Stepping In Mid-Crisis: Trust, Pressure, and the CFO Role, with Niels Boon
Wed Feb 04 2026
What should a CFO prioritize when stepping into a business already under pressure?
In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Niels Boon, CFO of Cint, a Stockholm-Nasdaq listed tech company and the world’s largest survey exchange.
Niels joined Cint as the sixth CFO in four years, at a time of leadership change, debt pressure, public market scrutiny, and an unfinished post-merger integration. What followed was not just a financial turnaround - it was a story about rebuilding trust, stabilizing operations, and leading teams through sustained pressure.
In this conversation, Niels shares how the CFO role changes when a business is fragile, why radical candour builds credibility, and how fixing unglamorous structural issues can unlock real performance.Chapters:
01:08 Meet Niels Boon: A Journey to CFO02:07 Niels' Career Path and Early Interests04:14 First Steps in the Tech World05:19 Becoming a CFO: The Learning Curve11:46 Navigating Global Expansion and Compliance15:58 Joining Cint: A Time of Change and Pressure21:14 Refinancing Challenges and Financial Restructuring22:04 Cultural Clashes and Team Motivation23:13 Legal Entity Rationalization and ERP System Integration25:05 The Importance of Communication and Credibility27:17 The Shift to Profitable, Sustainable Growth29:05 Onboarding Best Practices for CFOs35:20 Positive Outcomes and Lessons LearnedIn this episode, Niels covers:
How to build trust with investors, lenders, and boards when the numbers aren’t yet on your sideWhy the CFO often becomes the stabilizing force during leadership changeHow to prioritize in complex post-merger environmentsThe importance of listening before acting when stepping into a new roleLeading finance teams through pressure without burning them outWhy modern CFOs don’t always come from traditional finance backgroundsAs Niels puts it: “What is important is what you see on the surface, and then you need to find out why that problem is so persistent.”This is a practical, honest look at CFO leadership when the stakes are high and the margin for error is thin.
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ONNt63tbED0?si=6AMhdCirK-4gbeSR
If you’re a CFO, finance leader, or aspiring executive navigating change, turnaround situations, or high-pressure environments - this episode is for you.
Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role.
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations.
This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business.
Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io.
Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io
Want to recommend a guest or apply to be on the show yourself? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast
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What should a CFO prioritize when stepping into a business already under pressure? In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Niels Boon, CFO of Cint, a Stockholm-Nasdaq listed tech company and the world’s largest survey exchange. Niels joined Cint as the sixth CFO in four years, at a time of leadership change, debt pressure, public market scrutiny, and an unfinished post-merger integration. What followed was not just a financial turnaround - it was a story about rebuilding trust, stabilizing operations, and leading teams through sustained pressure. In this conversation, Niels shares how the CFO role changes when a business is fragile, why radical candour builds credibility, and how fixing unglamorous structural issues can unlock real performance.Chapters: 01:08 Meet Niels Boon: A Journey to CFO02:07 Niels' Career Path and Early Interests04:14 First Steps in the Tech World05:19 Becoming a CFO: The Learning Curve11:46 Navigating Global Expansion and Compliance15:58 Joining Cint: A Time of Change and Pressure21:14 Refinancing Challenges and Financial Restructuring22:04 Cultural Clashes and Team Motivation23:13 Legal Entity Rationalization and ERP System Integration25:05 The Importance of Communication and Credibility27:17 The Shift to Profitable, Sustainable Growth29:05 Onboarding Best Practices for CFOs35:20 Positive Outcomes and Lessons LearnedIn this episode, Niels covers: How to build trust with investors, lenders, and boards when the numbers aren’t yet on your sideWhy the CFO often becomes the stabilizing force during leadership changeHow to prioritize in complex post-merger environmentsThe importance of listening before acting when stepping into a new roleLeading finance teams through pressure without burning them outWhy modern CFOs don’t always come from traditional finance backgroundsAs Niels puts it: “What is important is what you see on the surface, and then you need to find out why that problem is so persistent.”This is a practical, honest look at CFO leadership when the stakes are high and the margin for error is thin. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ONNt63tbED0?si=6AMhdCirK-4gbeSR If you’re a CFO, finance leader, or aspiring executive navigating change, turnaround situations, or high-pressure environments - this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations with growth-minded finance leaders shaping the future of the CFO role. The Growth-Minded CFO podcast challenges the status quo and explores how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder, and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (Fintech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) talk with inspiring finance and business leaders about what it takes to support high-performing organizations. This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships, and efficient growth for your business. Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at upflow.io. Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io Want to recommend a guest or apply to be on the show yourself? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast