Financial leadership isn't just about managing numbers—it's about navigating uncertainty and building resilience. In this candid conversation, Tom Casey draws from his remarkable journey as CFO at institutions including GE Capital, Washington Mutual, Clear Channel, and Lending Club to reveal what truly matters when steering organizations through transformation and crisis.

Casey shares how his blue-collar upbringing instilled the relentless work ethic that became his professional signature. "No one's going to outwork me," he states, explaining how grit propelled him from humble beginnings to executive leadership. His evolution from an intense young professional who could "wear people out" to a strategic leader who builds high-performing teams offers powerful lessons in self-awareness and adaptation.

At the heart of Casey's approach is what he calls the "competency wheel"—the expanding set of skills that exceptional CFOs develop throughout their careers. Early-career financial leaders might master only a quarter of these competencies, while seasoned executives learn to excel across the spectrum from technical accounting to strategic risk management. For companies seeking financial leadership, Casey emphasizes matching specific competencies to current business needs rather than expecting universal expertise.

The relationship between financial leaders and their organizations takes center stage as Casey compares effective finance teams to a race car's braking system. "Why does a race car have big brakes? So it can go fast," he explains, challenging the notion that financial conservatism inherently restricts growth. For anyone ready to challenge their comfort zone, this perspective reframes robust financial controls as tools for confident acceleration—enabling leaders to speed ahead while retaining the ability to adjust course when necessary. In this light, the finance function is no longer the department of "no," but the enabler of strategic acceleration.

Whether you're leading through uncertainty, building financial leadership capabilities, or seeking to strengthen decision-making processes, Casey's framework provides invaluable guidance for navigating today's complex business landscape with confidence and clarity. Real leaders. Real stories. Real action. This is more than theory—it's practical advice for those determined to make an impact.

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Pull up a chair. There’s always room for your seat at the table.

Terry Hill shares her journey from HR professional to C-suite executive, revealing how she learned the "fine art of approximation" after watching male colleagues confidently present rough estimates while she felt compelled to provide decimal-point precision.

• Early career path from retail to American Express to Nationwide Insurance
• Moving from HR into business leadership and the challenges of that transition
• The importance of building strong peer relationships across organizations
• Learning that authenticity is more valuable than trying to fit an executive stereotype
• Managing down versus managing up as a leadership philosophy
• Making tough business decisions with values-based principles
• Creating goals that prioritize people even during difficult business transitions
• The value of having a trusted chief of staff who can provide honest feedback
• Common executive challenges around communication and difficult conversations
• The permanent state of uncertainty in today's business environment
• Advice to take more vacation and build confidence earlier in your career

If you're interested in executive coaching, Terry now works with clients to increase self-awareness and improve leadership effectiveness through mostly referral-based relationships.

🎙️ Enjoyed this conversation?
Subscribe to Your Seat at the Table for more candid discussions on leadership, growth, and the real stories behind the decisions that shape great organizations.

💬 We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments — or let us know what topics you'd like us to explore next.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@YourSeatatTheTablePodcast
👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1826002539
https://open.spotify.com/show/0fDDb1gvrvsttm4nInRL8Y

👉 Connect with us:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmichaelmaddock/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tobin-a54225/
https://flourishadvisoryboards.com/
https://www.mike-maddock.com/

Pull up a chair. There’s always room for your seat at the table.

Troy Johnson, co-founder of Slalom Consulting, shares the power of gratitude and how simple moments of appreciation can transform our outlook in both work and life. From his beginnings in Iowa to building a global consulting powerhouse, Troy reveals how authentic connection with people has been the cornerstone of his leadership philosophy and Slalom's phenomenal growth.

• Troy's journey from small-town Iowa to co-founding what would become an 11,000-person global consulting firm
• The serendipitous failed sales call that turned into a 30-year career when Troy met Slalom's founder Brad Jackson
• How Troy transformed traditional recruiting by focusing on relationships first and hiring as a natural byproduct
• The creation of "Slalom buzz" through personal connections rather than traditional marketing
• Troy's evolution as a leader, including the pivotal moment when he overcame his biases against "fluffy" leadership training
• The power of personal mantras like "Everything always works out" and "What's the worst that could happen?"
• Why gratitude remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming our mindset and relationships
• The importance of getting out in the world and making in-person connections in an increasingly digital age

🎙️ Enjoyed this conversation?
Subscribe to Your Seat at the Table for more candid discussions on leadership, growth, and the real stories behind the decisions that shape great organizations.

💬 We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments — or let us know what topics you'd like us to explore next.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@YourSeatatTheTablePodcast
👉 Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1826002539
https://open.spotify.com/show/0fDDb1gvrvsttm4nInRL8Y

👉 Connect with us:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmichaelmaddock/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tobin-a54225/
https://flourishadvisoryboards.com/
https://www.mike-maddock.com/

Pull up a chair. There’s always room for your seat at the table.