The CFO Show

Growth often looks impressive from the outside. New markets, new capabilities and new headlines. But as organizations scale, leaders quickly discover that growth is the visible part. Integration is the real work.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson sits down with Jim Peko, CEO of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, to discuss one of the most significant transformations in the firm’s 100-year history. As Grant Thornton evolves from a traditional partnership model into a unified multinational platform bringing together nearly 20 firms and 25,000 professionals, Jim shares lessons on governance, leadership, culture and long-term value creation.

Together, they explore:
Why true transformation requires more than incremental change
How governance structures can accelerate or hinder growth
The difference between acquisition and integration, and why integration creates value
How leaders can balance global consistency with local autonomy
Why transparency and communication matter during periods of change
How AI and technology investments support quality, scalability and client outcomes
Leadership lessons from transforming a 100-year-old organization

Whether leading a major acquisition, scaling internationally or modernizing a legacy business, this conversation offers practical insights for CFOs and enterprise leaders navigating transformation at scale.

The path to becoming a CFO is rarely linear. In today’s environment of constant change, finance leaders are expected to move between strategy, operations, and capital markets while developing the judgment needed to navigate uncertainty and drive growth.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Greg Mrva, Chief Financial Officer of GoFundMe, about how varied career experiences shape stronger finance leaders. Drawing on decades of experience across investment banking, public company leadership, and high-growth technology businesses, Greg shares how moving between roles builds pattern recognition, resilience, and better decision-making. His journey from investment banking to CFO offers a practical lens on how finance leaders can expand their capabilities over time.

Together, they explore:
Why non-linear career paths create stronger CFOs
How experience in banking and operating roles builds strategic insight
Lessons from integrating acquisitions and building unified teams
How GoFundMe is scaling a platform at the intersection of money, trust and technology
The role of AI in accelerating finance workflows and decision-making
How to develop “range of motion” across strategy, operations and analytics
The critical skills CFOs need to lead in environments defined by ambiguity and change

Whether building a finance career, leading transformation, or preparing for the next generation of CFO leadership, this conversation offers practical insights on adaptability, growth, and long-term success.

Business agility has become a defining capability for organizations operating in today’s environment of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). But while many companies focus on operational flexibility or technology investments, fewer understand the critical role finance plays in enabling true agility across the business.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Mitch Max, founder of BetterVu and Executive in Residence for the Association of Financial Professionals, about what separates organizations that survive from those that thrive during disruption. Drawing on research and decades of experience in enterprise performance management, Mitch shares how agility is less about tools and more about culture, decision-making, and embedded finance leadership.

Together, they explore:
The difference between finance agility and true business agility
Why only a small percentage of companies outperform during volatility
The “sense, decide, act” model for faster, more effective decision-making
How finance teams act as early warning systems and strategic partners
The role of EPM systems in enabling real-time planning and collaboration
How to manage data overload and focus on actionable insights
Where AI is delivering value today, from automation to advanced analytics

Whether navigating economic uncertainty, implementing new planning systems, or redefining the role of finance, this conversation offers practical guidance for CFOs and finance leaders looking to build more agile, resilient organizations.

One of the most consequential decisions a CFO will make is selecting and implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. Yet beyond vendor comparisons and licensing costs lie hidden risks—customization overruns, stalled implementations, legacy system constraints, and organizational change fatigue.

In this episode of The CFO Show, Melissa Howatson speaks with Harpal Mattu, FCMA, Managing Director at Agilyx Group, about what truly determines ERP success or failure. Drawing on decades of experience guiding global ERP transformations, Harpal shares practical lessons from both high-performing implementations and recovery projects where things went wrong.

Together, they discuss:

The true total cost of ERP ownership beyond implementation fees
Why excessive customization creates “Frankenstack” environments
When to adapt your processes versus customizing the system
How to structure ERP programs to reduce risk and avoid burnout
Phasing vs. “big bang” go-lives—and what CFOs must protect
Why change management must begin before system selection
The evolution of ERP from system of record to system of reasoning

Whether you’re modernizing a legacy ERP, evaluating new platforms, or leading a finance transformation initiative, this conversation offers a strategic lens for navigating ERP decisions with confidence and discipline.

Real-time reporting promises faster decisions, but without trusted and governed data, speed can become a liability.

John Hagerty, Distinguished Analyst at Dresner Advisory Services, joins Melissa Howatson to unpack what it really takes to achieve data mastery in modern finance organizations. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience across enterprise performance management, business intelligence and analytics, John explains why data governance is no longer an IT problem, it’s a business imperative.

In this conversation John shares why finance can’t operate in data silos, how CFOs and CIOs must evolve into true partners, and why analytics only deliver value when built on consistent definitions, shared responsibility and clean data foundations.

From centers of excellence and data stewardship to AI adoption and real-time decision-making, this episode offers a practical roadmap for finance leaders looking to turn data into a strategic advantage.

Discussed in this episode:
• Why real-time analytics fail without trusted data
• Data governance as a shared enterprise responsibility
• The evolving CFO–CIO partnership
• Centers of excellence vs. data stewardship (and why you need both)

For CFO insights, episode show notes and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.