CFOs Must Build a Solid Foundation First

I have read a myriad of articles and blogs regarding the CFO role that..

  1. Claim the role is going the way of the dinosaur.
  2. Claim a CFO who doesn’t have a digital transformation plan being implemented yesterday is about to have the earth fall from under their feet.
  3. Claim if you don’t have to communication skills of Winston Churchill or Martin Luther King your chance of getting a CFO role are slim to none.

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Proactive vs. Reactive Approach to Risk Management

So we all love insurance. Well, actually that’s just me. Most people tend to tense up when they hear the word “insurance”. Organizations typically buy insurance based on catastrophic events that can cripple their business. I’ll never forget when I was twenty-two years old and had just become an insurance broker. I sat down with the owner of a sign manufacturing company. After fifteen minutes of talking about risk and their insurance needs, the owner turned to me and said, Nick, “I really have no idea what you’re talking about, just make sure that sh—is covered when it hits the fan.”

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Leadership Needs The “H"elp Word

Enjoy this series of shorts on Leadership from Jim.

How often in the last month have you used the “H” word? For most leaders, there’s a direct link between the number of H’s and the effectiveness of their leadership. That is, the more H’s, the better the results. Check out your leadership grade:

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M&A 101: The difference between mergers and acquisitions

Andy Shawber, Senior Innovation Counsel at Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle, concentrates his practice on corporate and securities law, representing companies in all stages of their lifecycles, through formation, venture capital finance, IPOs, public company reporting, and mergers and acquisitions.

Laura Harper’s practice at Laura Harper, PLLC focuses on representing companies in all phases of the business life cycle.

We caught up with Shawber and Harper to learn more about the basics of business combinations for the first in our M&A 101 series.

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M&A 101: What investment bankers do in mergers and acquisitions

Giovanna Burns, a VP with Meridian Capital, plays an essential role in transaction execution and supports the Seattle-based firm’s business development initiatives. She has provided advisory services to middle-market companies across various industries on transactions including buy-side and sell-side engagements, IPOs, debt issuances and growth equity raises.

We caught up with Burns to learn more about the basics of investment banking for the second installment of PitchBook’s M&A 101 series. (Check out the first part here) The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.

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