FP&A Unlocked

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Snyder sit down with Josette Ferrer to discuss one of the most overlooked skills in finance: networking. While many finance professionals focus on technical expertise, Josette explains why building genuine relationships is essential for career growth, leadership development, mentorship, and long-term success.

Josette Ferrer is the Founder and Managing Director of Clairent Advisors, a valuation and business advisory firm specializing in business and intellectual property valuations. She also serves as President of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI) and is actively involved with organizations including How Women Lead, ProVisors, the American Society of Appraisers, and several executive leadership communities.

Expect to Learn:
Why networking should start long before you need your next opportunity
How to choose the right networking organizations for your career goals
Simple strategies introverts can use to build meaningful professional relationships
Why mentoring and networking naturally go hand in hand

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"Networking isn’t transactional, it’s about giving, helping, and building relationships." - Josette Ferrer
"You don’t need a title to add value; small gestures can create lasting connections." - Josette Ferrer

Networking is a crucial skill for FP&A professionals, enabling stronger relationships, mentorship, and career growth. Starting early and engaging genuinely helps build trust and opportunities over time. Remember, networking is about giving and adding value, not just seeking benefits for yourself.

Follow Josette Ferrer:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josetteferrer/

Follow Glenn Snyder:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennsnyder/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today's Episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[04:22] – What Great FP&A Looks Like
[12:36] – Choosing the Right Networking Group
[21:23] – Why You Should Start Networking Early
[27:39] – Building and Maintaining Your Professional Network
[33:18] – Networking Strategies for Introverts
[41:21] – The Power of Mentorship
[52:05] – Final Networking Advice for Finance Professionals

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Albert Lee, FP&A leader, AI finance coach, and corporate trainer, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the finance profession. Albert shares practical insights from implementing AI in corporate finance, coaching CFOs, and training finance teams on responsible AI adoption.
Albert Lee is an FP&A leader, AI finance coach, and corporate trainer with over 13 years of experience helping finance teams embrace AI and automation. He has led FP&A functions across multinational organizations, including Merlin Entertainments and The Cookware Company, driving forecasting, profitability modeling, and process improvements across APAC. Today, Albert coaches CFOs and finance leaders through the AI Finance Club while delivering AI training for global organizations and professional finance communities.

Expect to Learn:
Why AI should be your finance copilot
How to build trusted AI workflows
When to use AI vs. Power Query
Best practices for secure AI adoption
Key skills for the future of FP&A

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"A strong analyst using AI becomes much stronger. A weak analyst using AI simply makes mistakes faster." - Albert Lee
"The best FP&A professionals don't just explain the numbers, they explain what they mean and what should happen next." – Albert Lee

Albert Lee shares practical insights on using AI to enhance FP&A without sacrificing governance, accuracy, or human judgment. He reminds finance professionals that while AI can dramatically improve productivity, true business value comes from combining the right technology with strong data practices, critical thinking, and trusted business partnerships.

Follow Albert:
Website - https://axiomfpa.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-lee-fcpa-869478118/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[02:14] – Meet Albert Lee
[03:34] – Why Copilot?
[05:27] – AI Automation Journey
[09:47] – AI Training & Coaching
[19:51] – AI Challenges
[23:50] – AI Workflows
[28:18] – AI Governance
[31:23] – AI's Strengths & Limits
[39:40] – Career Advice & Wrap-up

In this Episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst features returning guest Jack McCullough, founder of the CFO Leadership Council, for a conversation about The Rodman Paradox and what it means for FP&A teams. The discussion explores how specialists can create outsized value, how leaders should recognise them, and how to manage them without turning them into the wrong kind of generalist.
Jack McCullough is the founder and president of the CFO Leadership Council, a professional community he built to empower senior financial executives through peer learning and collaboration. Over the course of his career, Jack has served as chief financial officer for twenty-six companies, leading not only finance but also business development, HR, and IT functions.
Expect to Learn:
Build FP&A teams with the three Cs: communication, curiosity, courage.
Rare specialists can outperform broad generalists.
Spot true critical specialists vs. those who just seem important.
Find hidden influence by who people turn to in crises.
Avoid promoting specialists away from their best work.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
You want to encourage a culture of what I call the three Cs, which are communications, curiosity, and courage." – Jack McCullough
"The Rodman paradox is there might be people that on the surface seem like they have a limited skillset, but because there are so few people who can do it well, they may actually be more important to your organisational success than executives." – Jack McCullough

