Tom is joined by Trent York, CFO of Furnished Finder, a fast-growing marketplace connecting traveling professionals with furnished monthly rentals across the U.S. Trent explains how the company is capitalizing on the rapid growth of the midterm rental market. He also discusses the operating advantages of leading finance, HR, and legal under one organization, what he calls the “execution economy.”

Guest quotes:

“Mobility doesn’t stop just because the housing market freezes.”

“A CFO today needs to know a lot about a lot, not just finance.”

“If you can understand how every part of the business connects, you can move faster.”

Links & Resources:

Connect with Tom Gavaghan

Connect with Trent York

Learn more about Kyriba

Learn more about Furnished Finder

YouTube Timestamps:

00:00 Show Intro and Guest

01:07 Trent York Background

02:18 What Furnished Finder Does

02:44 Why Midterm Rentals Boom

04:13 Subscription Not Payments

05:22 Control and Simplicity

07:40 Housing Freeze and Renters

10:45 New Demand Segments

13:32 Modeling Mobility Trends

15:34 Marketplace Data Strategy

17:36 Proptech What Comes Next

19:51 International Expansion Plans

20:43 CFO Also HR and Legal

23:20 AI Pushback Framework

23:58 Trust but Verify Leadership

25:50 Upskill vs Hire Talent

28:59 Tech Stack Pitfalls

32:02 Career Growth Advice

34:25 Big vs Small Companies

36:04 Remote Travel Picks

37:27 Travel Rule and Family

38:47 Wrap Up and Book Picks

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Tom is joined by Jeanne Jones, CFO of Exelon, one of America’s largest energy delivery companies. Jeanne explains how Exelon creates long-term value in a highly regulated environment by focusing on operational excellence, disciplined capital allocation, and customer affordability. Jeanne also shares how she thinks about liquidity and balance sheet protection in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment, including why going long on debt and prioritizing certainty have helped Exelon weather volatility.

Guest Quote:

“We deliver consistent long-term value for our investors by doing the basics exceptionally well.”

“Affordability starts with controlling your own costs.”

“If you have size and scale but don’t manage it as a portfolio, you’re not optimizing that size and scale.”

Timestamps:
01:05 Exelon Investor Story

03:56 Regulated Revenue Engine

06:22 Data Centers and Fair Rates

10:56 Planning for Uncertain Load

12:30 Affordability in Practice

16:53 AI and Analytics Use Cases

19:37 Liquidity and Debt Strategy

23:58 Finance Tech That Matters

25:53 Portfolio Management Edge

26:54 Career Rotations at Exelon

30:20 Data Driven Leadership

32:03 Advice for Future Leaders

33:39 ERGs and Talent Pipelines

37:56 STEM Programs and Scholarships

40:03 Rapid Fire Questions

Links & Resources:

Connect with Tom Gavaghan

Connect with Jeanne Jones

Learn more about Kyriba

Learn more about Exelon

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In this episode, Tom is joined by Colin Wittmer, CFO of PwC. Colin's 31-year journey at PwC has seen him transition from the audit practice to a leadership role in finance, with a significant focus on deals and transaction services. Unlike the typical technology-centric CFO, Colin emphasizes the importance of human skills in AI-driven transformations. He offers insights into the evolving role of finance leaders, the impact of AI, and how to cultivate leadership within the organization.

Guest Quote:

“As a CFO, you see the whole picture… where a good CFO really excels is being able to connect the dots so everyone understands how something happening in one part of the business affects the rest.”

“If you start managing the business like you have a lot of cash, you can easily go sideways when things get tough. It’s maintaining that discipline in good times and in bad times.”

“Make the tough decisions early and stay the course. The companies that don’t come out of restructuring are the ones that defer making the hard decisions.”

Timestamps:

01:07 Colin Wittmer's Career Journey

02:27 Insights on M&A and Finance Leadership

07:34 The Role of AI in Modern Finance

08:49 AI Implementation at PwC

12:58 Balancing Human Skills and Technology

14:44 Continuous Learning and Adaptation

25:43 Advice for Aspiring CFOs

26:50 Balancing Client and Firm Management

27:54 The Importance of Leadership

28:26 Evaluating Career Decisions

29:54 Market Trends in M&A

31:52 Red Flags in Finance Functions

34:58 Future of the CFO Role

41:30 Personal Insights and Hobbies

44:41 Recommended Reads and Conclusion

Links & Resources:

Connect with Tom Gavaghan

Connect with Colin Wittmer

Learn more about Kyriba

Learn more about PwC

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