Introducing CFO Unchained
Follow along as I build the future of finance!
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – Buckminster Fuller
A new beginning
Today, I find myself in an Antler residency in downtown Austin, surrounded by 80+ remarkable entrepreneurs (most in their 20s!) working passionately on world-changing ideas. We are all driven by the same ambition: building something extraordinary from scratch. It’s wild, uncertain, but there is an incredible energy that is hard to describe.
Welcome to CFO Unchained!
I wanted to briefly introduce myself, share a bit about my journey, and explain why I'm starting to write while I build a company.
Over the past 20 years, my career has taken me through Big 4 accounting, Equity Research on Wall Street, and CFO roles at startups that grew from humble beginnings into companies worth hundreds of millions or even billions. While each of these paths offered success, financial rewards, and meaningful work, none aligned with what I ultimately wanted to do for the rest of my life. I've always known, deep down, that my calling was to build a company of my own, and it's clear to me that I’m exactly where I belong.
I left my CFO job because I believe we are ready to enter a golden age for creative, curious finance leaders, but someone has to build and enable that future! I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind: “Why not me?” With the rapid advancement of AI, I envision CFOs having incredible influence and impact on the companies they help lead and I want to make that a reality.
The ships have been burned, options expired unexercised (!), and the financial stakes couldn’t be higher. Yet, I wake up energized every day, inspired by the opportunity to channel every ounce of creativity and experience I have into building something great.
When I had just quit my job with only the spark of an idea, my 10-year-old son asked, "Dad, why didn’t you get the idea a little farther along before you quit?" Smart kid! But for me, there was no middle ground—I’m not someone who can authentically split their focus. Once I knew this was the right path, it had to be all or nothing.
Through this Substack, I'll share the insights, challenges, and lessons I encounter as I move from 0 to 1—or, as one investor humorously put it, from -1 to 0 to 1. I'll primarily explore topics relevant to CFOs but will also dive into broader themes around entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the adventures of company building.
I'll be posting weekly, sharing new reflections and insights as I navigate this exciting journey. I’d be thrilled to have you join me!