Created by Fastco works and inc. studio; comissioned by
Meet the rising financial stars who are helping to bring
their businesses to the next level
DR. GEETA GUPTA-FISKER
CFO and Cofounder, Fisker
Manhattan Beach, CA
Dr. Gupta-Fisker cofounded Fisker with her husband, Henrik, in 2016, to build ultrasustainable electric vehicles with jaw-dropping curb appeal. The debut Fisker Ocean reached its first customers in May, and the company recently announced plans for Pear, a compact electric vehicle designed for city drivers.
For Duolingo, what began with a simple mission to teach languages for free has grown into one of the world’s most popular learning apps. Since Skaruppa came aboard as CFO in 2020, Duolingo’s monthly active users have grown by more than 80%—a success in any language.
CFO, Duolingo
Pittsburgh
MATTHEW SKARUPPA
In 2020, the longtime CFO of berry producer Naturipe Farms also took on the job of chief administrative officer. In addition to overseeing financial-related matters, Aguirre-Beck now heads Naturipe’s expansion growth opportunities, a key role amid rising global demand for the company’s products—and promising bumper crops for years to come.
CAO-CFO, Naturipe Farms
Estero, FL
ARIBEL AGUIRRE-BECK
Interview WITH
fred cooper
Window Nation earns consistent accolades from consumers as one of the country’s top window replacement companies. Since joining the company in 2020, Cooper has helped supercharge expansion efforts—Window Nation launched in three new markets in 2022—and more than double revenues.
CFO, Window Nation
Fulton, MD
FRED COOPER
In recent years, video-sharing platform Vimeo has made a heavy push into the enterprise market. Since Munson was hired as CFO in 2022, Vimeo Enterprise has seen booked revenues grow more than 60% and has inked deals with bluechip clients such as Warner Brothers and Johnson & Johnson.
CFO, Vimeo
New York City
GILLIAN MUNSON
PIM Brands’ roster of fruit snacks, candies, and other treats have satisfied American cravings—and filled kids’ lunch boxes (think Sun-Maid Raisins, Welch’s Juicefuls)—for 44 years. Consumer package goods industry veteran Fernández has helped the company carve out market share despite several years of supply chain challenges.
CFO, PIM Brands
Park Ridge, NJ
RAMIRO FERNÁNDEZ
A savvy approach to social media has helped online boutique Pink Lily become one of the fastest-growinge-retailers in the country. As director of finance since 2021, Hetzer has had a hand in guiding Pink Lily’s evolution from small side hustle to hundreds of millions in revenues.
Director of Finance, Pink Lily
Bowling Green, KY
TINA HETZER
Impossible Foods’ goal is to transform the global food system by making delicious and nutritious meat from plants. Under Honeyfield’s leadership the company has, well, done the impossible: keeping year-over-year revenues growing at a double-digit clip despite a sharp downturn in the plant-based meat industry.
VP of Finance and Strategy, Impossible Foods
Redwood City, CA
JOHANNA HONEYFIELD
Interview WITH
Stephen Weiland
Boom Supersonic aims to make sustainable supersonic travel widely accessible by 2030. Since Weiland joined in 2022, the company has taken off, inking deals with key suppliers for its flagship Overture jet and forged partnerships with industry leaders such as Northrop Grumman and American Airlines.
CFO, Boom Supersonic
Dove Valley, CO
STEPHEN WEILAND
Reback has drawn on decades of consumer products experience as CFO of Sweetgreen. The fast-casual eatery with a health-conscious bent has continued its grow trajectory under Reback’s leadership, with annual revenues up nearly 40% and dozens of new locations sprouting up across the U.S.
CFO, Sweetgreen
Los Angeles
MITCH REBACK
Furniture brand Four Hands has long been
a favorite of interior designers. More recently, consumers have embraced the company’s chic designs, leading to a surge in demand. Godden, a veteran of Amazon and Whole Foods, is leading the charge to more than double annual sales to $1 billion.
