Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst invites guest Jack McCullough, Founder of the CFO Leadership Council, to unpack why planning for replacement is not optional, it’s essential for sustainable leadership.
Very few people are truly irreplaceable but many leaders act like they are.
That’s where risk begins to build.
Strong leaders plan before the gap exists.
They mentor early and consistently.
They transfer knowledge before it’s needed.
Not every replacement will match the original.
But competence still drives outcomes forward.
Character often matters more than brilliance.
A better team player strengthens the system.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on @thefpandaguy
#leadershipdevelopment #successionplanning #cfo #businessstrategy #talentdevelopment #organizationalgrowth #financeleaders #executiveleadership #teamculture
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst invites guest Jack McCullough, Founder of the CFO Leadership Council, to unpack why planning for replacement is not optional, it’s essential for sustainable leadership.
Very few people are truly irreplaceable but many leaders act like they are.
That’s where risk begins to build.
Strong leaders plan before the gap exists.
They mentor early and consistently.
They transfer knowledge before it’s needed.
Not every replacement will match the original.
But competence still drives outcomes forward.
Character often matters more than brilliance.
A better team player strengthens the system.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on @thefpandaguy
#leadershipdevelopment #successionplanning #cfo #businessstrategy #talentdevelopment #organizationalgrowth #financeleaders #executiveleadership #teamculture
![How Companies Are Losing Millions While Being Data Rich with Ron Nachum
In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Ron Nachum, Founder and CEO of Sapien, to discuss how AI agents are transforming financial operations and decision-making for companies. Ron shares how Sapien leverages AI to unify siloed financial data, automate workflows, and provide actionable insights, helping companies unlock millions of dollars in hidden value while enabling employees to focus on strategic work.
Ron Nachum is the founder and CEO of Sapien, an AI-native platform that deploys agents to understand and act on messy, siloed data across ERPs, data warehouses, CRMs, and spreadsheets. Ron studied at Harvard, where he focused on computer science, statistics, and applied AI research. He has spent years building AI solutions for finance and operational processes, creating systems that help companies make better, faster decisions and optimize their operations.
In this episode, you will discover:
AI can unlock value from messy, siloed financial data
Sapien’s platform automates reporting, forecasting, and operational decisions
Human oversight and governance remain crucial for AI configurability
Talent density and culture are key to scaling a young, fast-growing company
Early entrepreneurial mindset shapes long-term innovation
Ron Nachum demonstrates how AI can revolutionize financial operations by turning siloed, messy data into actionable insights. Sapien’s platform empowers companies to automate reporting, optimize decisions, and free employees to focus on high-value work. Ron emphasizes that combining AI with governance, configurability, and a talented team creates systems that not only deliver immediate value but also scale strategically.
Follow Ron:
Website: https://sapien.ai/news
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-nachum/
Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii
Follow Paul:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy
Follow QFlow.AI:
Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg
Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.
Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.
In Today’s Episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[03:15] – Data-Rich, Analysis-Poor Challenge
[06:21] – Harvard & the Leap to Sapien
[11:32] – AI Agents in Finance
[17:01] – Balancing AI Flexibility & Guardrails
[23:19] – Efficient & Secure Data Handling
[26:34] – Making Insights Accessible to All Teams
[30:45] – Configurability, Forecasting & Learning
[38:22] – Real-World Impact & Optimizations
[40:25] – Leading Young Teams with Experienced Advisor
[46:11] – Early Entrepreneurial Ventures
[49:13] – Closing Thoughts & Thanks How Companies Are Losing Millions While Being Data Rich with Ron Nachum](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s6nueBLHGdg/mqdefault.jpg)





![How Founders Mistake Models Only for Fundraising and What They Should Do With Ilyas Anis
Paul Barnhurst speaks with Ilyas Anis, CFO and Chartered Financial Modeler, about using financial models to build stakeholder confidence, drive operational decisions, and tell a clear business story. Ilyas shares insights on integrating AI, avoiding common modeling pitfalls, and the importance of scenario analysis and three-statement models.
Ilyas Anis is Finance Lead at Turning Point Brands Canada and Founder of IMnS Associates. He has 15+ years of experience in financial modeling, valuation, and governance across multiple industries. An FCA, CPA, AFM, and FMVA®, he is also a board advisor and AI enthusiast.
Expect to Learn
Models build trust, not just numbers
Connect finance with operations for better decisions
AI is a helpful junior analyst, but human judgment matters
Scenario analysis and storytelling are essential in models
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“Stakeholders don’t pay you for getting the right thing. They pay for the confidence.” – Ilyas Anis
“Financial models should open every Monday morning, they shouldn’t die after fundraising.” – Ilyas Anis
Ilyas Anis highlights how financial models go beyond numbers to build trust, enable strategic decisions, and communicate a clear business story. He emphasizes the role of AI as a supportive tool, the importance of connecting finance with operations, and practical strategies for building models that deliver actionable insights for stakeholders.
Follow Ilyas:
Website: https://imnsassociates.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyasanis/
Follow Financial Modelers Corner:
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984
Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast”
Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.
In today’s episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[02:35] – Early Career Horror Stories
[04:28] – Storytelling in Models
[09:52] – Fundraising vs Operational Models
[12:39] – Connecting Finance & Operations
[18:36] – Revenue Models as Foundation
[25:29] – AI in Modeling
[27:38] – Automating Dashboards
[34:30] – Rapid-Fire Modeling Best Practices
[42:03] – Final Advice How Founders Mistake Models Only for Fundraising and What They Should Do With Ilyas Anis](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vAJ7pkc6Spk/mqdefault.jpg)



![The Pricing Psychology for Leaders to Stop Underpricing and Understand Value with Etinosa
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Etinosa Agbonlahor, behavioral economist and Founder & CEO of Decision Alpha, to discuss why pricing is one of the biggest drivers of business success. They explore how customer psychology influences pricing, why many companies underprice their products, and how FP&A can play a more strategic role in pricing decisions.
Etinosa Agbonlahor is a behavioral economist and pricing strategist who helps businesses improve pricing through behavioral science and customer insights. As Founder & CEO of Decision Alpha, she has advised organizations across the US, Australia, Africa, and the UK on pricing, customer behavior, and growth. She is also the author of How to Talk to Your Parents About Money.
Expect to Learn:
Why most businesses underprice their products
How customer psychology influences pricing
The role of FP&A in pricing strategy
When outcome-based pricing works best
Why storytelling makes data more impactful
Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
The problem with underpricing is that no one is going to tell you youre underpriced. – Etinosa Agbonlahor
People dont walk around knowing what your product should cost, they infer your value from your price. – Etinosa Agbonlahor
Etinosa shares practical strategies for improving pricing through customer research, behavioral economics, and data-driven decision-making. This episode is ideal for FP&A professionals, finance leaders, and business owners looking to build stronger pricing strategies.
Follow Etinosa:
Website - https://playbook.decisionalpha.co/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/etinosasere/
Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.
In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[05:18] – What Great FP&A Looks Like
[06:12] – Why Pricing Drives Business Success
[10:03] – Why Businesses Underprice
[17:23] – Customer Segmentation
[24:02] – FP&A and Pricing
[29:28] – Behavioral Pricing Framework
[34:12] – AI & Outcome-Based Pricing
[46:05] – Data Storytelling
[57:02] – Final Advice The Pricing Psychology for Leaders to Stop Underpricing and Understand Value with Etinosa](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wpxCkXYQVPU/mqdefault.jpg)