FInEx AmeriEuro - Panel 1 - AI and the CFO’s Role in Driving Organizational Success
We are thrilled to share this dynamic panel discussion from the FInEx AmeriEuro Summit: “AI and the CFO’s Role in Driving Organizational Success.” This session brings together an incredible ensemble of thought leaders:
Panelists:
- Jon Down, Founder of GenAI Corp and Professor at the University of Portland
- Anna Tiomina, CFO and Founder of Blend to Balance
- Nathan Bell, Co-founder & Managing Partner at VIE Consulting
- Glenn Hopper, Head of AI R&D at Eventus Advisory Group
Host:
Steve Rosvold, Chief Learning Officer at CFO.University
Explore Uncharted Territories:
This discussion unveils how AI can revolutionize the finance sector, transforming the traditional role of the CFO. The concept is simple yet profound—AI as a key driver of strategic decision-making, forecasting accuracy, and organizational efficiency.
Key lessons for CFO success:
- Strategic Integration of AI: AI is not just about technology; it’s about infusing AI into the strategic fabric of the organization to unlock untapped potential.
- Building an AI-Positive Culture: CFOs must spearhead the AI journey, fostering a culture of learning and experimentation across teams, enabling better business outcomes.
- Embrace Change with Curiosity: With AI evolving rapidly, CFOs are encouraged to remain curious, continually learning and adapting to stay ahead of the curve.
This session underscores that AI is more than a tool—it’s a transformative force that positions CFOs to lead with vision and precision. Don’t miss out on this enlightening conversation that could redefine your approach to finance leadership!
Watch or listen to this panel for deep insights from our panelists.
Use the Chapter Slide in the lower corner of the video to skip to each chapter.
1. Introduction to the Panel
2. AI’s Potential Impact 02:19
3. Technical and Innovation Drivers 04:08
4. Economic, Political, and Societal Drivers 05:03
5. Challenges in Implementing AI in Finance 07:06
6. Practical Strategies by Panelists 12:56
7. Misconceptions About AI 20:36
8. Skills for AI Adoption 24:36
9. Avoiding Common Mistakespter 29:39
10. Recommended AI Applications 34:35
11. Practical Use Cases 38:36
12. Closing Thoughts and Reflections 41:21
Here are some quotes from the presentation that help summarize the key concepts discussed:
Jon Down: “My hope is that by the end of the next few minutes here that that none of us will be underestimating the impact of AI today and tomorrow.”
Anna Tiomina: On why finance struggles to adopt AI “Finance is a critical function. The cost of mistakes is very high, and there are very high standards of security, compliance, and we also need to audit what we do.”
Nathan Bell: “The real ROI on AI is in time compression, risk reduction, and improved decision making.”
Glenn Hopper: “You have to start with an AI usage policy… you want to understand what tools your teams are using, how they’re using them, give them guidelines, give them guardrails about when they can and can’t use the tools.”
Anna Tiomina: “One thing that I think every CFO, every finance leader should do is learn how AI works and understand the basics of the technology.”
Jon Down: “Most people, which includes leaders and CFOs, are significantly underestimating the impact that the capability of AI today as well as what’s coming in the future.”
Nathan Bell: “One of the most common mistakes I see organizations make when investing in AI is treating it like a tech project, something they hand off to IT or an innovation team rather than a strategic business transformation.”
Glenn Hopper: “AI is changing the way we work. It is impactful.”
Jon Down: “Don’t see AI just as an automation play or a simple tool, but as a strategic partner and an intangible distributed resource on which to build the lasting competitive advantage.”
Anna Tiomina: “The only way we have is to learn how it works, start small, and understand the risks, and try to embrace it with curiosity.”
These quotes capture the essence of the panel’s discussion on the transformative impact of AI in finance, the challenges faced in implementation, and the strategic mindset required to leverage AI effectively.
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