The 6 a.m. CFO is a series of profiles about CFOs, by CFOs. If you've ever wondered how your peers strategize and structure their days for optimal efficiency and, more importantly, purpose, then follow CFO.com's bi-monthly series to learn more about how finance chiefs are evolving in the role.
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The 6 a.m. CFO series
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How Aaron Hartwig Starts His Day
Aaron Hartwig shares how his dad continues to inspire his professional life, his favorite calendar on his desk, and how he best uses Twitter.
How Aaron Levine starts his day
“Move fast and with urgency.”
How Adam Ante Starts His Day
Adam Ante explains the need for prioritization during the workday, the family tradition he shares with his sons, and the importance of having an authentic leadership style.
How Amanda Whalen starts her day
“I love music and try to go to concerts with my kids whenever we can. We are major Swifties and fans of many other artists as well.”
How Amy Butte starts her day
“If I don’t exercise first thing in the morning, I tend not to do it. Spinning, walking or pilates are my favorite early morning endeavors.”
How Anthony Rose starts his day
Rose shares the importance of small failures, the best time to go through email, and the reason behind his favorite number.
How Antonio Garcia starts his day
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the years is that if you want people to follow you, you must lead by example — that’s the key to being a great leader, in my opinion.”
How MDH Partners’ Arun Sing starts his day
“It’s not how your actions represent you, it’s how they reflect on your leaders and stakeholders, and how you make their roles easier.”
How Austin Loeffler starts his day
“On a few different occasions I have cooked pancakes in our break room as a surprise for our employees. It’s fun to watch their mood change and face light up as they come into the office in the morning and smell the breakfast.”
How Avi Cohen Starts His Day
Avi Cohen shares what he learned from his first losing trade, how one of his favorite inspirational quotes comes from his young son, and the necessity of reading opposing viewpoints in literature.
How Benjamin Joseph Starts His Day
Benjamin Joseph shares his advice on his passion for the true peaks in life and the mountains he seeks to climb, his favorite music to work to, and his connection to infinity.
How Betsy Ward starts her day
“I don’t have a favorite quote ... What I need in the moment is what [becomes] my favorite in the moment — ‘fit for purpose.’”
How Blake Grayson starts his day
“I am a sucker for the yogurt covered pretzels our workplace services team recently stocked in the Seattle office pantry. I really need to stop that.”
How Bob Mermelstein starts his day
“I’m a bit of a storyteller. Since nonprofit finance can be a difficult concept for some to understand, I typically try to use lay English to describe what I’m trying to describe. Though some do understand the language, often lay speak is a better course.”
How Bona Allen Starts His Day
Bona Allen explains the power of “dad jokes” in the office, and why drilling a large hole is boring, but fastening two pieces of metal together is riveting.
How Candice Holcomb starts her day
“Encourage growth. My team’s success fills my cup. When I see light bulbs go off and new ideas connect, I know I have done a good job as a leader.”
How Carl Derving Starts His Day
Carl Derving shares his grueling morning workout routine, one KPI he is very proud of, and why (and how) he brings his true personality to his CFO role.
How Chris Ortega starts his day
“Keep pushing, never settle, and the best is yet to come.”
How Connor Wray Starts His Day
Connor Wray shares tips on how he keeps an even keel under pressure despite being fuelled by caffeine, how he’s always up for a foosball challenge, and the mantras that help decorate his desk with awards.
How Ocrolus’ Conor O’Donoghue starts his day
“Leadership and culture are not magically created; they flow down from the top.”
How Craig Gomulka starts his day
“I have observed that both optimists and pessimists seem to leave this world in the same way — but optimists lead better lives.”
How David Ring Starts His Day
David Ring shares why he avoids communicating through email, how a variety of different team situations have shaped his life, and how he uses the healing power of music in times of stress.
How Deanna Strable Starts Her Day
Deanna Strable shares how she develops and empowers her team, the value of good intent, and her love of college sports.
How Dr. Tim Naddy starts his day
Having fun is serious business. “A man may do an immense deal of good if he does not care who gets the credit for it.”
How Eric Mason starts his day
“I often say to my office, if you have a question to ask ... ask it. It doesn’t have to be just a procedural question. I want you to understand why you’re doing something, not just how to do it. I should be able to explain every decision I make.”
How Glenn Hopper Starts His Day
Glenn Hopper shares his love of lifelong learning — made apparent by his many careers and hobbies, how he manages a global workforce, and some of the books and people who inspire him most.
How Jack McCullough Starts His Day
Jack McCullough shares how he thrives in chaos, manages 1,000 emails a day, and how his favorite number adds meaning to his parenting.
How Jamie Cohen Starts Her Day
Jamie Cohen shares her rigorous early morning activities, how hiring smart people makes her a better leader, and her love of word puzzles. And 4:15 a.m. running with her dog Zoey is the perfect way to start each day.
How Jason Balk Starts His Day
Jason Balk shares his casual morning routine, why he skips breakfast, and his love for 90s grunge rock.
