From S-1 Deep Dives to the CFO Seat: What IPOs Teach Every Finance Leader, with CJ Gustafson

Here's the version for Spotify and Apple Podcasts:An S-1 is written for investors. But for CFOs at any stage, it can be one of the best playbooks available for learning what good looks like.In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl sit down with CJ Gustafson, former tech CFO and the writer behind Mostly Metrics, to unpack what finance leaders can learn from companies going public, long before an IPO is on the table.CJ shares how writing about new SaaS metrics grew into a newsletter with 75,000 subscribers and led to his first CFO role, and why he reads IPO filings as an operator, looking for the metrics and narrative that define what good looks like at scale.Because according to CJ, the earlier stage CFOs he talks to have better stories, while the later stage CFOs are better storytellers.The conversation also gets into why this is the most capital intensive IPO era on record, why so many companies are staying private longer, why selling a company is far harder than raising money, and why a CFO at scale should be able to tell the whole company's story.They also discuss how AI is becoming the loudest new line item on the P&L, how CFOs should budget for token costs by department and role, and why every finance leader benefits from having a point of view.If you are a CFO, finance leader, or founder who wants to think beyond your current stage, this episode is a great place to start.Also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qvxz3K4hR38For the full episode summary and key takeaways, visit: https://www.growthmindedcfo.com/podcast/cj-gustafsonRead CJ's newsletter, Mostly Metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com/Listen to CJ's podcast, Run the Numbers: https://www.mostlymetrics.com/run-the-numbers-podcastSubscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.📮 Got a question or want to get in touch? Reach us at hello@growthmindedcfo.comInterested in joining us on the show? Or know someone we should interview? Apply here: https://growthmindedcfo.com/contact