What helped you add strategic value as a finance leader?

Robin Washington

President and Chief Operating & Financial Officer · Salesforce

Tell the story

Robin Washington says the finance leader's role is to use numbers to tell the story, which she says helps them be proactive in influencing business decisions that can drive better outcomes.

The answer starts at 8:45.

Jessica Somers

Chief Financial Officer · Aledade, Inc.

Curiosity

Jessica Somers says being really curious helped her, as she admitted what she didn't know, asked a lot of questions, and listened to the answers.

Philip D. Fracassa

EVP & Chief Financial Officer · Magna International

Leadership and influence

Philip D. Fracassa says leadership and influence matter as much or more than technical skills, saying he learned that influence, communication and building consensus drive execution and outcomes.

Samantha Greenberg

Chief Financial Officer · AlphaSense

Forecasting transformation

Samantha Greenberg says the single most powerful thing for her was a forecasting transformation, combining data science with fundamental processes to bend the cost curve and enable real-time visibility for actionable insights.

Daniel Kang

CFO · Mercury

Thought partnership

Daniel Kang says being a thought partner is what makes finance effective, and he rejects relying on control of the purse strings to claim a seat at the table because that hard power is the last type he wants to exercise.