Jack brings the perspective of a seasoned CFO, author, and adviser who has spent years thinking about financial leadership, specialist talent, and the skills that matter most in modern finance.
Follow Jack:
Website - https://cfoleadershipcouncil.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmcculloughcfo/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[01:42] – Jack shares the coming book The Rodman Paradox
[05:56] – The three Cs for strong FP&A teams
[07:27] – Why the book is about specialists, not basketball
[13:15] – How to spot a Rodman through influence and crisis
[20:19] – Managing specialists through motivation and bureaucracy
[30:05] – AI may increase the value of specialists
[33:42] – Career advice for future CFOs and FP&A leaders
[40:57] – Reflecting on the ultimate interview opportunities
[45:57] – Wrap-up

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Etinosa Agbonlahor, behavioral economist and Founder & CEO of Decision Alpha, to discuss why pricing is one of the biggest drivers of business success. They explore how customer psychology influences pricing, why many companies underprice their products, and how FP&A can play a more strategic role in pricing decisions.
Etinosa Agbonlahor is a behavioral economist and pricing strategist who helps businesses improve pricing through behavioral science and customer insights. As Founder & CEO of Decision Alpha, she has advised organizations across the US, Australia, Africa, and the UK on pricing, customer behavior, and growth. She is also the author of How to Talk to Your Parents About Money.
Expect to Learn:
Why most businesses underprice their products
How customer psychology influences pricing
The role of FP&A in pricing strategy
When outcome-based pricing works best
Why storytelling makes data more impactful

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"The problem with underpricing is that no one is going to tell you you're underpriced." – Etinosa Agbonlahor
"People don't walk around knowing what your product should cost, they infer your value from your price." – Etinosa Agbonlahor

Etinosa shares practical strategies for improving pricing through customer research, behavioral economics, and data-driven decision-making. This episode is ideal for FP&A professionals, finance leaders, and business owners looking to build stronger pricing strategies.

Follow Etinosa:
Website - https://playbook.decisionalpha.co/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/etinosasere/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[05:18] – What Great FP&A Looks Like
[06:12] – Why Pricing Drives Business Success
[10:03] – Why Businesses Underprice
[17:23] – Customer Segmentation
[24:02] – FP&A and Pricing
[29:28] – Behavioral Pricing Framework
[34:12] – AI & Outcome-Based Pricing
[46:05] – Data Storytelling
[57:02] – Final Advice

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Alok Ajmera, CEO of Prophix, to explore how AI is reshaping FP&A, financial planning, and enterprise decision-making. Alok explains how modern finance teams are evolving from spreadsheet-heavy workflows to AI-enabled systems, while still relying on structured data, deterministic processes, and human oversight to maintain accuracy and trust in financial outputs.

Alok Ajmera is the CEO of Prophix, a leading financial performance management platform helping CFO organizations modernize planning, budgeting, and forecasting. With over 22 years at Prophix, he has supported more than 3,000 finance teams globally in transforming how they close, consolidate, and plan. Alok has led the evolution of FP&A systems from spreadsheet-first to system-first, and now toward AI-enabled finance operations.

Expect to Learn:
What makes FP&A a true force multiplier inside organizations
How data stewardship, collaboration, and forecasting define great finance teams
Why AI must stay deterministic when handling financial calculations
The difference between probabilistic AI and structured finance systems
How AI agents support FP&A without replacing financial control

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"The biggest opportunity is to take inefficient manual workflows and simplify them with AI agents, delivering value quickly while building confidence in the team." – Alok Ajmera
"AI democratizes capabilities, but there must be governance and discipline. It’s easy to build things, but maintaining them is hard." – Alok Ajmera

Alok explains that while AI is transforming FP&A through speed and automation, the core of finance still depends on structured systems, clean data, and human judgment. He emphasizes that the future of finance is a hybrid model where AI enhances productivity while finance leaders maintain control, context, and strategic oversight.

Follow Alok:
Website - www.prophix.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-ajmera-93896617/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@prophix

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.
In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[04:10] – What great FP&A looks like
[09:13] – Revenue and qualitative goals
[18:38] – Why AI in FP&A needs structure
[29:36] – AI in forecasting and planning
[33:45] – Risks, governance, and AI sprawl
[45:40] – Soft skills in FP&A
[49:11] – Travel and personal reflections
[51:25] – Closing thoughts