across functions.

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47 results

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