Karen Balunso

Blog

The approval trap: why tighter controls are making you lose control

Many finance teams believe tighter approval controls mean better governance. In reality, added layers often create bottlenecks, slow decisions, and...
Podcast

#267 Why Nonprofit Finance Is 10 Years Behind and How to Close the Gap with Ilana Esterrich, GrowCFO Mentor

Nonprofit finance often lags behind its for-profit counterpart due to structural funding constraints, donor reporting requirements, and historical expectations of...
Blog

Is 2026 the Year You Step Into CFO

Most finance leaders are closer to the CFO role than they think. This article outlines what CFO readiness really means...
Podcast

#266 The CFO’s Secret Weapon Behind Higher Business Valuations: The Data Cube with David Whitcombe, Founder and Managing Director, Data Vision Services

In an era where CFOs are central to shaping valuation narratives, the “data cube” has emerged as a strategic edge....
Blog

The CFO Method for Creating Independent High Performing Teams

High-performing CFOs don’t create strong teams by having all the answers. They coach for clarity, ownership, and independent decision-making. This...
Podcast

#265 The Six Defining Challenges for the Office of the CFO in 2026, with Eric Reyhle and Manuel Marcos, Acterys

In this episode, Kevin Appleby hosts Acterys leaders Eric Reyhle (SVP Global Alliances) and Manuel Marcos (Regional Director EMEA/LATAM) to...
Blog

What Finance Leaders Are Actually Training for Now

As automation accelerates, finance leaders are shifting from doing more to thinking better. This year revealed three defining trends: a...
Blog

Are You Seen as a Blocker or a Bridge as a Finance Leader?

Finance often gets labeled as a blocker, but the best leaders shift this perception by becoming the bridge that turns...
Podcast

#264 The Confidence Blueprint Every New CFO Needs, Lee-Wen Chen, GrowCFO Mentor

In this episode, Kevin Appleby hosts GrowCFO Mentor Lee‑Wen Chan to explore the confidence blueprint every new CFO needs. Drawing...
Blog

The CFO Skill Most Finance Teams Still Miss

The CFO skill most finance teams miss is the ability to turn insight into action. Rather than just reporting facts,...