Are you building your budget—or defending your assumptions?

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore how cognitive bias quietly influences financial decisions in forecasting, capital planning, and corporate strategy.

Whether you’re in FP&A, M&A, or treasury, understanding behavioral finance can help you avoid critical missteps caused by overconfidence, anchoring, or groupthink.

Expanding into emerging markets? Finance teams face a whole new level of risk and opportunity. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we reveal how multinational companies manage currency risk, political instability, and regulatory complexity when operating in fast-growing economies.

Learn how Tesla structured its China expansion, how Coca-Cola hedges naira risk in Nigeria, and how Unilever handles pricing and compliance in India.

Behind the Course: Economic Analysis for FP&A – New from CFI

In this episode of What’s New at CFI on FinPod, we walk through our latest course release: Economic Analysis for FP&A, co-authored by instructors Mimi Hu and Meeyeon Park. Designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world finance, this course helps learners understand how FP&A teams drive strategic decisions—using scenario analysis, economic trends, and business partnering to influence the direction of a company.

Whether you're just starting out or stepping into leadership in FP&A, this episode offers key insights into how the course was built to support you. From practical retail-based examples to the importance of data storytelling and executive-ready presentation skills, Mimi and Meeyeon reflect on the lessons they wish they'd had earlier in their careers—and how this course now delivers them to you.

Is corporate finance about maximizing shareholder value, or should companies focus on broader stakeholder interests? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the evolving debate between shareholder primacy and stakeholder capitalism—and what it means for finance professionals today.

Whether you work in financial planning, strategy, or corporate development, this episode provides practical takeaways to help you align financial strategy with long-term value creation.

Why do big companies collapse? And how can corporate finance professionals spot the warning signs before it’s too late?

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the most common causes of corporate bankruptcy and financial distress, backed by case studies of Lehman Brothers, Toys “R” Us, WeWork, and more.

Learn how finance teams use metrics like interest coverage, working capital trends, and debt ratios to assess risk, and how FP&A and treasury roles are critical in crisis management.

Is corporate finance about maximizing shareholder value, or should companies focus on broader stakeholder interests? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the evolving debate between shareholder primacy and stakeholder capitalism—and what it means for finance professionals today.

Whether you work in financial planning, strategy, or corporate development, this episode provides practical takeaways to help you align financial strategy with long-term value creation.

How do companies decide between paying dividends and reinvesting profits? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the key considerations behind corporate dividend policy and why it’s such a powerful tool for shaping investor sentiment and long-term strategy.

Why do companies spin off parts of their business, and how does it create shareholder value?

In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the core strategies behind corporate restructuring, including spin-offs, carve-outs, and divestitures.