“Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.”

I didn’t start in audit, accounting, or corporate finance. I led consulting practices, advising executives on transformation and growth. Those years taught me how to connect strategy, operations, and financial outcomes. They also shaped how I would later approach the CFO role.

The path to CFO isn’t about waiting for a promotion; it’s about thinking, acting, and leading like one every single day. The truth is that CFOs are made in the messy middle—the late nights fixing forecasts, the tough calls on budget tradeoffs, and the moments when no one’s watching but you still choose the hard right over the easy wrong.

Think Beyond the Numbers

A future CFO doesn’t just report the numbers. They explain what they mean and why they matter. They connect financial outcomes to business decisions, to customers, and to culture. My transition from consulting to finance reinforced that lesson. The best insights often come from stepping outside the spreadsheet and seeing the business through the customer’s lens. When you start linking the story behind the numbers, people begin to see you as a strategic thinker, not just a finance professional.

Build Trust Before Authority

Titles give authority. Trust gives influence. The best CFOs I’ve worked with, and tried to be, don’t wait for formal power to make an impact. They earn credibility through transparency, responsiveness, and consistency. When your CEO, board, or business partner knows you’ll always bring clarity and a calm head, your title becomes secondary.

Make the Business Your Business

Don’t just know the P&L; understand what drives it. Walk the floor, talk to customers, sit in on product reviews, and ask the “why” questions most finance people avoid. Coming from consulting, this was second nature because curiosity was the job. In finance, it became the differentiator. When you care about how the business works, not just how it performs, you stop being “finance” and start being a business leader who happens to be great with numbers.

Lead from Where You Are

You don’t need a C-suite title to lead. You can start by mentoring junior team members, building better processes, or helping your peers see the bigger picture. Leadership is a habit long before it’s a position.

Becoming a CFO is less about the next job and more about your next move. It’s about the small, consistent acts that demonstrate ownership, courage, and curiosity. So wherever you sit today, start showing up like the CFO you want to be. Because when the opportunity comes, and it will, you won’t have to convince anyone you’re ready. They’ll already know.

💬 What’s one habit or mindset that’s helped you lead before your title said “leader”?

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