The Growth-Minded CFO

In this episode, hosts Lauren and Alex sit down with Chris Ortega, the CEO and founder of Fresh FP&A.
Chris shares his inspiring career journey, from his early passion for finance to roles at Ernst & Young and leadership positions in fast growing software and pharmaceutical companies.
He discusses the foundation and philosophy behind Fresh FP&A, highlighting its focus on being Financial Partners and Advisors - and why all internal finance teams should position themselves the same way!
The conversation delves into the necessity of thinking like a business person for success in finance leadership, and why a collaborative approach that builds strong business partnerships with other departments is key.
Chris also emphasizes the role of emotional intelligence, authenticity, and learning from failure as key components of effective leadership.
This episode is rich with personal anecdotes and professional insights, illustrating how CFOs can inspire and empower their organizations beyond traditional financial metrics.
We hope you enjoy the episode!00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction00:22 Chris Ortega's Background and Career Journey02:12 The Role of CFOs and CEOs06:56 Transitioning to CEO and Fresh FP&A14:43 Building Collaborative Finance Teams18:41 The Consultative Approach in Finance19:38 The Power of Empathy in Finance20:55 The Concept of First Team22:11 Balancing IQ and EQ25:39 Embracing Failure as a CFO30:24 Inspiring Leadership and Authenticity33:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freshcfo/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
Want to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast

Most CFOs don’t think about personal brand until they need something: a new role, a board seat, a stronger network, or a way to stand out.
But by then, it might already be too late.
In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, we speak with Wassia Kamon, CFO of Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs and host of The Diary of a CFO podcast, about why finance leaders can no longer afford to stay invisible.
Wassia shares how she went from having “nothing much” show up when she Googled herself to building a LinkedIn presence with more than 20,000 followers, launching her own podcast, becoming a speaker, teaching in Wharton Online’s FP&A Certificate Program, and landing her first CFO role.
We discuss why personal brand is not about becoming an influencer. It is about making your thinking visible, building trust before you need it, and creating opportunities your resume alone cannot unlock.
Chapters:
01:50 Why Wassia started The Diary of a CFO
03:39 The moment personal brand clicked
04:47 How LinkedIn led to Wassia’s first VP role
05:21 Speaking, Wharton Online, and unexpected opportunities
06:51 Why personal brand helps inside your company too
09:13 Building systems to make LinkedIn sustainable
09:35 Writing LinkedIn posts at swimming lessons
10:22 Creating an idea bank and scheduling content
12:17 Why being memorable matters more than another resume
14:21 What writing, speaking, and podcasting give Wassia
17:33 How the podcast makes content easier
18:10 Finding finance lessons in everyday life
20:12 How visibility can influence your finance team
21:00 How CFOs can post without breaking confidentiality
23:34 Practical advice for aspiring CFOs
24:20 Wassia’s three-part Venn diagram for personal brand
27:10 Using AI to understand what future employers want
37:12 Why CFOs need to learn from each other
For CFOs and finance leaders thinking about their next stage of growth, this episode is a reminder that personal brand isn’t about posting for the sake of posting. It’s about making sure the market can see the leader you already are.
Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dGFQHSJuoOo
Check out Wassia's Diary of a CFO podcast here: https://thediaryofacfo.com/
Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.
This podcast is powered by Upflow — a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.
Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
Want to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast

If your role as CFO stops at the numbers, you’re already behind.
Ilana Esterrich, CFO at Planned Parenthood, breaks down what it actually means to lead in today’s environment—from building resilient teams to operating in constant uncertainty.
With a background in the military, Ilana brings a unique perspective on leadership, discipline, and adaptability—showing how finance leaders can step into a far more strategic role inside their organisations.
In this episode, we cover:
What a “growth-minded” CFO really looks like in practice
How to lead finance teams through uncertainty and change
Lessons from the military that translate to modern leadership
Moving from tactical execution to strategic impact
Why curiosity and continuous learning matter more than ever
About our guest:
Ilana Esterrich is the CFO at Planned Parenthood, where she leads financial strategy in a complex, high-stakes environment. With a background in the military, she brings a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and team development.
The Growth-Minded CFO is the podcast for finance leaders who want to go beyond the numbers and play a bigger role in driving growth.
Hosted by Alex Louisy (CEO at Upflow) and Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO and Founder), the show explores how modern CFOs are building, leading, and scaling high-performing organisations.
This podcast is powered by Upflow - helping businesses get paid faster, strengthen customer relationships, and grow more efficiently. Learn more at upflow.io
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
Want to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast

In this special re-release of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex and Lauren revisit the very first episode of the podcast - featuring Rita Kale, now CFO at Valo Health.
At the time, we didn’t know what this show would become. Since then, we’ve spoken to some of the best finance operators in the world. But looking back, this conversation set the tone for everything that followed.
Rita brings a rare combination of global corporate experience - from companies like Roche Pharmaceuticals - and hands-on leadership in high-growth biotech startups. That mix makes this episode just as relevant today as it was when we first recorded it.
In this conversation, we explore what it really means to operate as a modern CFO:
Why the best CFOs act as owners, not observers
How moving from large corporates to startups forces a shift in mindset, speed, and accountability
What it takes to navigate global complexity, from ERP implementations to scaling finance operations across markets
Why investing early in systems and processes pays off long-term
And how adaptability separates good finance leaders from great ones
We also get into something a bit unexpected, but now very familiar for this show.
Rita shares how running became a tool for reflection and decision-making. Creating mental space. Finding your own rhythm instead of copying others. It’s a reminder that performance isn’t just about output - it’s about sustainability, both professionally and personally.
Looking back, this episode captures what The Growth-Minded CFO is all about: going deep into the technical side of finance, while also exploring the mindset behind great leadership.
It’s a gem - and the perfect place to start if you’re new to the show.
Chapters:
03:25 Rita Global Career Path
05:56 From Global To Local CFO
08:28 No Copy Paste Solutions
09:57 First 60 Days Playbook
12:06 Stakeholders And Priorities
13:46 ERP Planning Mindset
18:54 Beyond Back Office CFO
21:00 Financial Peace Foundation
22:18 From Reporting to Impact
22:46 Escaping Spreadsheet Chaos
23:28 Right Tools Not ERP
24:00 Why She Joined a Startup
27:35 Founder Lessons in Finance
29:06 Biggest Shift Leaving Corporate
31:26 Work Life Balance as a CFO
32:01 Running as a Reset Button
34:42 Thinking Time Beats Hustle
38:25 Culture Time Off and Clarity
Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.
This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.
Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected]
Want to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast

How does someone go from jazz musician to CFO of a $1B marketplace?
In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Kevin Drost, former CFO of Reverb — the musical instrument marketplace acquired by Etsy — about his unconventional path into finance and what it taught him about the role.
Kevin didn’t start in finance. He started by running a business. From founding a record label to navigating cash flow, trade-offs, and uncertainty in real time, he learned finance by doing — not by following a traditional path.
In this conversation, he shares how that operator mindset shaped his approach as a CFO, why finance leaders need to stay close to customers, and how the role has evolved from reporting performance to helping drive growth.
Chapters:
02:38 From Jazz to Record Labels
05:18 Learning Business on the Fly
06:51 MBA While Operating
10:40 MBA Value Framework
14:13 Faking It and Risk
20:19 Why Choose CFO
23:57 Leaving Consulting for Reverb
25:28 Building the Music Marketplace
26:32 Choosing Growth Priorities
27:25 From Strategy to CFO
29:21 Learning by Doing
35:05 Public Company Rigor at Etsy
37:27 Marketplace Metrics and ROI
40:42 New Era ADR Mission
44:57 Advice for Finance LeadersIn this episode, Kevin covers:
Why learning finance inside the business builds better judgment
The limits of traditional career paths (and when an MBA actually helps)
How marketplace businesses create complex trade-offs
Why CFOs need to take calculated risks to drive growth
The importance of staying close to customers and product
How to scale a business without losing control
Why putting yourself in uncomfortable roles accelerates learning
As Kevin puts it: “Getting yourself out and speaking to customers is probably the most valuable thing you can do as a finance leader.”This is a practical look at how finance leaders can move beyond reporting and play a more active role in shaping the business.Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/W30D0JNJnLg?si=53lBTp2oyBHyTXBVIf you’re a CFO, finance leader, or operator, this episode will give you a clearer view of how the role is evolving — and what it takes to stay effective as the business grows.Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.This podcast is powered by Upflow — a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at [email protected] to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast