Gabrielle Dolan is a global expert in strategic storytelling and communication, having worked with leaders from companies like Amazon, EY, Uber, and the Obama Foundation. With over 20 years of experience in leadership roles and storytelling, Gabrielle is the bestselling author of eight books, including her latest Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling Made Smarter with AI. She is also the co-host of the podcast Keeping It Real with Jack and Ral, which ranks in Spotify's top 3% most shared podcasts. 

Expect to Learn:

• Why storytelling is essential for influencing decisions in finance and business.

• The impact of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership communication.

• How AI can enhance storytelling without losing its human touch.

• Practical tips for finance professionals on how to use stories in presentations.

Michael Gould is a technology entrepreneur and software engineer with over 40 years of experience in financial planning and modeling systems. After studying Mathematics and Computation at the University of Oxford, Michael co-created Adaytum, a leading business planning platform, and later founded Anaplan, a globally successful enterprise planning platform that became a British tech unicorn. Today, he is the founder of Kaleidoscope, focusing on rethinking financial modeling for modern teams and continuing to pioneer innovations that drive better decision-making in business. .

Expect to Learn:

• The challenges and complexities of modern financial modeling

• How Kaleidoscope is helping businesses move beyond spreadsheets

• Michael's journey from IBM to Anaplan and now Kaleidoscope

• The importance of understanding business processes in financial modeling

• How AI is impacting the financial modeling landscape

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Glenn Snyder about the current state of FP&A, focusing on career growth, hiring challenges, and how the role continues to evolve. Glenn shares his perspective on why networking matters more than ever in today’s job market, how professionals can stand out without relying only on certifications, and what it really takes to move up in FP&A. They also discuss the shift toward strategic partnership, the importance of understanding business drivers, and how leadership and empathy shape long-term success

Expect to Learn:

• Why networking is the most effective way to find opportunities

• How to stand out in a competitive job market

• The shift of FP&A from reporting to strategic partnership

• Why understanding business drivers is critical in FP&A

Carolina Lago is the founder of Tactic Financial, where she helps FP&A professionals integrate AI into their workflows through hands-on training and practical tools. With over 20 years of experience in financial planning, analysis, and modeling across multiple industries and continents, she brings a unique perspective on how technology can amplify (not replace) the work of finance teams.

Expect to Learn:

• The evolving role of FP&A as a bridge between strategy and operations

• How AI can reduce manual tasks and enhance strategic thinking

• The importance of understanding workflows and processes in FP&A 

• Carolina's approach to using AI as a "thinking partner" to amplify human skills

Bryan McGowan is the founder of Alpyne and a CFO with a rare mix of finance and technical skill. After spending a decade leading finance in tech, he launched Alpyne in 2021 to solve a problem he had lived himself: great CFOs were spending too much time on manual work and not enough time on strategic thinking. 

Expect to Learn:

• What great FP&A looks like in practice

• Why accounting fundamentals still matter

• How coding and data knowledge help finance professionals

• Why Bryan built Alpyne to solve his own CFO workflow problems

• How AI can help save time in finance roles

In this special solo episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst celebrates reaching 100 episodes of the podcast while also reflecting on his broader journey of hosting over 200 FP&A episodes across multiple shows. He shares lessons from his experience in FP&A, career growth, and learning AI, along with what actually matters in the field today. He also shares his thoughts on AI and how it’s changing finance workflows, explaining why building repeatable processes matters more than just prompting. He also previews upcoming conversations with professionals already using AI in their day-to-day work.

Expect to Learn:

• What helps FP&A professionals grow beyond technical skills

• Why career paths are rarely linear

• How to approach networking in a more effective way

• Why AI is more about processes than prompts

• How AI can help save time in finance roles

Josh LaSov is an FP&A and data professional with experience in consulting, ERP implementations, and analytics. He has implemented NetSuite and FP&A tools across many companies and previously co-founded Satori Reporting, a BI platform for NetSuite users that was later acquired by private equity. He is now the founder of Causi AI, where he focuses on building AI agents to help finance teams automate analysis, processes, and forecasting.

Expect to Learn:

• What makes FP&A professionals stand out today

• Why combining financial and operational data is critical

• How BI tools expand the role of FP&A

• How AI is improving analysis, forecasting, and workflows

Vikram is the Chief Technology & Innovation Officer at Riveron, where he leads AI, digital transformation, and finance modernization initiatives. With nearly 25 years of experience, Vikram works closely with CFOs to transform finance functions through technology. He previously served as the President and CEO of Yantra, a company he founded and led for over 15 years before its acquisition by Riveron.

Expect to Learn:

• Why most AI implementations fail and how to avoid common mistakes

• The importance of enterprise AI strategy vs. siloed tool adoption

• How FP&A is evolving into a forward-looking, decision-making function

• What it takes to prepare your data, processes, and governance for AI

Vincent is a seasoned enterprise software sales leader with over 25 years of experience. Vincent is currently the Northeast Director of business development at UHY, a CPA firm, and works on advising CFOs through his partnership with UHY. Ilana is the Chief Financial Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she oversees a comprehensive portfolio, including accounting, treasury, compliance, and financial planning.

Expect to Learn:

• Why ROI calculations often fail and how Return on Change provides a more effective approach.

• How to align financial decisions with business outcomes.

• The evolving role of FP&A professionals in driving decisions beyond traditional reporting.

• Key strategies for managing change during financial transformations.

