Chat CFO – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Chat CFO, Tom Platford, fractional CFO to early-stage startups, shares his journey on scaling SuperAwesome from Series A to exit, and what he learned along the way.

Tom reflects on the toughest moments of his journey, including managing a nine-figure acquisition deal and why being an expert generalist is no longer optional.

Tom covers:

•The difference between early and late-stage CFO roles
•When and how to bring in a fractional CFO
•Why future finance teams will include AI agents
•The importance of storytelling, design thinking, and failure in CFO leadership

Tom also shares personal reflections on burnout and the habits that keep him grounded through high-pressure moments.

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About our guest

Tom is a CFO with over 12 years of experience in startups and knows the challenges founders face when navigating a business to an exit. He now helps founders build shareholder value and achieve a successful exit.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasplatford/

About Chat CFO

The Chat CFO podcast gives you insights from CFOs, COOs, and CEOs behind some of the most meaningful business decisions in recent years. 

Listen to honest conversations from leaders about what worked, what didn't, and what it really takes to lead when it matters most.

Find more episodes and conversations with finance leaders on Chat CFO.

https://www.youtube.com/@stoixChatCFO

What happens when someone who scaled technical hiring at Google starts rethinking what good leadership looks like in private equity?

In this episode of Chat CFO, Jenny Collins, Head of Talent at Faraday Partners and former Google and PE Chief Talent Officer, shares her take on what great hiring really looks like. She talks about her years in global tech and what she learned about culture from watching it either thrive or disappear depending on who was paying attention.

We get into:

🧭 Why cognitive diversity at the top table is more than a tick box
💬 What Google taught her about building teams that last
🔍 Why AI isn't replacing recruitment but making the human parts more important
💡 How private equity can borrow from venture and vice versa
🤝 The real value of referencing, psychometrics, and behavioural data in hiring

If you're shaping teams in high-growth or high-pressure environments, or you're just curious how someone blends empathy, rigour and data into HR at the sharpest end of business, this one’s for you.

#ExecutiveHiring #TechLeadership #PrivateEquity #ChatCFO

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
06:08 - The evolution of AI
08:53 - AI's impact on employment and talent acquisition
12:03 - Navigating executive hiring
14:58 - Cultural differences in leadership
17:59 - Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
23:33 - Strategic hiring for company growth
25:04 - Differences between VC and Private Equity
32:10 - The role of references in hiring
34:05 - Balancing skills and Cultural Fit in Hiring
41:00 - Optimising the interview process and hiring experience
48:01 - The role of AI in recruitment
55:06 - Future trends in talent acquisition

Well, this is a unique journey—swapping an outstanding sports career for chartered accountancy. 🏉

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Foster, former SVP of LIV Golf, and and CEO of WinSure Group , whose impressive background spans real estate, corporate finance, and private equity. 💼

What sets Mark apart is his remarkable journey from professional sports to corporate leadership. In this conversation, he shares how lessons from his sports career have shaped his leadership style and resilience. 📖

Mark reflects on how his collegiate sports experience instilled discipline, problem-solving skills, and adaptability under pressure—traits that have been invaluable in his finance career. He also explores how these principles contribute to building strong leadership in today’s competitive corporate world. 🦾

This episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways for leaders aiming to develop resilience and achieve success, both in business and beyond. 🚀

Thank you, Mark Foster, for sharing your unique journey with us.

If you’re in private equity—or aspiring to be—you’ll gain raw, genuine insights from Mark’s story. Don’t miss this one! 👇

📺 Watch here: https://youtu.be/CEar84JkR1E

#CareerSwitch #Sport #Finance #PrivateEquity #STOIX

Law, Finance & Sustainability: Aurore Gil's Inspiring Journey 📖

Studied law and finance, then earned her stripes at business school in Paris, and built a remarkable 14-year career in M&A at UBS - all while starting a family.

