CFO THOUGHT LEADER13 Loka 2024

1,042: From the Diamond to the Boardroom: A CFO’s Journey | Max Krakowiak, CFO, Revvity

Max Krakowiak stood on the pitcher’s mound, ignoring the first drops of a Seattle rain. A shout from a less-than-faithful fan filled his ears as he prepared to throw his next pitch. In this moment, he had no idea that his baseball career was about to take an unexpected turn, as a random off-the-field injury would soon end his time in the minor leagues and force him to hang up his cleats. However, what Krakowiak didn’t realize then was that his days on the mound would end up providing him with lessons that would last for years to come.

As he transitioned into the world of finance—initially, through GE’s Financial Leadership Program—Krakowiak began to understand that the high-pressure moments in his baseball career had indeed been not very different from those encountered in corporate finance. “In baseball, you can get the best hitters to fail seven out of 10 times,” he reflected. “You have to focus on what’s in your control—your preparation, your mind-set, and how you engage with your team.”

Such is the frame of mind that has proven invaluable to Krakowiak in finance, where uncontrollable market forces can instantly and otherwise dictate outcomes.

Whether he was on the mound or handling investor calls, Max honed his ability to perform under pressure. “I’ve had some bad pitching performances in front of large crowds, and it made me a little numb to that anxiety,” he shared. That resilience, combined with his experience navigating tough conversations at GE, gave him the confidence to lead. Today, as CFO of Revvity, Max tells us he still brings that same focus and poise to every decision, balancing pressure with preparation—on the mound and in the boardroom.

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1197: The CFO Who Learned Finance by Owning Sales | Sinohe Terrero, CFO, Envoy

Sinohe Terrero still remembers the timing. He joined Envoy in January, only to see the workplace transformed just two months later as offices around the world shut down because of COVID. The company h...

5 Heinä 45min

Inside the IPO: Three CFOs, Three Perspectives

Taking a Company Public: What CFOs KnowWhat does it really take to prepare a company for life as a public company?In this special CFO Thought Leader compilation, we revisit three conversations with fi...

1 Heinä 59min

1196: Your Next Finance Hire Should Think Like a Founder | Martino Cadoni, CFO, DeepL

When Martino Cadoni joined DeepL, he arrived with an unusual perspective—he already knew the company’s product firsthand. Earlier in his career at Klarna, he had helped introduce DeepL as a translatio...

28 Kesä 52min

1195: When Finance is at the Center of the AI Code Revolution | Jean Compeau, CFO, Sonar

When Jean Compeau joined Sonar as CFO in March 2025, AI coding was not yet dominating industry conversations. By the summer and fall that followed, however, the landscape had shifted dramatically. Tod...

24 Kesä 47min

1194: Why Curiosity Creates Better Finance Leaders | Stacey Jenkins, CFO, Aerotek

Each day, Stacey Jenkins watches a different set of indicators than the quarterly financial results that eventually appear on a report. Candidate applications, recruiter activity, and other throughput...

21 Kesä 41min

1193: Building Finance Functions That Shape Outcomes | Jesse Waldron, CFO, Thyme Care

When Jesse Waldron describes Thyme Care’s work, he begins with the patient experience. Cancer patients, he explains, are often thrust into a healthcare system that can feel overwhelming both financial...

17 Kesä 49min

1192: Building Through Disruption | Christina Spade, CFO, Catalant

Five weeks into her role as CFO of Catalant, Christina Spade is helping guide a company that she believes is positioned for a different era of consulting.Catalant was founded out of Harvard Business S...

14 Kesä 51min

1191: From Complexity to Clarity: Building Operational Maturity | David Forlizzi, CFO, Salsify

When David Forlizzi describes Salsify, he begins with a simple observation: “We all use it every day.” Unlike some of the highly technical software businesses where he previously spent his career, Sal...

10 Kesä 38min