Inside the CFO Office | Ep 23 | Working with the C Suite A CFO Playbook | Venkatraman GS
Fri Feb 06 2026
Working with the C-Suite: A CFO PlaybookInside the CFO Office | Episode 23
What does it really take to work effectively with the C-suite, boards, and investors—and grow as a finance leader across companies of every shape and size?
In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Venkatraman G S (Venky), CFO at MathCo, who shares a deeply practical playbook on working with senior leadership and navigating complexity at the highest levels.
With finance leadership experience across large global enterprises, Indian multinationals, listed companies, PE-backed firms, and high-growth organizations — including Wipro, Accenture, Mindtree, Subex, Maveric Systems, and now MathCo — Venky brings a rare, well-rounded perspective on how finance leadership expectations evolve as companies scale.
Venky walks us through his journey from controllership and business finance to the CFO role, and breaks down what truly matters when partnering with CEOs, boards, and investors—beyond just reporting numbers.
Here’s what we unpacked in this episode:
👉 How working across services, product, and vertical-focused firms shaped Venky’s leadership approach
👉 What changes—and what stays constant—when moving across different company stages
👉 How CFOs should communicate with CEOs, boards, and investors
👉 Why listening carefully before responding is critical at the C-suite level
👉 How crisp, focused communication builds credibility and trust
👉 Why finance leaders must bring context, not just data
👉 Where AI is most likely to disrupt finance: financial reporting and FP&A
👉 How AI can move finance from static reports to real-time insight and decision-making
👉 Career advice for finance professionals navigating a technology-driven futureOne insight from
Venky that really stood out:
🗣️ “When you go to the C-suite with a problem, you’re expected to go in with potential solutions—not just the issue.”
If you work closely with senior leadership—or aspire to—this episode offers practical, real-world guidance on judgment, communication, and operating effectively at the C-suite level.
Chapters:
00:00 – Teaser
03:28 – Introduction
04:42 – Finance leadership journey across diverse firms
17:22 – Working with the C-Suite: A CFO Playbook
27:13 – AI’s impact on CFOTech
34:11 – Career advice for finance professionals
39:00 – Closing reflections#podcast #insidethecfooffice
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Working with the C-Suite: A CFO PlaybookInside the CFO Office | Episode 23 What does it really take to work effectively with the C-suite, boards, and investors—and grow as a finance leader across companies of every shape and size? In this episode of Inside the CFO Office, I speak with Venkatraman G S (Venky), CFO at MathCo, who shares a deeply practical playbook on working with senior leadership and navigating complexity at the highest levels. With finance leadership experience across large global enterprises, Indian multinationals, listed companies, PE-backed firms, and high-growth organizations — including Wipro, Accenture, Mindtree, Subex, Maveric Systems, and now MathCo — Venky brings a rare, well-rounded perspective on how finance leadership expectations evolve as companies scale. Venky walks us through his journey from controllership and business finance to the CFO role, and breaks down what truly matters when partnering with CEOs, boards, and investors—beyond just reporting numbers. Here’s what we unpacked in this episode: 👉 How working across services, product, and vertical-focused firms shaped Venky’s leadership approach 👉 What changes—and what stays constant—when moving across different company stages 👉 How CFOs should communicate with CEOs, boards, and investors 👉 Why listening carefully before responding is critical at the C-suite level 👉 How crisp, focused communication builds credibility and trust 👉 Why finance leaders must bring context, not just data 👉 Where AI is most likely to disrupt finance: financial reporting and FP&A 👉 How AI can move finance from static reports to real-time insight and decision-making 👉 Career advice for finance professionals navigating a technology-driven futureOne insight from Venky that really stood out: 🗣️ “When you go to the C-suite with a problem, you’re expected to go in with potential solutions—not just the issue.” If you work closely with senior leadership—or aspire to—this episode offers practical, real-world guidance on judgment, communication, and operating effectively at the C-suite level. Chapters: 00:00 – Teaser 03:28 – Introduction 04:42 – Finance leadership journey across diverse firms 17:22 – Working with the C-Suite: A CFO Playbook 27:13 – AI’s impact on CFOTech 34:11 – Career advice for finance professionals 39:00 – Closing reflections#podcast #insidethecfooffice