Look Back: ESG, Passion Projects & Invisible People – A Leadership Debrief
“If sustainability is just an add-on, it becomes a cost. If it’s embedded, it becomes strategy.”
In this special look-back edition, Chris and Mike return to reflect on some of the most insightful, surprising, and personal moments from recent episodes of It’s Not All About the Numbers. From the current state of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting to what drives someone to quit a stable job for their spreadsheet passion, this episode weaves together big-picture leadership challenges with deeply personal stories of change.
They revisit memorable guests like David Ray, Giles Male, and Susan Walsh—discussing everything from greenwashing and the sustainability slow-down to spreadsheet overreliance and the reality of writing business books. There’s talk of invisible workers, the looming wave of finance retirements, and why you should take the leap when opportunity knocks. True to form, it’s not all about the numbers—it’s about people, impact, and a few good stories too.
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Author
“Chris Argent isn’t here to play by finance’s old rulebook - he’s here to rewrite it.” From challenging outdated corporate thinking to rallying finance leaders around a more connected, adaptable future, the founder of GENCFO is leading a quiet revolution in how CFOs and finance leadership work, think, and influence. Chris Argent, founder of GENCFO, is a finance leader redefining the role beyond business partnering. A self-described “reluctant accountant,” he’s built a global community for progressive accounting and finance leaders who value connection over competition and action over tradition. Chris believes the greatest risk to the profession is clinging to outdated norms, and that mindset and adaptability outpace any technological change. His work champions leaders who turn new ideas into real-world change, blending people-centred strategies with new ways of working and technology. In conversations, he challenges, provokes, and inspires - proving that the future of finance belongs to those ready to lead it together.