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In less than three years, generative AI has grown from a curiosity to a central part of board discussions. If you think that's too soon, wait another three years. But if the opportunities are huge, so is the risk of getting it wrong. This concern is growing as so many companies focus head-on on development and deployment. The key to winning with AI, as everyone reading this knows, is striking the balance and creating the right governance structures now so your company can move forward with confidence. To help, corporate director has assembled a distinguished panel of technology and governance…
As the scope and importance of the CFO role continues to evolve, many finance executives are changing their titles to represent a broader role. Kelly Cronenberg's Heath Escarillo is one example. Mr. Escarho, formerly chief financial officer (CFO) of a law firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, currently serves as principal partner and chief performance officer. He spoke with The Modern CFO about the evolving role of the CFO, what it takes to transition to the CPO, and what the CFO can do for you and your organization. Why are more CFOs moving into the chief performance officer role? In response…
Since the beginning of this year, geopolitical pressures have combined with trade negotiations and deregulation efforts, increasing business volatility. And as we enter the fourth quarter of this year, that volatility shows little sign of improving. Business risk is skyrocketing, according to research by legal and compliance leaders corporate director This is part of the Q3 Business Risk Index, a survey of general counsel, compliance leaders, and audit members conducted in partnership with Diligent Institute. Legal and compliance leaders rate the level of risk in the current business environment as 7.9 out of 10. A score of 1 is negligible…
Suppose your organization needs to quickly pivot financially, especially during these uncertain times. In that case, finance is better off becoming a partner with operations and the rest of the organization, rather than becoming a heavy-handed overseer of budgets and spending. Organizations have come to realize that without deep connections with the rest of the company, finance departments will miss early warning signs of significant market changes and operational challenges. says Anjali Motiani, chief financial officer of Datasite, a Minneapolis-based company that provides a digital platform to facilitate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions. Motiani, a member of the Institute of…
In December 2024, Intel's directors lost confidence in CEO Pat Gelsinger's turnaround strategy (which ultimately led to a $16.6 billion loss and a 60% stock price decline) and exposed serious governance flaws. He lacked sufficient semiconductor expertise to assess whether his plans would succeed in an AI-driven market. The knowledge gap became clear after veteran semiconductor executive Lip Vu Tan resigned as Intel's CEO in March 2025, frustrated by its inadequate AI strategy and bloated workforce. This dramatic turnaround highlighted the extent to which Intel's struggles stem not just from operational mistakes, but also from fundamental flaws in its board…
Abigail Posner, Director of Creative Works at Google, speaks on creativity to organizations including accounting firms and power distribution companies. Her message: All people are inherently creative. It's a quality that's not just the domain of artists, musicians, and designers. Her goal is to decipher the creative process so that engineers at YouTube (owned by Google), for example, can work together to develop and leverage interesting and deep content. I first met Abigail when we attended a panel discussion together in Cannes. And I was immediately impressed by her ability to keep asking questions rather than presenting ideas. She keeps…
Austin, Texas—How can a CFO become a better leader, not just for the finance team but for the entire organization? On Tuesday, decorated U.S. Army officer (pictured above), your leadership legacygave more than 400 attendees at the Fall 2025 CFO Leadership Conference keen insights on how to unlock your leadership potential. We have summarized them into nine main points. Leadership is selfless service.. “If service is below you, then leadership is above you,” McCulloch said. Leaders must lead by example in everything they do every day. Because “team members are always watching.” You are the moral, ethical, and legal compass…
Important takeouts: The cultural alignment of M&AS is often underestimated. It is important to deal with it early and proactively in order to achieve successful integration and unlock the full value of the transaction. Misconceptions such as assuming culture can derail integration efforts without the active involvement of leadership so that they can align naturally. A comprehensive cultural diagnosis reveals deep operational differences and enables leaders to deal with them early. Effective integration requires leaders to define specific behaviors that set the organization's tone, define role models, role models, and commit. Companies that prioritize cultural integrity, utilize simulations and measure…
Bankruptcy is a tough reset, and even more severe if it happens twice in less than a year. In August, Spirit Airlines created the headline by setting the shortest time records between bankruptcy filings. It's a milestone that doesn't want business. What was wrong? The mind focused on treating symptoms of financial distress without addressing the underlying causes behind it. Result: Return to Square One. But bankruptcy doesn't have to be a revolving door. If done correctly, it could be the clean slate that companies need to rewrite their playbooks. The key is to go back to the basics. From…
Bankruptcy is a tough reset, and even more severe if it happens twice in less than a year. In August, Spirit Airlines created the headline by setting the shortest time records between bankruptcy filings. It's a milestone that doesn't want business. What was wrong? The mind focused on treating symptoms of financial distress without addressing the underlying causes behind it. Result: Return to Square One. But bankruptcy doesn't have to be a revolving door. If done correctly, it could be the clean slate that companies need to rewrite their playbooks. The key is to go back to the basics. From…