What’s driving finance leaders’ strategic planning in 2025—and its future trajectory?

In this data-packed episode, we welcome back Craig Schiff, CEO of BPM Partners to unpack the findings from Vena’s 2025 State of Strategic Finance Report. From AI adoption to strategic business partnering, Craig dives into key insights on how finance leaders are navigating change, deploying technology, and building more connected and capable teams. Drawing from the report’s insights, Craig reveals the critical direction finance teams must take to remain competitive and efficient.

Together with host Melissa Howatson, Craig explores major themes from this year's survey, including a surprising optimism among finance leaders, a rise in cross-functional collaboration, and the evolving role of AI within finance operations. If you're a finance leader seeking clarity on where the industry is headed, this is your roadmap.

Discussed in This Episode:

• Why finance leaders are feeling optimistic in 2025
• The expanding strategic role of finance in business
• How teams are managing talent shortages while still growing
• What's driving widespread adoption of planning technology
• The real state of AI in finance and what's working
• Common traits of mature finance organizations

In today's unpredictable real estate market, CFOs are facing complex decisions that could significantly impact their bottom line.

In this episode, Scot Ginsburg, Executive Managing Director at Hughes Marino and author of ‘It's Not All About the Rent’, breaks down the current commercial real estate landscape and what finance leaders need to know to make smart, strategic choices.

From the office space downturn to industrial overbuilds, Scot explains why now the time is to rethink lease renewals, restructures, and how to negotiate with landlords. With almost three decades of experience exclusively representing tenants across various industries, he offers invaluable insights on avoiding costly lease mistakes and reveals why the mantra "it's not all about the rent" is crucial in today's market. Discover why traditional approaches to leasing may be costing your company more than you realize and learn the strategies that could save you money in the long run.

Discussed in This Episode

• Why the real estate landscape is shifting and how companies should respond
• Lease renewals vs. restructures: Understanding the differences and optimal timing for each
• Uncovering and avoiding hidden financial traps in commercial lease agreements
• How to negotiate with landlords in a down market
• What to look for in a commercial real estate broker: Ensuring the best representation
• The importance of following a process, even if you “know what you want”

As the startup funding landscape evolves, is your financial strategy keeping pace?

In this changing environment, a well-crafted financial strategy has become increasingly crucial for startups.

Janelle Gorman, CFO of York IE, York IE, an advisory and investment firm that helps technology companies grow, shares valuable insights on crafting financial strategies that can make or break a startup's success. Drawing from her extensive experience with high-growth startups, Janelle explores key topics such as optimizing cash flow, managing burn rates, and identifying the metrics that drive sustainable business growth.

Whether you're a CFO, finance leader, startup founder, or investor, this episode provides actionable strategies for building financial resilience and positioning your startup for success in the current economic climate. Discover how to transform financial challenges into opportunities for growth and long-term success.

Discussed in This Episode

• Navigating the delicate balance between growth and financial sustainability in today's market
• Evolving investor expectations and strategies to make your startup stand out in fundraising
• Cash flow management techniques to extend runway and fuel effective scaling
• Essential financial metrics for startup success, including how to optimize CAC payback period
• Why achieving product-market fit is crucial before ramping up sales and marketing efforts