Secrets of Rockstar CFOs

Forget the image of a simple toy company. Hasbro is undergoing a massive transformation, evolving from the home of Mr. Potato Head and Monopoly to a global digital IP powerhouse. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Gina Goetter, the company's dynamic CFO and COO, to discuss how she is helping to steer this multi-billion dollar ship. Goetter pulls back the curtain on the Playing to Win strategy, revealing how Hasbro—the world’s fifth-largest IP licensor—is strategically allocating capital to fuel future growth in digital games while honoring beloved legacy brands. Goetter shares invaluable insight into her dual role as a strategic business partner and offers practical advice for the next generation of finance leaders on mastering the art of operational finance and building a world-class team.

Leading in the impact space requires purpose, intentionality, and dedication. We get a glimpse into the life of an impact leader through the story of Jessica McClain, CFO of the American Staffing Association. She joins Jack McCullough to look back on her family history and how she transitioned her career to mission-focused missions. Jessica also talks about the importance of knowing how to translate complex financial data and building trust with diverse stakeholders, giving CFOs and impact leaders a unique competitive advantage. Learn what it takes to go out of your comfort zone and maximize your fullest potential.

Capital allocation is what makes or breaks a company's transformation, and every CFO must know how to deal with this flawlessly. Rachita Sundar, CFO of the cloud-based experience management platform Qualtrics, discusses how financial leaders should continuously evolve in this area to keep up with the rapid market changes. She joins Jack McCullough to explain how to use technology and data analysis to gain a competitive advantage, as well as her philosophies when it comes to talent recruitment and culture building. Rachita also opens up about her commitment to women’s causes and how she takes care of the five most important things in her life.

Cyber resilience is no longer optional—it’s mission-critical for every modern organization. As CFO of Commvault, Jennifer DiRico is helping shape the future of how companies protect, rebuild, and grow after cyber threats. In this episode, Jennifer opens up about her journey from working in her family’s car wash to leading finance at one of the world’s top data security and AI firms. She reflects on the decade-long ride at Toast that led to its IPO, the mentors who shaped her as a leader, and how she’s driving durable growth at Commvault through innovation and trust. Jennifer also shares how she sees AI empowering—not replacing—finance professionals, and why understanding the “why” behind the numbers is the real hallmark of great financial leadership.

Transformational leadership takes on new meaning in this conversation with Jennifer Langton, former CFO of Atari and Senior Vice President of Player Health Innovation at the NFL. Jennifer shares how she turned her career into a masterclass in innovation—leveraging data, authenticity, and purpose to drive change across industries. From breaking barriers as a young athlete to reshaping player safety through analytics, her journey is a study in how courage and conviction create lasting impact. This episode offers timeless lessons on leading with integrity, connecting through trust, and transforming challenges into opportunities.

There is nothing more exciting than earning a profit while making a positive difference in the world. Hetu Patel is the CFO of a mission-driven company that does exactly that: Thrive Market. He joins Jack McCullough to share how they are balancing purpose and profitability to commit to their long-term goal of making sustainable living more accessible and affordable for everyone. Hetu also looks back on how his past career experiences, particularly his 12-year tenure at Amazon, taught him about fostering fungible talents, making bold bets, and continuously improving decision-making.

Get ready to meet a true disruptor! In this episode, we're diving deep with Gabi Gantus, the CFO of Mytra, one of the planet's most ambitious startups. Mytra isn't just moving materials from point A to point B; they're reinventing warehousing and industrial productivity by going up, down, and all around with cutting-edge bots and software. Join us as Gabi shares how Mytra is pulling the logistics industry out of the "Eisenhower era," the unexpected lessons she learned at Tesla alongside Elon Musk, and her unique approach to finance that's anything but "ivory tower." Plus, she'll reveal her top tips for navigating economic uncertainty, building powerful CEO relationships, and the critical KPIs every CFO should track. This is a conversation packed with insights for anyone looking to innovate, lead, and thrive in today's dynamic business landscape!

Making financial decisions is an everyday task that all business owners and C-suite leaders must take on. Since this is usually an overwhelming and complicated task, the right professional assistance must be secured. Jack McCullough sits down with his third non-CFO guest who offers exactly that: the COO and co-founder of LiveFlow, Anita Koimur. Together, they discuss the immense help of financial automation platforms in managing your numbers way more easily. Anita also explains how making the right decisions regarding your money leads to better team management, a more cohesive work culture, and easier prioritization of your customers’ needs.

Building a thriving company in today's complex financial landscape requires a delicate balance between data-driven decisions and people-centered relationships. This episode dives into that challenge as we hear from Matt James, CFO and Chief Acquisition Officer of Oakbridge Insurance, a rapidly growing agency that has risen to the top 50 US brokerages in just a few years. Matt discusses Oakbridge's impressive trajectory since its launch in 2021, emphasizing their unique approach of blending "small-town values" with corporate efficiency, and how he navigates the dual role of financial leader and M&A strategist. We explore his career path, from history major to finance executive, and how he utilizes a differentiated mindset to drive growth while maintaining a strong company culture. Join us to learn about Matt's experience with mentors, managing rapid growth during the COVID era, and his insights on the evolving role of the CFO.

Balancing global complexity with strategic clarity, Astellas Pharma’s CFO, Atsushi Kitamura, offers a masterclass in modern financial leadership. In this wide-ranging conversation, he shares how his experience across industries shaped his adaptive approach, why understanding the business from the “real battlefield” matters, and how he partners closely with the CEO to lead transformation. From integrating AI into finance to navigating ambiguity in pharma R&D, Kitamura brings grounded wisdom to the evolving role of the CFO.

Company environment changes as market trends and customer demands evolve. To avoid losing your momentum and keep your entire team on the right track, maintaining a culture of accountability is a must. David Lee, CFO and COO of Webtoon Entertainment, shares how creating such a workplace environment made them the world’s largest digital comics platform right now. In this conversation with Jack McCullough, he explains how to achieve entrepreneurial success in a global company without sacrificing artistic touch and human connection. David also shares how his mentors, his experiences working with different companies, and the most important lessons of his childhood shaped him into a versatile CFO in today’s volatile market.

As the financial world rapidly evolves, visionary leadership is paramount, and today we sit down with one of its most influential figures. In this episode, we have the incredible Stacey Ryan-Cornelius, an innovative and strategic business partner and results-focused growth champion who goes beyond the traditional boundaries of a CFO. Stacey shares her unique journey from accounting to leading one of the world's top agencies, revealing the strategies and philosophies that have guided her remarkable career. Listen in as she discusses navigating global markets, fostering innovation, and the critical balance between financial discipline and creative freedom. This insightful conversation delves deep into the challenges and opportunities in today's business landscape, offering invaluable advice for aspiring CFOs and leaders across all industries. Join us to discover how Stacey has not only witnessed but actively shaped the future of financial leadership, making her a trailblazer and an inspiration in the world of business and beyond.

In the realm of digital operations and incident response, where efficiency and resilience are paramount, this episode features Howard Wilson, CFO of PagerDuty. A company that serves as a vital "safety net" for over half of the Fortune 500, especially as they explore new technologies like generative AI, PagerDuty focuses on anticipating disruptions and safeguarding against costly incidents. Howard provides a robust description of PagerDuty's mission and shares his personal story, from growing up in South Africa and his early career in software engineering to his unconventional path to the CFO role. We discuss valuable lessons from his mentors and his philosophy on leadership, problem-solving, and integrating work with life. This is an insightful conversation for anyone interested in the future of digital operations, the evolving role of the CFO, and building a strong company culture.