#263 The Real Reason So Many New CFOs Feel Completely Alone, Andrew Tapson, GrowCFO Mentor
Stepping into the CFO seat concentrates pressure, confidentiality, and ambiguity—often without a true peer group. In this episode, GrowCFO Mentor Andrew Tapson joins host Kevin Appleby to unpack why first-time CFOs experience isolation and how to build the scaffolding that restores clarity and confidence. Tapson explains how the role’s breadth, the need to “translate” across functions, and the lack of consequence-free spaces to test thinking create a unique loneliness—one that mentoring, selective networks, and practical operating rhythms can directly solve.
Tapson blends four decades of finance leadership with a mentor’s mindset: create safe space, build a relevant network, and develop emotional intelligence to navigate complexity. He shares real-world practices to replace isolation with support—designing a personal advisory circle, investing in relationships that open doors, and delegating to protect strategic attention. The result is a pragmatic playbook for new CFOs to gain momentum, credibility, and durable resilience in their first 90–180 days.
Key topics covered:
- Why new CFOs feel isolated: pressure, confidentiality, breadth of remit, and no safe sounding board
- Mentoring vs. coaching: creating a consequence-free space to talk through mistakes and options
- Build a selective, relevant network that opens doors and accelerates problem-solving
- Emotional intelligence and “translating the room” as core CFO capabilities
- Delegation and focus: moving from detail to enterprise-level decisions
- First steps: set up advisory rhythms, stakeholder access, and early-win narratives
Links
Timestamps
- 03:52 Mentoring vs. coaching; creating a safe space for new CFOs
- 06:37 From cost-cutting to growth levers; solving problems with lateral thinking
- 11:15 Designing a selective, useful network for support and access
- 23:12 Emotional intelligence and staying relevant amid rapid change
- 28:30 Delegation, scope shift, and protecting strategic attention
- 33:2 The future of CFO mentoring and structured support systems
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