Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA's Linkedin Analytics

Stephen McLain, MBA led 250 soldiers, built internal controls in Iraq, defended budgets in front of 28 NATO nations and worked a the Pentagon over the course of 2 decades. Today, he’s using that experience to help finance professionals develop the leadership and communication skills often overlooked in traditional education. Here are the highlights of our conversation ⤵️

Syed Nadeem, ACMA, CFM was building the kind of career many finance professionals work toward. ✅ He had the certifications. ✅ The global experience. ✅ The leadership role. Then, out of nowhere, he lost his job. That was his turning point. He started focusing on skills no certification had taught him, and began helping others grow beyond the job description. From business partnering to leadership, this episode is full of insights that can help you stay relevant and move forward, no matter where you are in your finance journey. Here are the highlights of our conversation ⤵️

With a background in engineering, nothing could have predicted that Apurv Bansal would end up solving accounting problems for SaaS companies. But after earning his MBA at Harvard Business School, Working at Google and a VC firm, He saw the same thing over and over: - The accounting systems weren’t flexible enough, - The teams weren’t looped in early enough in the sales process. And the same conversations were happening every month: “We’ll just fix it in the spreadsheet for now.” That’s what led Apurv to co-found Zenskar. Here are the highlights of our conversation ⤵️

I keep hearing how much you're loving the podcast, but Spotify and Apple don't hear what I hear unless it’s in a review. And honestly? Every podcaster I know feels this same disconnect. Our comments are full of great feedback, But our review count? Not so much. If you've been meaning to leave one, this is your sign. It takes 30 seconds, and it helps a lot. And if you’ve already left a review =>Thank you! It means more than you know. 💛

I've lost count of how many times I've heard 'uncertainty' in meetings with lenders and investors this year. Yet, there's one thing we're all certain about: * Economic uncertainty is here to stay * So, how do you lead through it? - Customers paying late - Vendors raising prices - Employees expecting more - Lack of real-time visibility into the financials ALL at the same time! It’s a lot. I'm hosting a free webinar in partnership with BILL to explore actionable steps to help businesses and accountants stay profitable in this environment. So, mark your calendars! 📅 June 24th, 2025 ⏰ 10 am PST / 1pm ET 🔗 Info to register ⤵️

I came across this visual on Instagram, and it immediately made me stop and think. Because this is exactly how I’ve had to operate in my role as CFO. 📅 My calendar is packed. And, some days I fall behind on things as basic as replying to an email. So when I finally get a few minutes with my CEO or other execs, I know I don’t have time to waste. We’re all stretched. 🎯I just go in with the one thing that matters, and why it matters. But to do that, the message has to be clear in my own head first. 1️⃣ So I grab a piece of paper and write at the top: “What’s one thing going on right now that needs attention?” 2️⃣ Under that, I make two columns: - On the left: "what we can do about it" - On the right: "what impact that will have" 3️⃣ Then I draw arrows from actions to outcomes to see what combination matters most. And, that’s what I bring into the conversation. Because when your calendar is stacked, And your time with execs is limited, Clarity wins! 💬Now your turn: How do you prepare for your meetings with execs? --- Image Credit: Overnight Strategist on IG

You can’t scale a SaaS company with billing methods from the 2000s. Apurv Bansal, co-founder of Zenskar, Joined me on The Diary of a CFO Podcast To talk about why even tech giants struggle with billing and how modern finance teams can finally break free. We covered: ✔️ How AI-native tools like Zenskar can handle today’s pricing models easier ✔️ How to determine when to automate and when it’s too early ✔️ How to avoid implementation failures If you work in tech or at a SaaS company, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. #Sponsored

Who says CFO content can't be cute? This clip is from Episode 18 of The Diary of a CFO Podcast on what it feels like to lead without a roadmap. It’s my latest AI adventure, and it was way easier than the starter pack challenge ( For those who remember 😅 ) I used Riverside to generate it. What do you think? Should I turn more episodes into clips like this?