Aurore’s story didn’t stop there. After stepping away from banking, she pursued sustainability at Cambridge University and went on to drive change as the Investment Director at Cibus Capital LLP. 🚀


In this motivating episode of the STOIX Podcast, we explore:

🗺️ Early career ambitions and the realities of investment banking
⚙️ Leadership challenges and qualities that define success
🚀 Transitioning from IB to private equity and championing ESG
🏋️ Balancing a high-powered career and family life


If you’re in M&A—or aspiring to be—you’ll gain raw, genuine insights from Aurore’s journey. Don’t miss this one! 👇

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRr_4Do480

#MandA #Finance #Motivation #STOIX

Growing up in South East London in the 70s and experiencing overt racism and hatred having been born in Bombay and moving to the UK aged 2.........

A chip on his shoulder, or a flame to get to the top of Finance? 🔥

Getting lucky. 🍀

Making sacrifices. Working all hours of the day and the weekend. 😰

The reality of being a big PLC and Private Equity CFO. 💥

Becoming 'The Saviour' and making the tabloids at M&C Saatchi Group 😇

#podcast #cfo #privateequity #finance

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaNKPdS05M0&t=148s

We’re very excited to welcome Alex Gersh, most recently, Chief Financial Officer at Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), ex-CFO PaddyPowerBetfair (now Flutter Entertainment) and before, CFO at Sportradar Group to the latest episode of The STOIX Podcast! With over 30 years of diversified international financial experience across technology, consumer, digital, and eCommerce industries, Alex is truly a heavyweight name in the finance world.

In this powerful conversation, Alex shares his deep insights on leadership, success, and navigating career challenges. From the importance of smart hiring and interviewing for success, to embracing failure, taking bold chances, and recognising the role of luck in a career – this episode is packed with useful insights for finance leaders.

If you're looking to improve your hiring strategies or simply get inspired by a seasoned CFO, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcxUM4cQkwU

In this episode, we sit down with Carmela Borrotzu-Evans, Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at Apexx Global, to dive into her career journey and gain invaluable advice for aspiring CFOs. Carmela shares her perspective on how to evaluate if a company or role is the right fit, the importance of having autonomy in your career, and the “green flags” to look for during an interview.

Carmela also offers key advice for professionals preparing to step into their first CFO role, discussing the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from her own experience. Whether you're aiming for the C-suite or looking to elevate your finance career, this episode is packed with practical insights and leadership wisdom.

In this episode of the STOIX Podcast, we had an engaging conversation with Ryan Collett, VP of Finance at Causaly.

Ryan talked about his unique career journey to becoming a VP of Finance, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way. We discuss the diverse aspects of individual development and performance and how personal differences impact professional growth. We also touch on the challenges of maintaining a work-life balance as a senior leader.

This episode is packed with valuable advice and food for thought for anyone in finance or leadership within the tech industry.

In our second episode, STOIX Co-founders Rory McDermott and Neil French sat down with Mitesh Velani, a seasoned CFO, entrepreneur, and former CEO across FMCG, Sports & Leisure, Technology, Retail & Property sectors.

This insightful conversation delves into Mitesh's journey from CFO to CEO, highlighting new perspectives and valuable experiences gained during this transition. We also discuss non-conventional career paths and the strength diversifying your professional expertise can bring to any role.

For more expert content on executive search and empowering your business through better hiring stay tuned for our next episode and check out our YouTube channel.

Welcome to the first episode of The STOIX Podcast! In this first episode, STOIX Co-founders Rory and Neil talked with David Brammer, a Talent Acquisition expert and LinkedIn's Top Voice for Global Talent Acquisition & Recruiting. David has an impressive career spanning 15 years in Talent Acquisition, supporting many businesses to build powerful teams across different industries.

The conversation touches on common mistakes businesses make when hiring, optimising hiring strategies and asking the right questions to find the right talent.

For more expert content on executive search and empowering your business through better hiring stay tuned for our next episode and check out our YouTube channel.