Turn Board Stories Into Shared CFO–CRO Operating Rhythm 🧭

Build Trust Faster With Transparent Finance and Sales Dialogues

Author

Vanessa Carter
October 02, 2025

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Hey there, CFOs! 💼

In this issue, we spotlight how a close CFO–CRO partnership drives disciplined growth at Planet DDS.

The two leaders meet at least monthly to review FP&A priorities, align on shared definitions for metrics, and use analytics, such as whitespace analysis, to find expansion opportunities. Most disagreements revolve around timing, but they resolve these issues with precise data and reports, including decisions like when to add account management headcount.

Since 2019, the company has grown from about 60 to 370 employees, increased revenue tenfold, and surpassed $100 million in ARR in 2025.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

  • 🛡️ What CFOs Need From CISOs For Cyber Insurance

  • 🤝 Very Frank Conversations: Power CFO and CRO Alignment

  • 💳 Fintech 2.0: Dev Technosys Redefines Financial Services

📊 Breaking the 'Bro IPO' Cycle: CFOs as Diversity Champions


CFOs can play a central role in addressing male-dominated IPOs by embedding diversity into capital strategy. This article explores how finance leaders link board composition and disclosures to valuation.

Key Takeaways:

  • 📈 Investor Signaling: Incorporating board diversity and pay equity metrics into S-1 filings, roadshows, and index criteria strengthens credibility with long-term investors.

  • 🤝 Underwriting Leverage: CFOs are pressuring banks to form diverse deal teams and commit to governance, making inclusion a requirement for mandates.

  • 📏 Metrics That Matter: Standardized KPIs for board composition, leadership mix, promotion velocity, supplier diversity, disclosures, and internal targets set expectations.

  • 🧩 Value and Risk: Diverse leadership reduces key-person risk, expands talent pipelines, and may lower the cost of capital at IPO.

🤝 Very Frank Conversations: Power CFO and CRO Alignment

At Planet DDS, CFO Stephen Fong and CRO Mike Huffaker meet monthly to test growth initiatives against shared analytics. With revenue now past the $100 million ARR mark, their collaboration helps sequence investments and hiring with discipline.

Key Takeaways:

  • 📅 Shared Cadence: Monthly reviews ensure alignment on revenue goals, headcount, and growth initiatives by utilizing common data and definitions.

  • 🧭 Whitespace Wins: Analysis of whitespace opportunities highlights cross-sell potential and guides product focus.

  • ⏱️ Timing Tradeoffs: Disagreements often hinge on timing, as specific initiatives take longer to generate revenue.

  • 📈 Scaled Results: Since 2019, revenue has increased tenfold and headcount has grown from about 60 to 370, with ARR surpassing $100 million.

💳 Fintech 2.0: Dev Technosys Redefines Financial Services

Dev Technosys outlines how next-generation app development is reshaping banking, payments, and lending. Expect personalized experiences, stronger security, and frictionless customer journeys.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🤖 AI-Driven Experiences: Apps personalize insights and automate tasks, such as onboarding and risk scoring, thereby reducing manual work and enhancing decision-making.

  • 🔐 Security by Design: Encryption, biometrics, and real-time monitoring protect transactions while building trust in regulated environments.

  • ⚙️ Scalable Architecture: Cloud-native, API-first platforms connect core banking, wallets, and analytics, enabling fast rollouts and peak demand management.

  • 📱 Friction-Lite UX: Simplified flows, instant payments, and multilingual support promote adoption and long-term retention among retail and enterprise users.

Why It Matters

Regular, candid checkpoints and standard metrics reduce friction between prudence and growth. Data-driven debate turns strategy into well-sequenced hiring and investment decisions, accelerating execution.

Wishing you continued success,

Vanessa Carter
Editor-in-Chief
CFO Executive Insights

P.S. Interested in sponsoring a future issue? Just reply to this email and I’ll send packages!

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