From Corporate to Classroom: Steve Rosvold's CFO Journey
"If a CFO ignores technology now, they’re not going to be a CFO in five or ten years."
In this episode, Chris and Mike are joined by Steve Rosvold, founder of CFO.University, for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolving nature of finance leadership. They begin by catching up on life, surf attempts, and family news before diving into Steve's "four pillars" framework for developing effective CFOs. The traditional pillars—accounting, finance, and treasury—are complemented by what Steve refers to as "the other pillar," which encompasses leadership, human resources, technology, and professional development. This fourth element, they argue, is increasingly critical for modern CFOs who must look beyond the numbers and toward holistic business leadership.
The conversation explores the strategic role finance leaders can play in breaking down silos and driving transformation across organizations. Steve emphasizes the need for CFOs to embrace technology and people leadership as much as technical skills. With growing automation of traditional finance tasks, the team agrees that CFOs who don’t evolve risk being left behind. They also reflect on how context and company structure influence who leads these cross-functional areas—highlighting that awareness, collaboration, and adaptability are key, no matter the department or title.
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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 From challenging outdated corporate thinking to rallying finance leaders around a more connected, adaptable future, the founder of GENCFO is leading a quiet revolution in how CFOs and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 Chris believes the greatest risk to the profession is clinging to outdated norms, and that mindset and adaptability outpace any technological change.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.