Stories and lessons from an unexpected journey in finance.

Thanksgiving has a way of forcing even the busiest leaders to hit pause—if only for a moment. And every year, when I finally stop running from meeting to meeting, board deck to board deck, and crisis to crisis, I’m reminded of just how much there is to be grateful for.

This year, that gratitude feels deeper than usual.

First, I’m thankful for the people who’ve shaped my career—intentionally or by accident.
From the mentors who taught me what “good” looks like, to the leaders who pushed me, to the teams who trusted me even when the path forward wasn’t clear. I’ve spent almost three decades working with incredibly smart, resilient, and hilarious people. You can’t do transformational work—real, uncomfortable, needle-moving work—without people who are willing to lock arms with you. I’m grateful for every one of them.

I’m thankful for the companies that invited me into their hardest chapters.
Turnarounds, PE-backed transformations, post-acquisition chaos, SaaS scaling, ERP rollouts that made everyone question their life choices—these are the moments where character is forged. They gave me a front-row seat to courage, vulnerability, and leadership under pressure. And they turned “finance jobs” into life lessons.

I’m thankful for my family, who sees all the invisible work behind the visible results.
My wife, Rebecca, who has heard the phrases “this close is brutal,” “just one more call,” and “flight delays again” far more times than anyone deserves. My kids, who grew up watching me juggle airports, boardrooms, and (occasionally) sanity. They’ve been the steady center of a very nonlinear career.

I’m thankful for the younger version of me—the one who didn’t quit.
Every career has inflection points where it would be easier to bail, settle, or downshift. I’m grateful that the 25-year-old consultant, the 35-year-old turnaround operator, and the 45-year-old tech CFO all kept showing up, kept betting on themselves, and kept learning.

And finally, I’m thankful for the unexpected idea that turned into this community: The Accidental CFO.
Sharing these stories has been energizing in a way I didn’t anticipate. It’s reminded me that leadership is messy, growth is uncomfortable, finance is far more human than spreadsheet-driven, and none of us are actually doing this alone.

This Thanksgiving, I’m not just grateful for the wins—I’m grateful for the journey. The unexpected turns, the tough seasons, the breakthroughs, and the people who’ve been part of it.

If you’re reading this, you’re part of that story. Thank you.

Wishing you a meaningful and restorative holiday.

What’s one thing you’re especially grateful for this year—personally or professionally?

#TheAccidentalCFO #Leadership #Gratitude #inersec #Thankful2025