As a CFO, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in your industry. Unfortunately, your busy schedule might make it difficult to read all the books and articles it would take to accomplish this. That’s where podcasts come in, but how do you find the right one? We’ve made it easy by providing a list of the best CFO podcasts you should start with — and why.
Are Podcasts a Better Alternative to CFO Blogs?
Podcasts offer a few advantages over traditional blogging when it comes to staying current on changes in your industry. Podcasts are usually shorter and easier to consume than blog posts or articles. Some people also find them more engaging.
Podcasts are also much easier to consume than other forms of content. You can listen to podcasts while you’re commuting, working out, or even doing the dishes. To add to this, most podcasts focus on interviewing experts in the field. Consequently, they provide a variety of fresh perspectives in a shorter amount of time.
What Equipment Do You Need to Listen to Podcasts for CFOs?
If you have the tools to listen to music or take hands-free phone calls, you already have everything you need to listen to podcasts. Most people tune in on their phones, but you could use a laptop or tablet. If you choose iTunes as your podcast platform, you can also listen to them on your iPod.
Outside of iTunes, you might need to download specific apps to listen in. When podcasts exist only on a website, you can add shortcuts on your phone to the web page. Some podcasters will even send out weekly emails to keep you in the loop.
What Are the Top 5 CFO Podcasts?
Listen to a few podcasts to get a feel for what styles and frequencies you prefer. We suggest starting with these five. While we did provide the website links, you can access most of these podcasts on your favorite platforms, such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
1. CFO Bookshelf with Mark Gandy & Bruce Reed
Website Link: https://cfobookshelf.com/category/podcast/
If reading is your prefered way to learn, then this is the perfect podcast for you. In each episode, Mark Gandy and Bruce Reed interview financial leaders and business authors. These professionals provide insights that you can apply to your work.
The Show Notes for each episode include the books discussed and the author. These are some of the many topics covered:
- Financial fraud and how to detect it
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Business leadership
- Financial modeling
- Amazon KPIs
2. CFO Yeah! by CFO Connect
Website Link: https://www.cfoconnect.eu/en/resources/podcast/
CFO Yeah! is a podcast produced by CFO Connect, a global network of finance professionals. In each episode, the host interviews a different CFO about their career journeys, what it’s like to be a CFO, and advice for other finance professionals.
This podcast is great for CFOs who are looking to advance their careers. The interviews offer a variety of perspectives and advice on topics like networking, career growth, and work-life balance.
3. Women in Finance Podcast
Website Link: https://www.womeninfinancepodcast.com/
Did you know that almost 60% of accountants are women? In spite of this, women account for only 13.2% of CFO positions. Women looking for advice on how to advance in their finance careers and shatter the glass ceiling can turn to the Women in Finance Podcast.
This podcast interviews women working in senior positions in finance. The Show Notes for each episode include LinkedIn contacts for the women interviewed and links to all the resources mentioned, so you can do follow-up research.
4. HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review
Website Link: https://hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-ideacast
Creating finance podcasts takes time, effort, creativity and serious networking skills. Not surprisingly, many podcasts eventually go dormant. So, if you’re looking for longevity, consider Hardvard’s IdeaCast.
Both hosts are senior editors of the Harvard Business Review. These are some of the topics covered by their podcasts that CFOs can benefit from:
- Whether companies should continue to factor large political donations into their budgets
- Why some companies thrived during the pandemic when so many others shut their doors forever
- How companies recover from previous instances of being on the wrong side of history
- The skills and personality traits that help business professionals advance into leadership roles
5. American National Public Radio (NPR)
Website Link: https://www.npr.org/podcasts-and-shows/
NPR offers a variety of podcasts on a wide range of topics. While not all of their podcasts are relevant to CFOs, they do offer several that you might find interesting:
- The NPR Business Story of the Day podcast offers a daily dose of business news. The stories are short and easy to consume, making them perfect for busy professionals.
- The NPR Planet Money podcast is a great resource for understanding the economy. Each episode aims to simplify various aspects of economics that CFOs can then use to inform their financial planning efforts.
- The NPR Your Money podcast helps CFOs connect with the personal finance concerns of everyday Americans. Smart CFOs use this information to better understand the financial realities of customers and employees.
How Do You Find Top CFO Podcasts To Expand Your List?
If you run out of new podcasts to listen to or your favorite shows go dormant, expanding your listening list is easier than you might think. One way is to simply ask your colleagues or peers which ones they listen to. Another great way to find relevant podcasts is to search for specific topics on popular podcast directories like iTunes or Google Podcasts.
If you spend a lot of time on social media, try searching on Twitter, LinkedIn, or even TikTok. You’d be surprised by the many financial professionals who are also on these platforms and who are willing to share their knowledge.
The Main Takeaway
The podcasts you choose to follow is ultimately up to you. However, we recommend starting with these five best CFO podcasts and then gradually growing your listening list from there. With such a wide variety of content available, you’re sure to find a few that fit your interests and schedule.
