Leading Finance Teams That Apply AI Where It Matters Most with Erik Nakamura

In this episode of The AI Opportunity, Erik Nakamura, CFO of Journal Technologies joins us to unpack how AI can genuinely improve the way finance works, without overwhelming the people who keep it running.Drawing on years of building high-performing teams, Erik explains why the real opportunity isn’t in chasing every new tool, but in choosing where AI belongs – applying it to the repeatable, low-value workflows that drain time, distract attention, and slow strategic progress. When leaders manage AI intentionally, he argues, teams gain clarity, capacity, and calm.Erik also shares how to redesign finance processes so they become reliable systems rather than recurring emergencies, why visibility and alignment matter more than automation alone, and how CFOs can guide their teams through AI adoption with transparency and purpose.For leaders in finance, operations, and strategy, this episode offers a practical blueprint for using AI to build smarter, more scalable teams – not by adding more work, but by managing the work that don’t create value in the first place.Chapters:00:26 – Opening & Introductions01:49 – The State of AI Today and How It’ll Evolve for Finance08:48 – Turning Compliance From Events Into Reliable Processes14:06 – Staff Fear, Adoption, and Human-AI Collaboration17:47 – The Importance of Velocity: Move Fast, But Don’t Rush20:25 – Aligning AI with Company Values & Strategy26:21 – Why Some CFOs Resist Change — and How to Bring Them In33:20 – Quick Fire Round and ClosingFind us on our socials:🔗 Follow Kenny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyalegbe/🤖 Follow Brim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinbrim/📩 For business or guest inquiries: [email protected]