1179: Why Trust Can Outperform Price | Thomas Baumgartner, CFO, voestalpine Metsec

As a child in Austria, Thomas Baumgartner bundled unwanted toys into mystery bags and sold them to classmates. Buyers could not see what was inside—they simply paid and took their chances. He cleared out old toys and earned spending money, he tells us. The story is lighthearted, but it reveals something enduring: an instinct to create value, move decisively, and keep looking for the next opportunity.

That same mindset has shaped a career spent inside the voestalpine group. Baumgartner began in controlling roles in Austria, where he developed an early view of finance as a forward-looking discipline. A controller, he explains, is the person spotting the iceberg ahead, while others are still measuring the water temperature. The distinction matters. For him, finance was never only about recording results—it was about anticipating scenarios and helping steer the business.

A promotion to the UK expanded that perspective. Suddenly, he was navigating unfamiliar pension systems, new tax rules, and a different business culture, he tells us. The move required more than technical knowledge. It demanded adaptation. Over time, he learned that direct leadership styles do not travel seamlessly across borders, and he evolved toward a more collaborative approach built on listening and buy-in.

Today, as CFO of voestalpine Metsec plc, he applies that same blend of discipline and curiosity. The company invests heavily in certifications, fire testing, and trusted solutions rather than competing only on price, he tells us. He has also championed internal AI Test Labs to help employees explore new tools and generate ideas from the ground up. “Stand still is not an option,” he tells us.

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Episoder(1194)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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1190: Fixing What Growth Tries to Hide | Jaylene Kunze, LegitScript

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7 Jun 49min

1189: Why Finance Should Lead with “Yes, And” | Bruno Annicq, CFO, Wellhub

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31 Mai 50min