A timely conversation on leadership and stepping into the CFO seat, with the awesome Paul Barnhurst. We talked board dynamics, influence, and what really prepares you for executive roles. In case you missed it, it's not too late...

This was my first time in Las Vegas, and my first time at the AICPA Engage Conference. I had a blast!!! In case you wonder, I didn’t play poker, roulette or slot machines. But, I was able to reconnect with other thought leaders, make new connections, and get tons of CPE credits. The sessions, the speakers, and the planned group activities were amazing. Big thank you to Shelley Cromartie, the rest of the AICPA team, and my fellow planning committee members of the corporate finance track - Rob Teis , Kristine Lemanski, CPA, CGMA, CMA , Michael Burns and Ken Witt. I look forward to Engage 2026. It will be 06/08 thru 06/11/2026, so mark your calendars!!!

I think this was the best panel session yet… and not just because I was on it (okay, maybe a little 😅) The title was: The Unshakeable Leader: How to Balance Change, Team Morale, and Your Sanity I’m so glad I was able to be part of it alongside my fellow committee members. Kristine Lemanski, CPA, CGMA, CMA Michael Burns Rob Teis Highlights of what I shared: ✅️ Work-life harmony > balance. You can work 30 hours a week, but if you're surrounded by toxic people or a draining environment, burnout is still inevitable. ✅️ Tricks that help me turn work off when working remotely: – I get up, shower, and get dressed like I’m heading into the office. – At the end of the day, I’ll walk, grocery shop, or cook to tell my brain, “Work is done.” We also talked about shifting work expectations across generations and how leadership needs to evolve to keep up. Leadership is not easy. So, I'm incredibly grateful for a space where we could be real, practical, and still have fun.

What a joy to meet some of my podcast guests in person! We’ve had incredible conversations virtually, but nothing beats connecting face to face. Grateful to be here at #AICPAEngage surrounded by brilliant minds. If you are attending too, let's connect!

Kendra LaFleur, CPA didn’t plan on becoming a partner. She thought she’d spend a few years in public accounting, then head into a Fortune 500 role. Instead, she rose through the ranks and found her calling in mission-driven finance. Now Audit Director at FORVIS Mazars and Board Treasurer for Girls on the Run Georgia, Kendra brings strategic leadership and empathy to her work. In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast, we talk about: ✅ How audit can be a strategic advantage, not just a compliance requirement ✅ What it's really like stepping into the partner seat ✅ How nonprofit finance is misunderstood, and why it’s often more complex than people realize ✅ The power of staying visible and coachable in your career Here are the highlights of our conversation ⤵️

This CFO of the Year award means a lot, Not just because of the title, But because of the journey behind it. - The tears - The rejections - The long nights - The risks and failures that didn’t always make sense - The friends, coaches, and mentors who pulled me up - And the amazing bosses and teams who created space for me to lead without watering myself down. I'm incredibly honored and grateful to God for being named CFO of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, for the community service category. Huge shoutout to Grace Covington Fricks and Martina Edwards for believing in me and trusting me to serve as CFO at ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of my career journey this far. If you want to hear what I’m learning as I keep going, tune in to The Diary of a CFO Podcast! We’re not done yet. In Jesus' name, Amen 🙏🏽

Hard to find this kind of alignment with a tech partner! I first grabbed one of these stylus pens from the BILL booth back in February at the AFP FP&A Forum. The hairstyle matched mine, so of course I had to! At the time, I didn’t know a few months later I’d be joining them as a speaker on one of their free webinars. The topic is " Core Strategies for Financial Resilience in an Uncertain Economy" So, mark your calendars! 📅 June 24th, 2025 ⏰ 10 am PST / 1pm ET And, I'm also happy to report that I just restocked my stylus pen stash here at AICPA ENGAGE. Full circle moment 🤩