EPISODE · Apr 29, 2026 · 41 MIN
The hard truth about business turnarounds | CFO @Fullproof.ai
from Mala's Podcast · host Mala Ramakrishnan
Shannon Power started in a bunny suit doing semiconductor manufacturing at Motorola and Intel. An industrial engineer turned finance executive, today she's a fractional CFO and COO who gets called in at inflection points — when companies are changing business models, scaling after a big raise, or preparing for an exit.In this fireside chat with Mala Ramakrishnan, Shannon breaks down why CFO turnover has doubled in the last year, why finance and operations roles are merging at companies like Salesforce, and how she actually evaluates AI tools — including her honest take on why most companies are getting AI investment wrong. Spoiler: cutting headcount to fund AI infrastructure isn't growth. It's something else entirely.If you're a founder selling into finance teams, an operator thinking about how AI is reshaping the C-suite, or anyone curious about what real business turnarounds look like, this one's worth your time._________________________________________________Timestamps00:00 Meet Shannon — from semiconductor engineer to fractional CFO01:07 Getting tapped for strategy and finance projects at Intel02:08 The MBA pivot and finding her niche in operational finance03:11 Why finance is the story of the business, not just the books04:56 Why the engineer-to-CFO jump isn't as drastic as it sounds06:29 What it takes to be a CFO today07:32 Why CFO turnover has doubled in the past year09:24 Measuring CFO performance beyond the numbers10:48 The CFO as risk owner in the age of AI12:27 How AI is reshaping the CFO role globally14:09 Balancing guardrails without killing innovation15:24 The AI tools Shannon is actually using17:05 Advice for founders pitching enterprise CFOs18:48 The real reason companies are cutting headcount for AI20:42 Is the CFO role industry-specific?23:28 Why CFO and COO roles are merging25:38 Where governance, data, and AI fit in the org chart27:31 When a company actually needs a CFO — full-time vs fractional_________________________________________________🔗 Connect with Shannon Power → https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonlynnpower/🔗 Connect with Mala Ramakrishnan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/malaramakrishnan🎧 Subscribe to the podcastYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnL3D6aI60R-cCvypFIkh4ASpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NIDE4cT5fuVjC3HaGbCDK?si=eoSTNmhqQNKHQl9d1Jx0UQApple Podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/talking-to-the-leaders-of-ai-the-ceo-series-with-mala/22ad2bae-502b-4eb1-aa74-53bc79754db7Visit our Website: https://malaramakrishnan.com | https://founderscreative.org#CFO #Finance #Founders #AI #BusinessTurnaround
What this episode covers
Shannon Power started in a bunny suit doing semiconductor manufacturing at Motorola and Intel. An industrial engineer turned finance executive, today she's a fractional CFO and COO who gets called in at inflection points — when companies are changing business models, scaling after a big raise, or preparing for an exit.In this fireside chat with Mala Ramakrishnan, Shannon breaks down why CFO turnover has doubled in the last year, why finance and operations roles are merging at companies like Salesforce, and how she actually evaluates AI tools — including her honest take on why most companies are getting AI investment wrong. Spoiler: cutting headcount to fund AI infrastructure isn't growth. It's something else entirely.If you're a founder selling into finance teams, an operator thinking about how AI is reshaping the C-suite, or anyone curious about what real business turnarounds look like, this one's worth your time._________________________________________________Timestamps00:00 Meet Shannon — from semiconductor engineer to fractional CFO01:07 Getting tapped for strategy and finance projects at Intel02:08 The MBA pivot and finding her niche in operational finance03:11 Why finance is the story of the business, not just the books04:56 Why the engineer-to-CFO jump isn't as drastic as it sounds06:29 What it takes to be a CFO today07:32 Why CFO turnover has doubled in the past year09:24 Measuring CFO performance beyond the numbers10:48 The CFO as risk owner in the age of AI12:27 How AI is reshaping the CFO role globally14:09 Balancing guardrails without killing innovation15:24 The AI tools Shannon is actually using17:05 Advice for founders pitching enterprise CFOs18:48 The real reason companies are cutting headcount for AI20:42 Is the CFO role industry-specific?23:28 Why CFO and COO roles are merging25:38 Where governance, data, and AI fit in the org chart27:31 When a company actually needs a CFO — full-time vs fractional_________________________________________________🔗 Connect with Shannon Power → https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonlynnpower/🔗 Connect with Mala Ramakrishnan → https://www.linkedin.com/in/malaramakrishnan🎧 Subscribe to the podcastYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnL3D6aI60R-cCvypFIkh4ASpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NIDE4cT5fuVjC3HaGbCDK?si=eoSTNmhqQNKHQl9d1Jx0UQApple Podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/talking-to-the-leaders-of-ai-the-ceo-series-with-mala/22ad2bae-502b-4eb1-aa74-53bc79754db7Visit our Website: https://malaramakrishnan.com | https://founderscreative.org#CFO #Finance #Founders #AI #BusinessTurnaround
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The hard truth about business turnarounds | CFO @Fullproof.ai
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