Who Are the Best Executive Mentors in 2025?

What makes someone one of the best executive mentors, and who are the top mentors for senior finance leaders today?
The best executive mentors are experienced, strategic leaders who offer personalized guidance to help professionals unlock their full potential. For CFOs and senior finance leaders, the most valuable mentors are those who’ve walked the path—combining practical insight with strategic thinking. This article explores what sets top mentors apart and introduces the best executive mentors available today through GrowCFO.

What Sets the Best Executive Mentors Apart?

The best executive mentors don’t just offer advice—they offer transformation. They draw from real-world leadership experience, helping you grow in confidence, clarity, and influence. These mentors provide:

• Strategic insight grounded in experience
  
• A focus on outcomes, not just process
  
• The ability to challenge and support in equal measure
  
• Guidance that evolves with your career
  

In the finance world, where leadership complexity is high, working with someone who’s been there matters more than ever.

Who Are the Best Executive Mentors at GrowCFO?

GrowCFO mentors are seasoned finance leaders who’ve led global teams, scaled high-growth businesses, and supported founders, CEOs, and boards. Here are some of our executive mentors:

• Jennifer Burton
  A strategic CFO with deep experience in capital raising, KPI development, and M&A leadership. She’s helped scale VC-backed startups and transform global finance operations—making her a powerful guide for growth-stage leaders.
  
• Warren Wise
  A transformative leader who grew CRM Workforce Solutions’ valuation and drove record-breaking sales. Known for creating performance cultures and aligning financial strategy with business success.
  
• Paula Kensington
  Award-winning CFO and mentoring powerhouse with a gift for blending commercial insight and personal growth. She helps leaders sharpen executive presence and build purpose-driven careers.
  
• Catherine Clark
  An FCA and former Group CFO with a coaching approach grounded in resilience, clarity, and accountability. She helps senior professionals overcome blockers and step into confident leadership.
  
• Oliver Deacon
  Former Microsoft Finance Director with 1,000+ hours of coaching experience. He specializes in innovation, leadership, and career acceleration for ambitious finance professionals.
  
• Susana Serrano-Davey
  A global CFO and entrepreneur with experience across multinationals and startups. She focuses on combining strategic capability with internal resilience and personal development.
  

Learn more about the rest of our mentors here.

Each brings a unique approach, but all share the same goal: helping you lead with confidence, navigate complexity, and grow with purpose.

What’s the Difference Between Executive Mentors and Coaches?

	CFO Executive Mentors	Executive Coaches
Background	Senior leaders, often former CFOs	Trained professionals, not always finance-specific
Style	Advice, challenge, and shared experience	Reflective, question-based discovery
Goal	Strategic growth and career advancement	Behavioral change and mindset shifts
Duration	Ongoing, flexible relationship	Time-bound, structured sessions
Best For	Navigating senior roles, board influence, strategy	Building self-awareness, managing performance

Both can be valuable—but when your role involves complex decisions and leadership expectations, working with the best executive mentors who understand finance leadership is often the most effective path.

How Can Executive Mentoring Impact Your Career?

Working with the right mentor leads to tangible results. Executive mentoring can help you:

• Strengthen board and stakeholder relationships
  
• Build strategic confidence and presence
  
• Clarify your career roadmap
  
• Lead transformation with resilience
  
• Avoid burnout while maintaining high performance
  

It’s not just about what you do—it’s about how you lead. And the best executive mentors will help you bridge that gap.

How Does GrowCFO’s Mentoring Program Work?

GrowCFO’s mentoring program connects you with accomplished CFOs and senior finance leaders who know how to navigate the challenges you’re facing. Whether you’re preparing for your first CFO role, leading through uncertainty, or looking to increase your strategic influence, your mentor becomes a sounding board, challenger, and guide.

You’ll get:

• 1:1 mentoring from a proven finance leader
  
• Strategic support tailored to your role and goals
  
• Practical advice on leadership, communication, and execution
  
• Long-term value—not just one-off sessions
  

Ready to work with one of the best executive mentors?
Explore the GrowCFO Mentoring Program and get matched with a mentor who’s been in your shoes and knows how to help you step up with impact.