Jeff Greenfield is the co-founder and CEO of Provalytics, a "cookie-less" attribution solution that helps marketers demonstrate the value of upper-funnel channels like CTV, podcasting, and more. Before founding Provalytics, Jeff built and led multiple digital marketing companies, pioneering the use of data-driven approaches to improve marketing performance.

Expect to Learn:

• The challenges marketers face in proving campaign ROI and how to overcome them

• Why FP&A professionals should understand marketing’s data models

• How marketers and finance teams can align on data-driven goals

• How to ensure marketing budgets are being spent effectively

Nick is the author of Practical Charts (Amazon #1 New Release) and the upcoming Practical Dashboards. He has taught thousands of professionals globally, including teams at NASA, Bloomberg, Visa, The United Nations, Shopify, and more. He is also the first educator authorised by Stephen Few to teach his foundational data visualisation workshops.

Expect to Learn:

• Why understanding the "job" of a chart is more important than the data itself

• The key skills needed for creating effective charts

• Common mistakes in data visualisation and how to avoid them

• Why empathy for your audience is crucial when designing visuals

• How to decide when to use default charts vs. creating custom visuals

Cynthia is a CHRO and C-suite partner with over 30 years of experience in human resources, focusing on change management and organizational transformation. Deborah Hill is an HR leader with over 10 years of experience leading HR teams in tech-focused and tech-enabled companies. She specializes in building culture and driving talent initiatives, and has managed businesses with revenues ranging from $400M to $5B.

Expect to Learn:

• How HR and FP&A can partner to drive organizational success

• The importance of aligning company, team, and individual goals

• Best practices for goal-setting and performance management

• Why flexibility is important when managing goals throughout the year

• How to build trust and collaboration between HR and FP&A

Rey is a strategic CFO with deep roots in FP&A, having built his career at organizations such as FedEx, Norwegian Cruise Line, MTV Networks, and The Walt Disney Company. He has since served as CFO and advisor for companies including Ticketmaster, AXS, Guitar Center, OpenX, and several entertainment-focused fintech platforms. 

Expect to Learn:

• What great FP&A looks like beyond spreadsheets and reporting

• The biggest mindset shift required when moving from FP&A to CFO

• Why curiosity and operational understanding matter in finance

• How collaboration plays a key role in successful turnarounds

• How benchmarks and driver-based models uncover opportunities

Ned Harding is the Chief Product Officer at Enso Analytics, a platform that helped define the self-service analytics category. He started coding at eight years old, taught himself from PDP-11 manuals, and has spent the last two decades creating tools used by hundreds of thousands of analysts worldwide. He’s a product guy through and through, and he’s on a mission to help teams work smarter with their data.

Expect to Learn:

• Why most data tools fall short when it comes to real team collaboration

• The importance of repeatability and testing in FP&A workflows

• How to avoid common pitfalls with AI and overfitting in forecasting

• Why Excel is both a lifesaver - and a landmine

• How to build a true “culture of analytics” across your entire org

Jeffrey is a Senior Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets Advisory at Riveron, a leading advisor to the Office of the CFO and Private Equity. Early in his career, Jeff was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, where he helped execute IPOs in the technology sector for over a decade. Afterward, he spent more than 15 years as a portfolio manager investing in disruptive public and private companies. For the last eight years, Jeff has served as a trusted strategic advisor to pre-IPO companies, guiding them toward successful public exits.

Expect to Learn:

• Why finance professionals play a crucial role in the IPO process

• How to prepare a company financially for a successful public listing

• The importance of building financial trust with public investors

• How to evaluate the readiness of your financial systems and team for the IPO process

Bryan Lapidus is the Director of FP&A Practice at AFP, where he serves as a subject matter expert on financial planning and analysis. With more than 20 years in FP&A and treasury at organizations like American Express and Fannie Mae, Bryan brings deep knowledge of corporate finance. At AFP, he develops thought leadership, leads advisory councils, and curates content that helps professionals thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Expect to Learn:

• The two core competencies every great FP&A professional must master

• Why “getting out from behind the screen” matters for business insight

• How AFP curates learning and networking experiences for finance professionals

• What to expect from AFP’s FP&A Forum and Annual Conference

• How to avoid low-value work and focus on driving business impact

Ben Pierce is an experienced executive with over two decades of experience in the enterprise software industry. Currently, he leads Workday Adaptive Planning’s global strategy, growth, and innovation efforts. Prior to joining Workday, Ben held senior roles in several companies, including River Logic, Tidemark, and IBM, where he honed his expertise in analytics, financial software, and business leadership. His career has been shaped by his passion for leveraging technology to improve business operations and drive impactful change.

Expect to Learn:

• Why Ben believes the future of FP&A is in AI and analytics

• The importance of challenging the business with actionable insights

• How to make FP&A tools work for you, not just as a data repository

• What to consider when choosing and implementing FP&A software

• The balance between strategic planning and flexible budgeting processes

Noam Sever is a seasoned finance executive with over 15 years of leadership across global tech and manufacturing firms. At Cellebrite, he leads a multinational FP&A team overseeing full P&L ownership, strategic planning, and operational excellence. His expertise includes business modeling, systems implementation, and data-driven decision-making. Known for his structured approach and people-first mindset, Noam is passionate about building agile finance organizations that deliver real business impact.

Expect to Learn:

• How Kate Gulliver’s non-linear career led her to the CFO role

• Why today’s CFOs must lead people, not just finances

• How an entrepreneurial mindset drives impact inside large companies

• What finance leaders gain from owning talent and culture

• How to balance senior leadership with life outside work