The CFOIQ Podcast

What does it take to be both an entrepreneur and a CFO? In this episode of CFOIQ, host Andrew Zezas sits down with Natasha Dillon, CFO and Co-Founder of Fundfy Merchant Funding, to explore the unique mindset required to build, scale, and lead a high-growth business while maintaining financial discipline. Drawing on her journey from childhood hustles and investment banking to launching and successf...

What does it take to succeed as a CFO in a private equity-backed organization? In this episode of CFOIQ, host Andrew Zezas sits down with Ying Miao, CFO of Converge, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities finance leaders face when partnering with private equity investors. Drawing on her experience as both an operator and investor, Ying shares practical insights on value creation, finan...

M&A is roaring back in 2026, with global deal value estimated to reach $3.6 trillion—and CFOs are at the center of it all. In this episode of CFOIQ, Andrew Zezas sits down with seasoned CFO Brian Giambagno to break down the resurgence of mega deals, the shift toward bold consolidation strategies, and what it really takes to execute over 50 successful acquisitions while maintaining strong organ...

Discover how one of the fastest-growing sports in the world is being powered behind the scenes in this episode of CFOIQ. Host Andrew Zezas interviews Keith Helmuth of USA Pickleball to explore how USA Pickleball drives revenue through memberships, sponsorships, tournaments, and equipment certification, while navigating the challenges of 50%+ year-over-year growth. This episode covers nonprofit fin...

In today’s hyper connected marketplace, the Chief Financial Officer’s role has evolved far beyond traditional financial stewardship. This executive discussion explores how modern CFOs have become critical guardians of brand value, wielding financial discipline as a strategic weapon to protect and enhance corporate reputation. As stakeholders increasingly scrutinize not just what companies earn, bu...

Gary Piscatelli has earned a reputation as a transformational and pragmatic leader in a global confectionary industry driven by factors including rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and innovative products. That market's valued at approximately $269 billion in 2024, and projected to reach around $468 billion by 2034 with a huge annual compound annual growth rate of 5.7%.  Gary joins us to sha...

For almost every industry in 2025, tariffs have become a way of life and something that almost every CFO has had to contend with.  But what are the global ramifications when an entire industry spreads its "wings" in a mass race to piece together the perfect supply chain puzzle in a marketplace where tariffs on thousands of parts can change with a single social media post.  In this episode of CFOIQ...

Juggling life and work is a challenge for any busy executive—but few master it quite like Mila Tartakovsky, Head of U.S. Finance at Daiichi Sankyo. Mila redefines what it means to reach the pinnacle of success in both her professional and personal worlds, showing how to make each strengthen the other. In this episode of CFOIQ, we go in-depth with Mila on leadership, teamwork, mentoring, coaching,...

In this episode of CFO IQ, host Andrew Zezas shatters conventional wisdom about corporate real estate by revealing that your company’s property has multiple values simultaneously as many as 13 different valuations on the same day. Zezas breaks down how three different buyer types (corporate occupants, investor landlords, and sale-leaseback investors) will offer dramatically different prices for th...

In this episode of CFOIQ, host Andy Zezas teams up with EisnerAmper’s Travis Epp and Dean Peterson to decode how recent tariffs are reshaping corporate strategy across industries. The experts explain why “Liberation Day” created unprecedented uncertainty in global supply chains and reveal the key differences between tariffs and international taxation that every CFO needs to understand. Epp and Pet...

In this episode of CFO IQ, host Andrew Zezas sits down with Matt Konwiser , Brand Technical Leader and Field CTO at IBM, to unpack how CFOs can capitalize on artificial intelligence amid its “hectic” state of constant innovation. Konwiser breaks down AI’s practical applications in financial forecasting and planning, explaining how combining traditional machine learning with newer generative models...

In this premier episode of CFOIQ, host Andrew Zezas sits down with Dan Crumb , Executive Vice President and CFO of the Kansas City Chiefs , to unveil how the Super Bowl champions build and maintain their winning culture both on and off the field. Crumb reveals the Chiefs’ innovative approaches to enhancing the fan experience through technology investments, from cashless transactions and WiFi upgra...