It's not all about the numbers!

In this episode of So What...? , Chris Argent, Mike Rose and Joel Johansen debate the true value of industry awards. From recognition and motivation to recruitment, team culture and leadership, they explore why celebrating success can have a much bigger impact than simply collecting trophies. They also discuss the application process, what makes a meaningful awards programme, and why recognition m...

What makes an awards ceremony truly memorable? In this special episode, Chris Argent and Mike Rose are joined by GENCFO Senior Events Manager Kira Cluer to go behind the scenes of the GENCFO Awards. Together, they explore what it takes to create an event that champions finance's changemakers, why community matters more than trophies, and how live experiences can bring people together in ways that...

Is LinkedIn still a professional networking platform, or has it become just another social media channel? In this episode of So What...? , Chris Argent, Mike Rose, and Joel Johansson explore how LinkedIn has evolved from an online CV repository into one of the most influential platforms in business. They discuss personal branding, networking, recruitment, algorithms, content creation, and whether...

AI can build apps, write content, and automate workflows in seconds. But can it replace human judgment? In this episode, Chris Argent and Mike Rose are joined by Galina Barengo, Co-Founder of Ledgerdary, to cut through the AI hype. From vibe coding and automation to leadership, burnout, and startup life, they explore where AI adds real value, where it falls short, and why human judgment remains ir...

Everyone is talking about AI, but are organisations focusing on the wrong problem? In this episode of So What? , Chris Argent and Mike Rose explore why adaptability may be a far more important capability than technology itself. From broken processes and failed transformation programmes to change management, curiosity and leadership, they unpack why simply layering AI onto existing ways of working...

Wassia Kamon joins Chris and Mike to discuss career growth, mentorship, leadership and the power of helping others succeed. From moving from Ivory Coast to Atlanta, to becoming a CFO at 37, Wassia shares how relationships, authenticity and paying it forward shaped her journey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do smart people still avoid difficult decisions? Chris and Mike sit down with Lesley Thomas to unpack the emotional side of leadership, money and workplace pressure. Together they explore uncertainty, AI, confidence, culture and why businesses can’t automate human trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this reflective special, Chris turns the tables on Mike as they look back at first jobs, office culture, early career chaos and how much the workplace has changed. From typing pools and Quattro Pro to waste licences, landfill sites and hybrid working, Mike reflects on the strange, formative and occasionally terrifying experiences that shaped his career — and what they reveal about l...

In this reflective special, Chris and Mike look back at how work has changed since Chris first entered the workplace in the 1990s. From paper invoices, handwritten ledgers and strict office hierarchies to AI assistants, flexible working and side hustles, they explore what has improved, what has been lost, and what the next 30 years of work might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

*** Trigger warning *** This episode covers work stress and suicide. Chris and Mike are joined by Cris Beswick, strategic advisor and keynote speaker on leadership, culture and innovation-led growth. What begins with AI, transformation and the BBC quickly turns into one of the podcast’s most honest conversations yet, covering burnout, vulnerability, leadership masks, and why “I don’t know, what do...

Chris and Mike record from New York with their first in-person US guest, Nathan Foulger, executive producer and fellow Brummie. They explore how AI is reshaping the creative industry, what finance leaders can learn from that disruption, and why the best leadership lesson might still be the simplest one of all: be nice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris and Mike are joined by Doug Wilson OBE, founder of Verdant Edge and honorary professor at Nottingham Trent University. From environmental monitoring and pandemic response to coaching and leadership, Doug shares why more data isn’t always better. They explore how to focus on what really matters, communicate clearly, and make better decisions without getting lost in the noise. Hosted on Acast....

In Part 2 of the GENCFO Live retrospective, Chris and Mike are joined by Mia, Millie, Zaki, and James from Liberty Global to bring a fresh perspective from the next generation of finance leaders. From AI and legacy systems to soft skills and career development, they explore what the future of finance really looks like — and why senior leaders might have more to learn than they think. Hosted on Aca...

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 P...

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 found...

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,...

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 trai...

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 ac...

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 w...

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 blamin...

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.