It's not all about the numbers!

As we gear up for the much-anticipated GENCFO Awards 2026 shortlist announcement, hear from a previous winner, Katharina Herzog, who spoke to Chris and Mike in 2025 about being a working mother, a woman in finance trailblazer, and dispelling the myth that finance people are boring! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh off the back of GENCFO Live, Chris and Mike are joined by attendees Tanbir Jasimuddin and Chantelle Hollidge to reflect on what actually made the day different. From ditching traditional conference formats to creating real space for conversation, they unpack why peer-to-peer learning, honest conversations, and shared struggles might be far more valuable than polished presentations. This is Part 1 of the GENCFO Live retrospective — and it’s all about what happens when you let the room do the talking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Gavin Freegard is joined by Mike Rose and Colm Britton to explore digital planning and the role of data standards in modernising the planning system.Rather than focusing on the politics of planning reform, this conversation looks at the underlying infrastructure: paper forms, fragmented data, repeated manual entry, local authority workflows, interoperability and the foundations needed to make the system more effective.They discuss why standards matter, how working in the open has shaped the project, what better planning data could unlock, and why this kind of foundational work has lessons far beyond planning alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by data sharing specialist James Robson for a deep dive into the messy reality of data, risk, and trust. From GDPR confusion to AI adoption, they explore why organisations get data sharing wrong, why “don’t share anything” isn’t a strategy, and how trust — not compliance — is becoming the real differentiator. Along the way, they unpack real-world data breaches, AI risks, and why the question isn’t who owns the data… but who owns how it’s used. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike flies solo this week after Chris is sidelined by technical difficulties, but he’s joined by Tom Miller, CFO of Palladium Group. From private equity due diligence to AI-powered automation in finance, Tom shares what life looks like inside a modern CFO role. Along the way they cover fundraising, data strategy, AI in finance, and why raising three young kids might be the ultimate leadership training. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by Rasmus Areskoug, CEO and co-founder of Paraglide, fresh off a $5M seed round. From AI hype to actual ROI, Rasmus breaks down why most “AI-powered” finance tools are just legacy software with a chatbot — and where AI genuinely transforms credit control. This episode is about cutting through the noise and building tools that actually get you paid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by Ben Adams, founder of Ben Adams Finance, to explore what modern fractional finance really looks like. From navigating founders “at war” to uncovering dangerous cash illusions, Ben explains why great finance leaders aren’t just number crunchers — they’re the adults in the room. This one’s about translating data, balancing compliance with strategy, and helping CEOs see what they might be missing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by organisational psychologist Christen Gilchrist to unpack why burnout isn’t a personal failing — it’s a systems problem. From NHS bed management to boardroom meetings that cost £56,000 a year, Christen explains how hidden feedback loops, poor information flow, and overloaded leadership habits quietly drain performance. This episode's about fixing the system — not blaming the people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike welcome back Gavin Freeguard to explore fraud, data transparency, policy communities, and why reforming government isn’t about shiny tech — it’s about people, culture, and collaboration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike sit down with Kam Karaji, Director of Cybersecurity and Risk Management at the NFL, to unpack why insider risk still causes most breaches — and what leaders can actually do about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by James Cattell to explore why communities matter, how safe spaces actually get built, and why a bit of creative chaos can be the most effective leadership tool of all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by Julie Wong to explore why so many founders avoid the numbers — and how reframing finance as storytelling (not maths) helps leaders feel more in control and make better decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got a guest host this week, as Mike is joined by previous guest Joel Johansen, with guest Jamie Arnold, about what to do when team dynamics go sideways — including a practical “silent retro” technique that helps teams reflect safely when trust is low. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike kick off the year (and series 4!) with an honest conversation about momentum, meaning, and why moving forward doesn’t require resolutions — just clarity and intent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike kick off the year with a short New Year episode, reflecting on fresh starts, leadership growth, and why meaningful progress doesn’t need formal resolutions to stick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the end of Series 3 - where's the time gone?! In this Christmas special, Chris and Mike unwrap the biggest lessons from a year of conversations on AI, automation, data and leadership—cutting through hype to focus on what actually moves finance teams forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special, look-back episode from GENCFO Impact, where finance leaders cut through the noise around automation and AI—what actually matters, what doesn’t, and how to move from talk to real execution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eriona Bajrakurtaj, founder of Vault Digital Transformation, joins Chris and Mike to challenge outdated stereotypes in accounting and explain why the profession’s future lies in confidence, relationships, and real business partnership—not just compliance and reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Geraghty, co-founder of Psych Safety, breaks down what psychological safety really is, why it’s the foundation for high performance, and how leaders can move from “power over” to “power to” so people actually speak up, fix problems, and stop sleepwalking into disaster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in 2024, Chris and Mike welcomed back Giuseppe Sollazzo, Deputy Director of Data Enablement at DWP, for a lively chat on data quality, teamwork, and the future of work. Giuseppe shared lessons from his speaking gigs, along with fresh takes on financial success, online habits, and communicating data effectively. Packed with anecdotes, humour, and sharp insights, this episode is more relevant than ever, and is a must-listen for anyone navigating the data and tech world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ilana Esterrich (CFO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America) and Vincent Messina (CPA and longtime finance-tech seller) explain why so many finance and tech transformations fail – and why we should stop obsessing over ROI on software and start measuring the return on change in how people actually work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sustainability isn’t a bolt-on—it’s business strategy. Profit Impact’s Sarah Whale explains how SMEs can blend purpose with profit, why time/headspace is the real bottleneck, and how a change champion turns ESG from good intentions into action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finance partnering that actually moves the needle: Anders Liu Lindenberg (Business Partnering Institute) shares a simple formula—Insights × Influence = Impact. Plus soft-skills that matter, how to escape “CF-No,” and why consistency wins on LinkedIn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike sit down with Melanie Mills, founder of Connection Career Collective and former CRO at Caxton Payments, to talk about leadership, learning, and why diversity is more than a checkbox. From boxing workouts to boardrooms, Melanie shares how confidence, curiosity, and connection are reshaping what it means to lead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finance leader Julia Kozlov joins Chris and Mike to talk about why the real AI revolution isn’t about robots or replacements — it’s about confidence, curiosity, and cleaning up your data. From coffee machines to corporate change, she explains how small experiments can lead to big transformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When CFO Anna Tiomina lost her job, she didn’t panic — she pivoted. Now she’s helping finance teams master AI without losing control, showing how balance, curiosity, and a bit of luck can completely change a career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No more death-by-PowerPoint. In this week’s episode, Chris and Mike reveal how they’re reinventing finance conferences with GENCFO Live — smashing stereotypes, ditching dull panels, and proving collaboration beats lectures every time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.