Season 2 Recap — What Today’s Best CFOs Actually Do

Hosts Alex Louisy (CEO, Upflow) and Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO) unpack the sharpest insights from Season 2 of The Growth-Minded CFO - from AI (without the hype) and executional finance to storytelling, EQ, and when to hire fractional vs. full-time. It’s your highlight reel to operate smarter, lead better, and move faster.

What you’ll learn

1. Clean data before clever AI — hygiene first; tools and agents second

2. Storytelling that moves decisions — narratives that align teams and unlock action

3. The rise of the executional CFO — architect systems, not just measure them

4. Stage-fit team building — when to hire full-time vs. bring in fractional expertise

Episodes mentioned

• Jeffrey Fidelman — The Modern CFO: Fundraising, AI, and Starting Smart in 2025: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/modern-cfo-fundraising-ai-2025

• Jon Gross (RepeatMD) — From Banker to Builder: Hands-On CFO Lessons for SaaS: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/banker-to-builder-cfo-lessons-for-saas-jon-gross

• Nicolas Kopp (Rillet) — Rewiring Finance: AI, ERP, and the Rise of the Executional CFO: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/rewiring-finance-ai-erp-rise-of-the-executional-cfo

• Erik Nakamura — From Spreadsheets to Storytelling: Communication & EQ Tips for CFOs: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/spreadsheets-to-storytelling-communication-tips-for-cfos

• Anne Samak de la Cerda (FLG Partners) — Rise of the Fractional CFO – Your Next Career Move? (& When and Why to Hire One): https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/rise-of-the-fractional-cfo

• Dav Masaon (Zanda) — What Makes a Great CFO in 2025? Insights from the Frontlines of CFO Hiring: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/cfo-hiring-dav-masaon

• Nicolas Boucher — AI in Finance: From Buzz to Business Value: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/ai-myths-finance-2025-nicolas-boucher

• Kate Gulliver (Wayfair CFO & CAO) — The CFO Leading Talent, Operations & Corporate Communication Too: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/talent-to-finance-wayfair-kate-gulliver

• Carla Cooper (Contentful CFO) — Wall Street to SaaS CFO: Lessons from IPOs, Acquisitions & Growth: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/ipos-acquisitions-growth-carla-cooper

• Gabi Steele (Preql) — Clean data, clear insights: AI for finance & building the right foundation: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/building-a-structured-foundation-for-ai-with-gabi-steele

• Ilana Esterrich (Planned Parenthood CFO) — The CFO as Leader: Mastering Management: https://upflow.io/growthmindedcfo/cfo-as-leader-mastering-management-ilana-esterrich

Try Upflow FRM (Financial Relationship Management) – get paid faster and keep customers happy: https://upflow.io

• Like this episode if it helped you level-up your finance game.
• Follow/Subscribe for more real-talk with modern finance leaders.
• Share it with a CFO or operator who needs to hear this.

The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time founder, Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO, Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders who share playbooks for building high-performing organizations.

This podcast is powered by Upflow — a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth.

Questions or guest ideas? Email our producer: joseph.sweeney@upflow.io