Inside the IPO: Three CFOs, Three Perspectives

Taking a Company Public: What CFOs Know

What 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 finance leaders who helped guide some of the technology industry's most recognizable companies through the IPO journey. Rather than focusing on the transaction itself, these CFOs share what happened behind the scenes—the operational changes, leadership decisions, and financial discipline required long before the opening bell rang.

John Kinzer, former CFO of HubSpot, explains how preparing for an IPO required transforming finance from a back-office function into a strategic business partner. He discusses the importance of balancing growth with profitability and creating the operational discipline expected of a public company.

Kelly Steckelberg, former CFO of Zoom Video Communications, reflects on building the people, processes, forecasting capabilities, and financial infrastructure necessary to support a successful transition to the public markets. She also shares lessons from leading Zoom through its first earnings call as a newly public company.

Drawing on his experience helping lead IPOs at Salesforce, Pandora, and Yext, Steve Cakebread offers a broader perspective on why companies go public, how management teams should prepare, and why governance, investor communication, and long-term vision are essential to building enduring public companies.

Together, these three accomplished CFOs offer a practical look at what it really takes to take a company public—from preparing the organization and strengthening financial operations to communicating with investors and leading through one of the most significant milestones in a company's evolution.