Securing The Digital Age: The Power Of Cloud-Based Identity Management (Podcast) – Financial Services – Finance and Banking

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Michelle DeBella, Chief Financial
Officer at JumpCloud, joins Megan Weis to explore the CFO trifecta:
finance, strategy, and leadership. Michelle also dives into the
importance of balancing immediate financial responsibilities with
long-term strategic planning, cloud-based identity management, the
role of AI in business, and the significance of clear communication
and mentorship.

Michelle is a dynamic, results-oriented finance executive with
over 15 years in public accounting, followed by 10+ years in
VP/C-Suite roles in companies such as Knock, Lyft, Uber, Hewlett
Packard, Ernst & Young, and Coram Healthcare. Michelle is also
an Official Member and Finance Thought Leader for the Forbes
Finance Council.

Transcript

In this episode, we discuss:

• The key elements of successful finance transformation




• Critical qualities a CFO has to possess to manage diverse
  teams




• How to leverage finance data and AI for business growth




• Storytelling and mentorship in finance

Key Takeaways:

The Power Trio for Scaling Success

When it comes to successful transformation, you need to balance
three key elements: people, processes, and tools. Focusing too much
on one without considering the others won’t lead to the desired
outcomes. People are the most critical factors because humans
naturally resist change, so it’s essential to get them on
board. Simplification, standardization, and automation across your
business are vital for scaling efficiently without overextending
resources. Companies that master this see impressive growth without
overspending.

“Getting people’s heads and hearts into change and
transformation and getting them to trust that there is a better
outcome on the other side is really key.” DeBella said. -
09:40 – 13:51.

Leading with Clarity, Grit, and Tough Decisions

As a CFO leading diverse global teams, three qualities stand
out: soft skills like clear communication, transparency, and
employee engagement. Clear goals, well-documented processes, and
accountability give global teams the autonomy they need, especially
when working across time zones. Lastly, resilience and grit.
Sometimes, tough decisions are required, like restructuring, where
you must prioritize the company’s success, even if it means
putting yourself on the line.

“Soft skills are at the top of my list. And I think
communication, transparency, clarity of goals and objectives, and
employee engagement are critical to creating that virtual community
that enables a high-performing team.” DeBella claims. -
16:00 – 18:34.

Cloud-Based Identity Management: A New Era for Finance

When it comes to data governance and AI, focus on defining the
most critical data points and ensuring alignment across your teams
with a clear source of truth. You don’t need heavy governance
over everything, just prioritize the essentials. For AI, take a
holistic approach that involves people, processes, and tools.
Leverage built-in AI capabilities from platforms like Salesforce or
Oracle, explore where AI can drive efficiency, and pilot potential
use cases with existing tools to unlock opportunities. Keep your
strategy cohesive by involving all teams and thinking big about
future possibilities.

“I think we’re just trying to approach it from a
very cohesive company level that thinks about the people, the
processes, and the tools so that we have a coherent and cohesive
approach to it versus every team going off and trying to figure out
their own solutions.” According to DeBella. – 23:31 -
27:38.

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