Hosted by Jan Robertson, The Strategic CFO is the Financial Executives International’s premier podcast. In this show, Robertson will speak with esteemed guests of high-ranking thought leadership to provide meaningful insights and best practices on the financial world. Keeping up to date with modern trends, political climates, and technological advancements Jan and guests will share eye-opening information that can impact the very way you organize your financial fulfillment.
The Strategic CFO also is the essential tool for the broad scope of financial executives as engaging with this show will provide Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. Tune in, reflect, and leave us a comment on LinkedIn or a review to get your credits today.
Financial Executives International (FEI) is a leading association comprised of Members who hold positions as Chief Financial Officers, Chief Accounting Officers, Controllers, Treasurers, and Tax Executives at companies in every major industry. FEI enhances Member professional development through peer networking, career management services, conferences, research and publications. Members participate in the activities of local Chapters in the U.S. FEI headquarters is located in Morristown, NJ.
Jan Robertson, a 30-year veteran of the M&A business, is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to M&A. She has advised numerous technology company clients and boards of directors on a wide variety of M&A transactions during her career. Ms. Robertson is a founding member of the Silicon Valley Chapter of Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), and has served on the boards of directors of National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Silicon Valley Chapter as President for 2012-13 and the Peninsula Symphony, and currently President (2020-21) of the Silicon Valley Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI).
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Adrienne Dale is one of a select few professionals nationwide who deliver Fractional COO services, offering over 20 years of hands-on leadership in scaling and transforming small and mid-market B2B SaaS, service and content businesses. Known for her breadth of functional expertise—spanning operations, software development, enterprise tech integration, finance, and customer loyalty—Adrienne partners closely with CEOs to optimize execution while freeing them to focus on strategic vision. Her unique ability to decode and operationalize insights from complex data has earned her the reputation of a “Data Geek” who consistently uncovers game-changing opportunities hidden within company performance metrics.
As Principal of Pivotal LLC and former COO at high-growth firms, Adrienne drives results through data-driven strategy, scalable operations, and a focus on high-performance cultures.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennedale/
Zero Trust, Maximum Security: The New CFO Imperative
mardi 27 mai 2025 • Durée 37:05
In a recent FEI Silicon Valley Strategic CFO podcast, host Jan Robertson interviewed Dave Daetz, SVP of Corporate Development at Netskope, a cybersecurity leader in SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) technology. Daetz, with 25+ years of experience including roles at Apple and Symantec, shared insights on cybersecurity challenges facing modern enterprises, particularly how organizations struggle with "shadow data" dispersed across cloud environments and SaaS applications. He emphasized Netskope's evolution from addressing shadow IT to providing comprehensive data security solutions, exemplified by their strategic acquisition of Dasera (their 10th acquisition) which expanded their capabilities from unstructured to structured data protection. Daetz highlighted crucial M&A best practices, stressing the importance of strategic clarity, understanding alternative execution paths, and cultural fit for successful integrations. For CFOs managing cybersecurity concerns, he recommended consolidating security solutions to reduce costs and complexity, noting that most security spend is actually on services rather than products. His key message centered on the need for organizations to modernize their security approach for today's distributed workforce and data landscape through cloud-delivered solutions rather than traditional perimeter-based security models.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daetz/
#CyberSecurity #CFOInsights #MergersAndAcquisitions
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Beyond IPOs: Strategic Liquidity for Private Companies
mardi 13 mai 2025 • Durée 44:30
In a recent episode of FEI Silicon Valley's Strategic CFO Podcast, host Jan Robertson interviews Brett Mock, Chairman of NASDAQ Private Market International Division. Mock highlights the fundamental shift in how companies approach going public, noting they now stay private for an average of 14 years (versus 5 years in 2000) and typically IPO at 5 billion valuations rather than100 million. He explains how NASDAQ Private Market fills a critical gap by providing secondary liquidity solutions for private companies through tender offers and marketplace technology that connects buyers and sellers in a unique "trilateral settlement market." Mock emphasizes the importance of liquidity options for employee retention, founder monetization, and investor capital returns. He addresses market correction concerns, discussing how valuation adjustments for private companies tend to lag public markets. Looking internationally, Mock notes growing demand for private market solutions across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe as entrepreneurial ecosystems develop globally. His key message: private companies can achieve strategic liquidity while maintaining control over their cap table, addressing the growing "duration problem" between the typical 7-10 year VC investment cycle and the extended 14-year timeline to IPO.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-mock-a26a5b8/
Inside the Tax Battle: Congress, Tariffs, and Your Bottom Line
lundi 28 avril 2025 • Durée 51:26
Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, Tony offers crucial insights on the upcoming expiration of key Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions in 2025, highlighting that while some elements are permanent (like the 21% corporate tax rate), many individual tax provisions will revert to pre-2017 levels without Congressional action. He explains how Senate reconciliation procedures could extend these cuts through a novel "current policy baseline" approach, potentially making them permanent rather than temporary. Tony details how the interplay between tariff policies and tax legislation is affecting economic stability, noting that even traditionally tax-friendly industries are concerned about recent tariff volatility. His insider perspective on Senate procedures and policy negotiations provides financial executives with valuable foresight as they navigate strategic planning in an uncertain legislative environment. The key message: comprehensive tax planning in 2025 will be essential as companies prepare for potential significant changes to both corporate and individual taxation. Connect with Tony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-coughlan-8292b839/
#TaxPolicy #CorporateTaxation #FinancialPlanning
Marketing's Role in Raising Capital, Acquisitions, and IPOs
mardi 15 avril 2025 • Durée 53:32
Discover how marketing visionary Stuart McFaul is transforming the CFO-CMO relationship through strategic AI implementation. Learn why marketing isn't just a cost center but a crucial ally for financial leaders navigating economic uncertainty. McFaul reveals practical strategies for leveraging AI tools to maintain marketing momentum while cutting costs, positioning companies for investment or acquisition, and even turning downturns into market share gains. Don't miss these actionable insights that bridge the gap between finance and marketing for measurable business growth.
