The Adaptable Executive | Thriving Through Change with Anaïs Lempereur , CFO of Hallmark Media

Anaïs Lempereur proves that adapting to change isn't just a survival skill — it's the ultimate competitive advantage. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the CFO of Hallmark Media, a finance powerhouse who's mastered the art of transition across some of the world's most dynamic companies — from Caesars Entertainment to Spotify, Pluto TV, Sweetgreen, and now Hallmark. From landing her first finance job at a career fair meant for cocktail waitresses to navigating multiple IPOs, leading companies through public-to-private transitions, and building finance infrastructure from scratch with nothing but a laptop, Anaïs unpacks her journey of radical adaptability — how she learned that creativity drives the numbers (not the other way around), why working in a casino taught her everything she needed to know about business, and how marrying a creative completely transformed her understanding of what finance leaders actually do. Anaïs reveals why change is never the enemy, how she developed her own playbook for entering startups at different stages, and why the best leaders understand that this job is just one chapter in a lifelong relationship with their teams. She shares raw truths about the difference between salary and equity in startup compensation packages, why founder-led organizations create the most mission-driven cultures, and how becoming a mother was the biggest pivot of her career — one that made her realize how little she understood about what working parents go through every single day. Plus, why titles can be deceiving, how moving from accounting to financial planning is one of the hardest pivots in finance, why keeping your house white-glove ready means you're never caught off guard when opportunity knocks, and how happiness became her only definition of success after years of chasing titles and numbers. Whether you're navigating a career transition, trying to understand equity compensation, leading teams through uncertainty, or simply wondering how to thrive in high-growth environments, this episode offers battle-tested wisdom from someone who's done it all — and made every pivot look effortless. From casino microcosms and underwater welders to Spotify IPOs and Hallmark's Christmas spirit year-round, this is a masterclass in building success through adaptability, authenticity, and never being afraid to walk into the room where you don't belong. Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron Guest: Anaïs Lempereur | CFO, Hallmark Media | Finance Executive & Startup Growth Expert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anaislempereur/ Produced by: Grace Media Digital The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Mastering the art of transition. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:36 From Belgium to Vegas: An International Journey to Finance 00:09:59 Caesars Entertainment: The Casino as Business School 00:10:55 What Does a CFO Actually Do? 00:13:42 From Startups to IPOs: Navigating Company Transitions 00:17:57 Change is Not Bad: Embracing the Pivot 00:21:43 Building Your Playbook: Strategies for Career Growth 00:25:24 Finance Meets Creativity: Serving the Vision 00:29:09 Salary vs Equity: Understanding Startup Compensation 00:37:05 The Path to CFO: Breaking Down the Journey 00:42:02 Hallmark Media: Mission-Driven Culture at Scale 00:51:39 The Hardest Pivot: Becoming a Mother 00:54:09 Redefining Success: From Titles to Happiness