Aon at The Top: Interviewing Executives on their Paths to the C-Suite and Boardroom

Greg Henry joins Aon at the Top to discuss his journey from Milwaukee to becoming CFO of 1Password, one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies. We dive into the "million dollar experiences" that shaped his career, from an FDA consent decree that shut down his first CFO role to the 2018 moment at Couchbase when he and the CEO were "staring over the abyss," facing the possibility of running out of money. Greg reveals his strategy-structure-people framework for building organizations, explains why he evolved from being "CFO No" to "CFO Go," and shares how trust beats control when it comes to financial planning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Caroline Tsay, a tech leader, builder, and public company board director who has scaled businesses, launched startups, and guided major companies strategically and operationally. Caroline has done everything from leading teams at Yahoo and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to co-founding and running her own company to serving on some of America's most highly visible boards. We dive into why the hardest initiatives create the best opportunities, the fine line between board oversight and operational interference, and why strategy without execution is just a hallucination. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Derrick Alesevich, a C-suite executive who's spent two decades building unicorn technology companies in Silicon Valley, to uncover what it really takes to lead legal teams through hyper-growth, billion-dollar acquisitions, and the chaos of early-stage startups. We dive into the stark choice every in-house attorney faces that determines their entire career trajectory, why transparency and communication matter more than perfection at early stage, and the hidden cost of hiring legal counsel too late. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Yvonne Wassenaar, accomplished board director and former CEO, to explore her remarkable journey from Accenture partner to leading technology companies through transformation. We dive into the three distinct phases of her career, the personal tragedy that reshaped her life at 36, and the critical leadership lessons she learned about vulnerability, honesty, and making calculated risks. Yvonne shares candidly about how executive coaching evolved into therapy, helping her become a more grounded leader who now guides some of tech's most prominent companies.Timestamps: 3:22 - The three phases of career growth: being pulled up, pushed out, and embracing risk4:36 - You get promoted because you make people above you successful8:03 - Being pushed to get startup experience before 509:51 - The ski jump analogy12:33 - Resilience is fighting through hard times for something that matters19:23 - None of us really know what we're capable of until the time calls upon us25:02 - During uncertainty, we make the hardest decisions27:43 - Leading through chaos30:05 - The rise of independent directors in private companies32:02 - The difference between being an operator vs. a strategic advisor on boards40:41 - Separate your emotion from someone's intentionality to get further in life43:00 - Making hard CEO decisions: when to break teams out to innovate faster58:22 - The power of many small decisionsConnect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnewassenaar/About Yvonne Wassenaar: Yvonne Wassenaar is an accomplished CEO-level executive and board director known for her extensive experience in scaling and transforming technology companies. Her career spans diverse environments from startups to Fortune 500 corporations, with a focus on helping leaders navigate digital transformation and global expansion. Yvonne currently serves on the boards of Arista Networks, Forrester Research, JFrog, Rubrik, Braze, Infoblox, and Alation, as well as the Easton Technology Management Center at UCLA. She also serves as a senior advisor to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Connect with Nicole: Stay connected with Nicole Ward for more insights on leadership, sales excellence, and executive success strategies.Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleward111/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, host Nicole Ward sits down with Elias Nader to dig into what it truly means to lead from a place of purpose, resilience, and vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carolyn Herzog joins us on AON at the Top to explore her inspiring journey—from leading nonprofit initiatives to redefining business impact through data-driven strategies and inclusive leadership. In this episode, Carolyn shares how she harnessed analytics to transform organizational culture, scale social impact, and unify diverse teams around bold missions. Along the way, we dive into her “three pillars” of sustainable leadership, practical tips for emerging leaders, and the role empathy plays in driving innovation. Whether you’re a corporate executive, founder, or changemaker, Carolyn’s insights will leave you motivated to lead with integrity and purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, I sit down with Arthi Chakravarthy, EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at Enovix, to explore her unique journey from private practice to the executive suite. Arthi shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career, what it means to lead with authenticity and courage in high-stakes environments, and how her background in law informs her approach to business and governance today. We also dive into the evolving role of corporate legal teams, boardroom dynamics, and her commitment to mentorship and inclusion in the tech space. Whether you’re navigating leadership in a regulated industry or forging your own path to the C-suite, Arthi’s insights are a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, Nicole Ward sits down with powerhouse CFO and board member Brenda Morris, a dynamic finance executive with over 35 years of experience across retail, wellness, manufacturing, and technology. Currently serving on the boards of Boot Barn, Xponential Fitness, and iHerb, Brenda shares her unconventional journey from aspiring flight attendant to C-suite executive. Together, they explore the pivotal moments that shaped her career, her philosophy of turning setbacks into stepping stones, and why she believes getting fired long ago was the best thing that ever happened to her. From enterprise risk management to building positive energy in the boardroom, Brenda offers practical wisdom on values-based leadership and why success equals happiness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Aon at the Top, Nicole Wad sits down with powerhouse CEO and board director, Chelsea Grayson-Known for leading iconic turnarounds at American Apparel, True Religion, and Delta Dental, and for her bold presence in the boardroom. Chelsea opens up about the leadership decisions that defined her journey, how she built her career on conviction and courage, and what it really takes to lead companies through high-stakes transformation. From navigating brand reinvention to making fearless boardroom moves, this episode is packed with insight for anyone who wants to lead with impact and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I had the honor of sitting down with Kim Vogel-CFO, public company board member, fintech entrepreneur, and one of the most influential women in business.Kim’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when you balance long-term vision with the courage to seize unexpected opportunities.We talked about: ✅ Navigating career pivots (including a layoff that led to Harvard Business School)✅ Building and exiting M Foundry, a pioneer in mobile banking✅ Leading with ethics, resilience, and clarity in high-stakes moments✅ Teaching, board leadership, and empowering women in tech and financeHer journey is full of practical wisdom for anyone navigating growth, risk, and leadership at the highest levels.💡 One of my favorite takeaways: “Sometimes the best decisions aren’t part of a plan—they’re part of the process.”🎧 Tune in to this episode of AON at the Top and hear how Kim has turned challenge into impact across every chapter of her career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.