#MarketingIntelligence #FinancialLeadership #AIStrategy
AI Valuations, Exit Challenges: A VC's Honest Take
mardi 1 avril 2025 • Durée 40:35
Angel Investor Amos Ben-Meir Shares Insights on Silicon Valley Investment Landscape
In the latest Strategic CFO podcast, Jan Robertson interviews Amos Ben-Meir, a seasoned investor and board member at Sand Hill Angels and President/Board Director at Silicon Catalyst Angels. Drawing from his background in semiconductor design and experience with six startups (four with successful outcomes), Ben-Meir provides financial executives with valuable perspectives on early-stage investing trends. He highlights the evolution of Sand Hill Angels' investment volume—from 4M in 2014 to peaks of32M in 2021, settling at 10-12M annually post-2022—and discusses their evaluation process for the 150-250 monthly applications they receive. Ben-Meir emphasizes current challenges including high AI company valuations, the "pay-to-play" rounds facing companies with inflated 2020-2021 valuations, and uncertainties surrounding market exits. Notable portfolio successes include Jackpocket (acquired by DraftKings for800M), Beyond Meat (IPO), and innovative companies like Arrow Lane (air cargo transport) and Mentium Tech (edge AI chips). For financial executives navigating today's economic uncertainty, Ben-Meir's key message emphasizes conservative capital deployment while maintaining investment momentum in promising technologies regardless of macroeconomic conditions.
Connect with Amos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abenmeir/
#VentureInvesting #CFOInsights #SiliconValleyFinance
The CFO's Struggle and Triumph in AI's Power Crisis
lundi 17 mars 2025 • Durée 42:41
In this FEI Silicon Valley podcast, Robert Barker, CFO and board member of AI Storm, shares insights from his four-decade semiconductor industry career. Barker emphasizes finding passion, setting goals, and networking as crucial for success. He discusses AI Storm's innovative charge domain technology that cuts power consumption in AI applications, and their pursuit of Series C funding after previously raising $30 million. Barker highlights that successful CFOs must excel at communication and relationship building, while noting concerns about emerging tariffs and the rapid pace of AI development outpacing regulatory frameworks.
Connect with Robert Barker at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-barker-mba-cma-73bb537/
The AI Revolution and California's Business Future
lundi 17 février 2025 • Durée 54:27
Sean Randolph, Senior Director at the Bay Area Council's Economic Institute and former senior federal official, discusses how AI is reshaping Silicon Valley. Randolph's insights are particularly valuable as they come from his role leading the Council's research and strategy arm, which produces credible data and recommendations for both business leaders and policymakers.
Drawing from his extensive government and business experience, Randolph addresses critical issues facing financial executives, including AI regulation challenges in California, international competitiveness concerns with China, and the potential merger between the Bay Area Council and Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
He underscores the critical balance needed between innovation and regulation in AI development, while maintaining Silicon Valley's global competitive edge.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-randolph-114a3710/
Inside Story: A Recent Cybersecurity M&A Deal
lundi 3 février 2025 • Durée 52:50
Inside Story: A Recent Cybersecurity M&A Deal featured Jan Robertson interviewing Ani Chaudhuri, founder of Dasera, and Dave Daetz, SVP of Corporate Development at Netskope. The discussion focused on Netskope’s acquisition of Dasera, highlighting the strategic alignment and cultural fit that facilitated the deal. Ani shared Dasera’s innovative approach to data security posture management (DSPM), while Dave explained how the acquisition bolstered Netskope’s structured and unstructured data capabilities within its SASE framework. Both emphasized the value of trust, early relationship building, and clear strategic alignment in successful M&A transactions.
Ani Chaudhuri
VP Product
Netskope
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anionline/
Dave Daetz
SVP, Corporate Development
Netskope
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daetz/
The Post-Election CFO: Visibility and Opportunities
lundi 20 janvier 2025 • Durée 38:55
Christina Bui is Managing Director of Robert Half's retained executive search practice, bringing over three decades of experience across technology, healthcare, private equity, and venture capital sectors. Her remarkable journey began as a refugee from Vietnam during the fall of Saigon, where she and her family started from scratch, not knowing English, to build successful careers in America. She serves on multiple boards, including Son Foods, and advisory positions at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Fulbright University Vietnam. As a founding board member of How Women Lead, which has grown to 25,000 members nationwide, she demonstrates her commitment to breaking barriers for women in leadership.
In her conversation with Jan Robertson, Bui emphasized several critical insights for financial executives. She highlighted the evolving challenges CFOs face, including the visibility gap, where finance leaders often remain behind the scenes focused on numbers rather than building their professional brand. She provided practical examples of career advancement, such as her own path to board seats, which began with an ad tech startup and expanded to include a 71-year-old fish sauce company and various Vietnamese founder-led companies. Bui addressed specific needs for aspiring board members, recommending: building a network of 15-20 trusted advisors (including bankers, auditors, and lawyers), taking leadership roles in professional organizations, and maintaining an active LinkedIn presence. She emphasized key risks in the profession, including the perception challenge in recruiting young talent who view accounting as "boring" rather than strategic and technology-driven. The conversation also touched on current challenges like AI integration, system transitions (such as moving from QuickBooks to NetSuite), and post-election market dynamics affecting hiring and M&A activities.
Key Message: Success in today's financial leadership landscape requires being "unabashedly visible," building strategic relationships, and embracing technology while maintaining a forward-thinking perspective that goes beyond traditional finance roles.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-bui-0922184/