The Difference Between Getting the CFO Job and Keeping It (My 2-Year Check-In)

In this solo episode of The Diary of a CFO, I sit down halfway through the year to reflect on what I’ve learned during my first two years in the CFO seat, as well as the lessons I’ve gathered from speaking with more than 40 CFOs on this podcast.I talk about the difference between strategic thinking and strategic leadership, and why most companies test for the first when the second is what ultimately keeps you in the seat.I also explore why your relationship with your CEO and board can be the single most important factor in whether you succeed or get pushed out, including a real story from a CFO whose CEO asked her to stop attending board meetings after she shared information he didn’t want disclosed.We get into why working with a founder CEO is completely different from working with a hired CEO, what that means for navigating the role, and how mid-market CFOs operate at different altitudes in the same day, from talking to funders to reviewing accounting entries.I also unpack what I mean by “strategic influence” and why it has to permeate everything you do and say as an executive, right down to the words you choose.And finally, I reflect on why alignment with your boss, your company, your family, and your health has become the one word that defines everything I’ve learned so far.This is not just for CFOs. If you’re in any senior leadership seat, this episode is for you.