The 10x Finance Podcast - by Aleph

Most finance teams treat alignment as the finish line. Taylor Otstot, VP of Finance at Dashlane, argues it's the wrong goal entirely. In this episode, Taylor unpacks why "getting everyone to nod" is one of the most expensive mistakes finance teams make, how buried dissent surfaces right after the budget locks, and a simple technique he learned from a former CEO to force honest signal out of any room: the "no sevens allowed" confidence poll.Albert and Taylor dig into when to let a six stand, when to push for an eight, how finance leaders train stakeholders to speak up earlier, and why AI's biggest shift isn't the cost to produce analysis, it's the cost to consume it. If you run planning cycles, own a budget, or sit between execs and operators, this one is for you.Chapters: 00:00 — Cold open: "Alignment is overrated"00:58 — Show intro01:07 — Welcome + guest intro: Taylor Otstot, VP Finance at Dashlane01:29 — The Hot Take: alignment vs. surfacing dissent03:17 — The "no sevens allowed" confidence poll05:40 — Do it blind or in the open? Training your stakeholders07:00 — When to accept a six, and when to push for an eight09:20 — Operationalizing: tracking confidence scores over time10:20 — Numbers over words: the HBR study on "never" and "always"11:20 — Rapid fire: the most common finance team mistake12:00 — Rapid fire: advice for finance leaders scaling their team13:10 — Rapid fire: the next five years in finance (AI and the cost to consume)14:10 — The power of subtraction14:30 — Close

Every venture-backed startup burns cash. The question is whether that burn is an investment or a slow walk toward bankruptcy.In this episode of The 10x Finance Podcast, Albert Gozzi sits down with Diya Sagar, CFO at AWA Studios, to break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in startup finance: the difference between good cash burn and bad cash burn.Diya shares the framework she uses to evaluate spend, how to tell the two apart on a cash flow statement (spoiler: you can't, fully), where most teams go wrong on marketing budget, and how to coach non-finance budget owners on thinking in costs versus benefits without turning every conversation into a spreadsheet.If you're a finance leader, founder, or budget owner at a high-growth company, this one is 15 minutes well spent.Chapters00:00 — Cold open: Not all cash burn is created equal00:49 — Welcome to The 10x Finance Podcast01:07 — Introducing Diya Sagar, CFO at AWA Studios01:36 — The Hot Take: Good burn vs. bad burn02:54 — How to tell the good from the bad04:33 — Why cash flow statements don't give you the whole picture05:53 — The marketing spend trap: brand vs. growth07:39 — Brand spend vs. growth spend at different stages08:37 — Risk, reward, and long-term contracts10:48 — Coaching non-finance budget owners12:42 — Rapid fire: the one mistake finance teams repeat13:25 — Rapid fire: advice for scaling finance teams13:54 — Rapid fire: the trend that will shape the next five years14:21 — Wrap

In this episode of ⁠⁠⁠the 10x Finance Podcast⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Albert Gozzi⁠⁠⁠ and Chris Mossa discuss the evolving role of AI in finance, particularly its impact on financial modeling and the importance of human oversight. They explore the challenges of integrating AI into financial workflows, the significance of effective prompting, and the balance between learning and scaling in finance. The conversation also touches on the future of finance roles as storytelling becomes increasingly vital in the industry.Learn more about Aleph at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.getaleph.com/⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction to Graphite and AI in Finance01:11 The Impact of AI on Financial Services04:21 Challenges of AI in Financial Modeling06:10 The Importance of Prompts in AI09:12 Balancing Learning and Scaling in Finance11:56 Rapid Fire Questions and Key Takeaways

In this episode of ⁠⁠the 10x Finance Podcast⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Albert Gozzi⁠⁠ and Jonnie Walker discuss the evolving landscape of finance, particularly in relation to SaaS pricing models and the challenges of forecasting revenue in a usage-based world. They explore the complexities of financial projections, the role of finance teams as buyers, and the importance of change management in adopting new tools. The conversation highlights the exciting yet challenging times in finance, driven by technological advancements and shifting market dynamics.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Modern Finance Challenges02:52 The Evolution of SaaS Pricing Models05:45 Forecasting Revenue in a Usage-Based World09:04 The Complexity of Financial Modeling11:53 The Role of Finance Teams as Buyers14:42 Rapid Fire Insights on Finance Trends

