Revisiting: Ilana Esterrich (CFO @ Planned Parenthood) On Leading Beyond The Numbers

If your role as CFO stops at the numbers, you’re already behind.

Ilana Esterrich, CFO at Planned Parenthood, breaks down what it actually means to lead in today’s environment—from building resilient teams to operating in constant uncertainty.

With a background in the military, Ilana brings a unique perspective on leadership, discipline, and adaptability—showing how finance leaders can step into a far more strategic role inside their organisations.

In this episode, we cover:

What a “growth-minded” CFO really looks like in practice
How to lead finance teams through uncertainty and change
Lessons from the military that translate to modern leadership
Moving from tactical execution to strategic impact
Why curiosity and continuous learning matter more than ever

About our guest:

Ilana Esterrich is the CFO at Planned Parenthood, where she leads financial strategy in a complex, high-stakes environment. With a background in the military, she brings a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and team development.

The Growth-Minded CFO is the podcast for finance leaders who want to go beyond the numbers and play a bigger role in driving growth.

Hosted by Alex Louisy (CEO at Upflow) and Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO and Founder), the show explores how modern CFOs are building, leading, and scaling high-performing organisations.

This podcast is powered by Upflow - helping businesses get paid faster, strengthen customer relationships, and grow more efficiently. Learn more at upflow.io

Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io

Want to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast

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