CFO, Four Hands
Austin
ROSANNA GODDEN
Mission-driven fintech platform OppFi aims to help everyday Americans gain access to credit and rebuild their financial health. Since being named as CFO in early 2022, banking industry veteran Johnson has helped guide OppFi to record annual revenues and an eighth straight year of operating in the black.
CFO, OppFi
Chicago
PAMELA JOHNSON
LivePerson’s AI-driven customer service platform has helped companies such as HSBC, Chipotle, and Virgin Media reimagine the customer experience. Collins isn’t a typical finance exec—his background as a data scientist has helped drive his quantitative-yet-human-centered approach to strategic decision-making.
Interim CEO and CFO, LivePerson
New York City
JOHN COLLINS
A key takeaway from my experience as an investment banker is the importance of experience diversity. Throughout my career, I’ve been exposed to new companies, products, industries, transaction types, teams, and cultures. Each new experience—and each transition—has been a learning opportunity. That is useful mileage when working in a dynamic environment.
Security is becoming a vital topic in today’s C-suite. In my role at Boom, I also support our IT and security teams. We made a significant investment in security last year, including the addition of a world-class CISO [chief information security officer]. We regularly have to share sensitive technical data with our partners, from suppliers to government agencies, and securing our data and intellectual property is of critical importance.
From hangar to office, every employee at Boom is truly a growth agent, with a critical role to play in supporting the advancement of our company and programs. One of my most important responsibilities is to enable teams to function efficiently and effectively. Standing up SAP—at supersonic speed—is a great example of the close partnership that is required between accounting, IT, and the rest of the company.
How do you view your role as a growth agent at Boom Supersonic?
How has your background as an investment banker influenced your role at Boom?
In your view, how is the role of CFO changing in today’s C-suites?
Our unique identity stems from our diverse team members and our unwavering commitment to core values, mission, and strategy. As we venture into new markets, it is crucial to instill similar qualities in our local teams. This will ensure that our brand, culture, and dedication to exceptional customer experiences remain consistent as we continue to grow.
In the past, the focus was primarily on cost controls, regulatory compliance, and financial stewardship. Today, the CFO is now seen as a strategic partner to the CEO, executive team, and board. As CFOs, we are expected to provide direction and guidance for the company’s future by identifying potential risks and opportunities, as well as exploring creative deal structures. This shift demands a forward-looking approach.
While the CFO role is often depicted as a “gatekeeper” or “protector of assets,” I believe it can be a catalyst for tremendous growth. As CFO, I leverage a deep understanding of our organization’s financial health to highlight the resources available for investing in research, development, and technology. My goal is to manage the company’s finances in a way that keeps us well-prepared and capable of seizing growth opportunities as they arise.
How do you perceive your role as a growth agent at Window Nation?
What are the challenges of leading a national company with a hyperlocal focus?
How do you perceive the evolving role of CFO in today’s C-suites?
The demand for sustainability and healthy eating has increased industrywide. We’ve always worked hard to make sure we respect and care for the planet and its future. We’ve definitely pivoted towards being more strategic about how we message the fact that we’re operating in a way that minimizes our environmental impact. By making that clear in our messaging, we’re showing that not only do we remain committed to our core values, but we also care about meeting customers where they are.
There are added complexities in the form of different cultures, languages, and ways of communicating and integrating. Ultimately, they all make my job more exciting. It’s great to have the opportunity to really dive in and find ways of operating, integrating, and communicating more smoothly. I think a huge part of my role as CAO/CFO is understanding and tackling those complexities so we can be successful.
In today’s environment, if you aren’t growing and strategizing as a company, you’re falling behind. One of the reasons I love being a growth agent at Naturipe is because the company is such a leader in technology and vision, and I get to help make sure we don’t fall behind. We’re constantly innovating and seeking new ways to grow our business, introduce new and exciting products, and keep customers satisfied.
How do you view your role as a growth agent at Naturipe Farms?
As a veteran of the agriculture industry, how do you see that market changing?
Does Naturipe’s international reach make your job more complex?
Interview WITH
ARIBEL AGUIRRE-BECK
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Meet the rising financial stars who are helping to bring
their businesses to the next level
Created by Fastco works and inc. studio; comissioned by
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