Finance Forward: Navigating AI & Strategy with a CFO Mindset [Replay]

The program opens with a keynote by Glenn Hopper (CFO, AI strategist, and author) offering a practical framework for evaluating AI in finance. This will be followed by an expert panel of CFOs from Dr.First, FinQore, and Zone & Co, exploring topics like frictionless financial operations, investor-grade reporting, and real-world boardroom dynamics. The event concludes with an interactive Q&A, offering direct insights from seasoned finance executives.

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Keynote: How to Evaluate AI and Automation Like a CFO

Speaker: Glenn Hopper, CFO, AI Strategist, Author of AI Mastery for Finance Professionals

AI is everywhere in finance, but where does it actually drive value, and where does it fall short? In this keynote, Glenn Hopper brings a CFO’s lens to AI and automation, helping finance leaders cut through the hype and make smarter, risk-aware decisions about adoption.

Glenn will break down the difference between traditional automation and generative AI, explain why generative systems sometimes “get it wrong,” and share a clear, CFO-style framework to evaluate whether your teams, tools, and data are truly AI-ready — especially when budgets are tight and the stakes are high.

What you’ll learn:

• The tension between innovation and control — and how to strike the right balance
• Why automation decisions must begin with a “cost-of-wrong” analysis (not just ROI)
• When to use rules-based automation vs. generative AI — and why it matters
• How to communicate generative AI’s limitations to stakeholders, auditors, and regulators
• An 8-question framework to assess AI readiness across people, processes, and systems

Expert Panel: Inside the CFO Mindset – Building Strategic Finance Teams in the Age of AI

Panelists: David Samuels, CFO of Dr.First | Vipul Shah, Co-Founder & CFO of FinQore | Chad Wonderling, CFO of Zone & Co

You’re fielding investor requests, preparing board decks, and closing the books, but do you really know what your CFO is walking into behind those closed doors?

In this candid panel conversation, three seasoned CFOs pull back the curtain on high-stakes investor and board conversations and share what top finance teams do differently to support them. If you’ve ever wondered what drives those last-minute data asks or why certain metrics keep getting escalated, this session is for you.

This panel will cover topics like:

• What changes when investors step in: How daily finance operations evolve post-raise or post-acquisition, and what gets prioritized.
• Behind the boardroom doors: What CFOs actually have to explain, defend, or pivot in board meetings and how great controllers and FP&A teams made the difference.
• Automation that matters: The tools and workflows investors truly care about vs the ones that just check boxes.
• Next-wave scrutiny: Where investors and boards are turning their attention — think scenario planning, CAC-to-LTV ratios, working capital efficiency, margin clarity, and audit readiness.
• How finance talent stands out: What CFOs look for in rising stars, especially in PE/VC-backed or hyper-growth environments.