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In sports, business, arguments, and relationships, “winning” often means a zero-sum game with clear winners and losers. Winning certainly feels great in the moment and can bring material gains, status, and a surge of dopamine. But if there is only one winner, what happens to the other winners? They may feel discouraged, envious, or empty. However, “success” benefits everyone involved. Let's say you set a new personal best time in a 10k race, but finished 12th in your age group. At the national championship it would be recorded as a distant defeat. But you went to nationals, achieved personal bests,…
A recent shareholder lawsuit filed against the Chipotle restaurant chain challenges the company's board members and management to (1) pay more attention to customer feedback, and (2) improve product and product quality for customers. It may serve as a reminder to carefully consider the implications of cuts to services. Organizational costs will be saved and (3) shareholders will value corporate transparency more than ever in many areas.The class action lawsuit alleges that Chipotle, in a public disclosure, underestimated customer complaints that the quantities of burritos and rice bowls served at its more than 3,600 restaurants were “highly inconsistent,” according to…
Guido Torrini loves “technology and its endless applications”. With more than 20 years in finance at companies such as Cisco Systems, Dell, and Groupon, he has witnessed extensive transformations that are changing the finance function for the better. He has also lived through the boom and bust times of the technology industry. It began in the early 2000s, when networking equipment became extremely popular and Cisco overtook Microsoft to become the world's most valuable company.Currently CFO at OneTrust, a privacy and security software provider, Torrini's understanding of how to be an effective CFO and run a successful finance team has…
In the face fundamental change, the digitization of the global economy, Dan Durn, Adobe’s CFO and EVP, Finance, Technology Services and Operation, makes sure his team “Stay[s] hungry and sharp in the journey.” Even at one of the most iconic companies in the digital space, driving innovation remains key to continued success. In this episode of Secrets of Rockstar CFOs, Jack McCullough sits down with Durn to dive into the exact leadership strategies that drive that innovation. They explore the company’s journey in the digital economy, discussing how Adobe has catalyzed some of the most significant technological shifts today, the…
Initial public offerings are the holy grail for entrepreneurs, investors, and even chief financial officers. Not only does this benefit shareholders and raise the profile of a company like no other, it's a CFO's favorite challenge and a key accomplishment in establishing your brand as a financial leader. Very few CFOs have successfully guided their companies through the IPO process, so if you do, it's like joining an exclusive club. However, the IPO market is fickle. 2023 and 2024 were okay years, but even the smartest investors don't know what's going to happen in 2025. The takeover market is much…
What can your company do by tapping into the military community's talent pool? The winners of the 7th Annual Patriots in Business Awards are: chief executive Thayer Leadership at West Point recognizes companies that excel in supporting active duty military, veterans and their families through innovative employment initiatives and business practices. Every year, chief executive asks leaders from companies that have received this award to share their experiences supporting the people they serve. Here's what they had to say:“Be proactive and make plans.”JJ Sutherland, Scrum CEOIndustry: ConsultingPercentage of workforce from military community: 28%Seven years after Scrum joined the Veterans SkillBridge…
Now that the Federal Reserve has made borrowing easy again, executives eager to fund new and innovative corporate initiatives would be wise to take a break. Even as cheaper funds become available, the prudent calculus surrounding “big bets” remains: think big and bet small.At face value, this seems counterintuitive, especially in today's rapidly evolving digital environment, where those who bring the next big thing to market first often get the biggest piece of the pie. Masu. Even if you're sitting in your corner office, what onlookers often overlook is that most highly successful innovations emphasize strategic planning, commitment to approach,…
In a macroeconomic environment filled with uncertainty and twists and turns, small business leaders can find themselves stuck in a constant reactive mode. However, companies must remain committed to their core values, especially those that drive better outcomes for shareholders, customers, and employees. said Fred Royal, head of diversified business in commercial banking at JPMorgan Chase. Royal leads a team of bankers across the country to identify opportunities and build on existing relationships with executives and founders from diverse backgrounds. He was the founder and CEO of Royal Capital Holdings, a specialty investment bank that raised capital for a variety…
Intekhab Nazeer is a veteran of leading funding for young technology startups and assisting them in successful M&A exits. He currently works for a modern hot market company that provides infrastructure to companies running large-scale AI workloads. Simply put, WEKA's cloud-native data platform helps organizations manage GPUs to run more efficiently. The 10-year-old company has been waiting for that day for a long time. WEKA raised $135 million in November 2022, and raised $140 million in an oversubscribed Series E round in May last year. The Series E post-money valuation was $1.6 billion. Nazeer, who joined the company in 2020,…
Working on organizational culture is both extremely rewarding and extremely important. The very nature of culture, with its abstract, communal, and dynamic characteristics, makes it a complex subject to address. However, most organizations know that understanding and shaping their organizational culture is critical to long-term success and sustainability. Culture is not a tangible asset that can be easily quantified or measured. It is a complex tapestry of shared beliefs, values, practices, and behaviors that permeate every aspect of an organization. This intangibility makes it difficult for leaders and employees to express in words. It becomes more like an emotion or…