In this episode of ⁠the 10x Finance Podcast⁠, ⁠Albert Gozzi⁠ and Karsten Loose discuss the evolving landscape of finance and accounting, emphasizing the need for finance teams to shift their focus from traditional FP&A practices to more forward-looking strategies. They explore the role of AI in automating tasks, the importance of actionable insights from reporting, and the necessity of accountability in financial planning. Karsten shares practical advice for finance leaders on how to effectively scale their teams and leverage technology to enhance decision-making.Learn more about Aleph at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.getaleph.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Modern Finance Challenges01:03 Rethinking FP&A: A Bold Perspective06:09 The Role of AI in Finance11:21 Transforming Reporting into Actionable Insights16:46 Building Accountability in Financial Planning17:36 Rapid Fire Insights on Finance Leadership

In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast, Albert Gozzi speaks with Axel Amar about the complexities of finance in B2B versus B2C environments. They explore the challenges of forecasting, the importance of understanding business drivers, and the evolving role of finance leaders in organizations. Axel shares insights from his experiences at Turo and Airbyte, emphasizing the need for finance teams to communicate effectively and adapt to changing technologies, particularly AI.Learn more about Aleph at ⁠⁠https://www.getaleph.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Finance Challenges01:28 B2B vs B2C Finance Dynamics06:36 Learnings from B2C to B2B10:36 The Complexity of Forecasting in B2B12:02 Rapid Fire Insights and Advice

In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast, host Albert Gozzi interviews Alysaa Co to discuss the evolving landscape of board meetings and the importance of focusing on strategic priorities rather than granular reporting. They explore effective reporting strategies, the balance of power between CEOs and board members, and the significance of time management in meetings. Elisa shares insights on preferred materials for board meetings and the future of finance with AI integration.Learn more about Aleph at ⁠⁠https://www.getaleph.com/⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests01:06 Understanding Bain Capital Ventures02:00 Rethinking Board Meeting Dynamics05:46 The Importance of Context in Reporting08:43 Balancing CEO and Board Input11:35 Effective Time Management in Board Meetings13:20 Preferred Formats for Board Materials15:54 Rapid Fire Insights on Finance Trends

In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast, host Albert Gozzi interviews Brandon Sullivan, CFO at 2x Marketing, about transforming finance operations through weekly reporting cadences. Brandon shares the importance of real-time monitoring of business metrics and the impact it has on board engagement. He emphasizes the need for continuous course correction in business strategies to ensure alignment with goals and improve overall dynamics within the organization.Learn more about Aleph at ⁠https://www.getaleph.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to 2X Marketing and Brandon Sullivan02:34 The Importance of Weekly Financial Reporting07:14 Metrics That Matter: Identifying Key Performance Indicators09:39 Tools and Technology in Financial Reporting11:54 Cultural Resistance and Stakeholder Buy-In13:23 Common Mistakes in Financial Reporting15:25 Rapid Fire Questions with Brandon Sullivan18:45 Podcast Outro

In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast, host Albert Gozzi and guest Parker Gilbert discuss the intricacies of closing financial books faster. They explore the evolution of finance teams, the importance of understanding maturity cycles, and the balance between speed and accuracy in financial reporting. The conversation also highlights common mistakes finance teams make, the significance of collaboration between finance and accounting, and the future impact of AI on finance processes.Learn more about Aleph at ⁠https://www.getaleph.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Closing Books Faster02:31 Understanding the Maturity Cycle in Finance04:19 Evolution of Closing Processes06:51 Identifying Workflow Dependencies08:58 Balancing Speed and Accuracy11:01 Improving Collaboration Between Finance Teams13:08 Common Mistakes in Finance Teams15:05 Hiring for Intangibles in Finance16:22 The Future of AI in Finance

In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast, host Albert Gozzi and guest Ali Hussain discuss the evolution of collections in finance, the role of AI in revenue automation, and the importance of data hygiene in speeding up payment processes. They explore common bottlenecks in invoicing and share insights on how finance teams can improve their operations to get paid faster. The conversation also touches on trends shaping the future of finance, emphasizing the need for flexibility and innovation in financial practices.Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Revenue Automation02:12 The Evolution of Collections Process04:59 Identifying Bottlenecks in Invoicing09:32 Strategies for Getting Paid Faster 12:19 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights

In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast, host Albert Gozzi and guest Greg Capitolo discuss the common traits of successful startups, the importance of financial understanding among leadership teams, and the role of finance in driving growth. They emphasize the need for collaboration across teams, the significance of building a finance function early in a startup's lifecycle, and the impact of AI on the finance industry. The conversation concludes with rapid-fire questions that provide insights into common mistakes and advice for finance leaders.Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction to Startup Finance01:46 Common Traits of Successful Startups03:20 The Role of Leadership in Financial Understanding06:25 Collaboration Across Teams for Financial Success10:14 Building a Finance Function Early13:52 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights