Marshall Goldsmith

DECEMBER 26, 2011

Recently, in a conversation with the CFO of a blue chip company, I observed an example of the impact of this increased compensation. The CFO replied, "You are getting paid as much a partner in one of the top professional services firms. If I had wanted to put in this many hours, I would have worked in a professional services firm."

Health Care 132

Health Care CFO Competitive Advantage Outsourcing 132

Marshall Goldsmith

JUNE 16, 2013

Who would you rather have as a CFO? All other things being equal, your people skills (or lack thereof) become more pronounced the higher up you go. In fact, even when all other things are not equal, your people skills often make the difference in how high you go.

Chemicals 133

Chemicals Welch CFO CEO 133

Marshall Goldsmith

AUGUST 15, 2011

For example, you don't want the CEO and CFO coming to you and saying, "You never justify why we're spending so much money, so we're cutting your budget." Align yourself with the rest of your executive team. Driving revenue hinges on alignment of marketing with sales and other functions.

Advice 107

Advice Execution Marketing Prahalad 107

Marshall Goldsmith

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

The CFO is a high performing leader who has passed all the assessment criteria to be a high potential, ready-now candidate for the CEO job. However, this company would never take the risk of putting someone without sales experience in the top sales job. He is told he is the top candidate.

Planning 118

Planning Efficiency Succession Tips 118

Marshall Goldsmith

DECEMBER 6, 2010

A CEO asked me to coach his potential successor, the CFO. It didn't take long before I just felt that the CEO just didn't like the CFO. I brought it to his attention: "I just don't think you like the CFO." However, the CEO now concluded that the CFO lacked the "adequate marketing skills." The CFO was understandably upset.

CEO 118

CEO CFO Skills Open-book 118

Marshall Goldsmith

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Facebook’s first HR hire, she has led global people programs, been an HR Business Partner, and CFO. Divya Silbermann – Human resources leader at technology startups, including Facebook and Eventbrite. Everett Alexander – Chief investment officer who formerly worked at Invesco Ltd.

Executive Coaching 70

Executive Coaching CEO Magazine Banking 70

Marshall Goldsmith

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

You don’t get to be the CFO without knowing how to count, how to read a balance sheet, and how to handle money prudently. Who would you rather have as a CFO? The reason I devote so much energy to identifying interpersonal challenges in successful people is because the higher you go, the more your problems are behavioral.

Skills 114

Skills CFO Cost-Benefit Analysis Welch 114