20 Nov 2025
42m

What CEOs Want from Today’s CFO, with Executive Recruiter, Mark Johnson

Podcast cover

The Diary of a CFO

The evolving role of the CFO is explored, contrasting the traditional compliance-focused role with today's strategic, forward-looking expectations. Mark Johnson, founder of EGM Partners, shares insights on what CEOs seek in a modern CFO, emphasizing the importance of being a trusted advisor and a voice of reason. Johnson highlights the significance of EQ (emotional intelligence), SQ (social intelligence), and AQ (adversity quotient) alongside IQ, noting that while IQ gets you in the door, the other qualities define high-performing CFOs. He also touches on how AI advancements make it harder to assess candidates based on resumes alone, stressing the need for deep, personal understanding and comprehensive reference checks to evaluate candidates effectively.

Outlines

Part 1: The Evolving CFO Landscape

Part 2: Selection and Strategic Potential

Part 3: Career Progression and Networking

Part 4: Leadership and Personal Insights

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