In our latest episode of The Accounting Podcast, we dove deep into what's on CFOs' minds in 2024. From AI adoption to the ongoing talent crisis, we covered a lot of ground. But one question really stood out to me: What makes a great CFO leader in today's world?

Being a CFO isn't just about crunching numbers anymore. It's about connecting with your team on a human level. That's not always easy for number-crunchers. Here are three key takeaways from our discussion:

Authenticity Trumps Perks

Remember when adding a foosball table to the office was considered revolutionary? Well, as our guest Adam Zaki from CFO pointed out, that's not cutting it anymore. He calls it the "foosball table fallacy." Today's workforce, especially Gen Z, wants authenticity. They can smell BS a mile away. And a foosball table without a culture to match is BS.

Learn from Great Mentors

I've been lucky to have two standout mentors in my career. One taught me the value of trust during a business merger. The other showed me how to see marketing through the lens of the numbers I was familiar with. The lesson? Great leaders are great teachers.

Be a Real Person, Not Just a Title

In the past, you could have separate work and personal lives. You put on a suit and tie, walked into the office, and became a different person (for better or for worse). Today, that's more challenging without the office environment. Work and life have blended. It's not what people want anymore.

Creating a workspace where people can be themselves is the key to today's leadership in finance. It's not about fancy perks or maintaining a stern CFO persona. It's about being genuine, fostering trust, and creating an environment where your team can thrive.

Want to hear more? Check out the full episode, where we dive into these ideas and much more. And hey, if you're a leader struggling with this stuff, remember: we're all figuring it out together. The fact that you're thinking about it puts you ahead of the game.