How Jeff Klimkowski starts his day
“When I have a morning that doesn’t go as planned, it usually means my wife will get the kids ready by herself and take my kids to school and/or I skip my morning workout. Life is busy, so I am pretty flexible if things don’t work out the way I’ve planned, but I try to stay disciplined and not skip meditating or reading in the morning.”
How Jessica McClain starts her day
“I am a huge Washington Commanders fan. My husband and I have been season ticket holders for a few years, and we travel to an away game every year to see the team play. I bleed burgundy and gold!”
How Jim Caci starts his day
“Two of my favorite numbers are 11 and 24 and they each have significant meaning in my life.
Number 11 was my little league number as a kid. My oldest daughter was born on the 29th and two years later, my son on the 18th. 29 minus 18 is 11. Then, my youngest daughter was born in the 11th month of the year.
Number 24 is the day I was born, and the day I got married. Growing up in a home full of Yankees fans, I loved Lou Gehrig (number 4) and Derek Jeter (number 2), another instance of 2 and 4 or 24.”
How John Schwab starts his day
“With much of my day filled with Teams meetings, I make it a point to step away from the office or home around lunchtime for a change of scenery. Whether it’s a drive to grab another iced tea or Diet Coke or a quick walk, this break recharges me for the rest of the day.”
How Jonté Harrell Starts His Day
Jonté Harrell shares the mental model he uses for time management, how his West Point education shaped his leadership principles, and which podcasts he follows for lifelong learning.
How Josh Ayers starts his day
“At age 42, I decided to learn to play ice hockey and give it a shot. It was pretty much an unmitigated disaster, and I still rank as one of the worst skaters and players anytime I am on the ice, but have enjoyed the process and at least can stay on my feet now when skating with the kids.”
How Joy Mbanugo starts her day
Most inspirational people: “My mom went back to college when I was around 12 and I remember looking at her handwritten outlines of class notes. I still remember the yellow legal paper and her outline structure. And my dad is a pastor of a church and very involved in the community. From him (and really both parents) I incorporate a passion for people in my leadership style. My parents are the best.”
How Kate Peachway starts her day
“I work out every morning at 6 a.m. and then take my three kids to school. Then I drink coffee. I’ve tried to take on the two-minute cold shower challenge, which makes you feel awesome but is still terrifying.”
How Ken Stillwell starts his day
“Almost every day, before anyone else in the house gets up, I am in learning mode... It’s a sacred time that I set aside to sharpen my knowledge of whatever is relevant at that time for me.”
How Kevin Bueso Starts His Day
Kevin Bueso shares how he looks back to his childhood to keep things in perspective when work gets stressful, about one of his paintings that made its way back to him after 21 years, and the sport that obsesses him.
How Kevin Rhodes starts his day
“After coffee and the news, I head back upstairs to jump in the shower, where I proceed to plan out my day in my mind, set priorities and think through my most critical actions. I prefer to work out later in the day, so once I’m done planning, I’m ready to hit the ground running around 7:30 a.m.”
How Kristi Calderwood Starts Her Day
Kristi Calderwood shares how she starts her day in her nomadic office with a gratitude meditation before logging in for some people-focused meetings.
How Landon Cortenbach Starts His Day
Landon Cortenbach shares how he begins his day with meditation, the Robert Frost quote that inspires him, and one thing you wouldn’t know about him from his business bio.
How Lionel Marquis Starts His Day
Lionel Marquis shares how he likes to keep future thoughts in mind, how consistency makes working in a team easier, and how he beats stress by adding in a pre-lunch activity.
How Marc Mathenz Starts His Day
Marc Mathenz shares how he gets involved in anything in the company that he feels adds value — even if it’s outside of a traditional finance role — and how he reduces stress by not being too emotional about work-related issues.
How Mark Chamberlain starts his day
“[Our dog] is named Zion — after the National Park in southern Utah. He lounges in my home office all day.”
How Mark McCaffrey starts his day
“I was born in the South Bronx of NYC, and I am a loyal Yankees fan. My parents’ first date was to a Yankees/Red Sox game in Yankee Stadium.”
How Mark Smolenski Starts His Day
Mark Smolenski shares about how he takes early morning jaunts with his favorite walking companions, how his competitive nature led him to train with the the Navy SEALs, and how he tackles his workload by addresing the 5 things that most affect the value of his company.
How MaryAnn Waltz starts her day
“I do not enjoy the feeling of being shot out of a cannon. Rather, I prefer to have a quiet purposeful morning that sets the tone for the rest of the day. This requires enough time for mental, physical, and spiritual preparation.”
How Melissa Hurrington Starts Her Day
Melissa Hurrington shares how she works best when the airwaves are filled, outlines all the right questions to ask for effective meetings, and how social media transparency elevates her leadership.
How Michael Pellegrino starts his day
“The choices we make dictate the life we lead; to thine own self be true.”
How Mitch Provosty Starts His Day
Mitch Provosty shares how he contributes his talents outside of the finance department, how tic-tac-toe relates to business, and how scuba diving has become a family affair.
How Nick Araco Jr. starts his day
“Starting early lets me stay ahead of the curve and make the most out of each day. That said, coffee catch ups and team calls are always welcome!”
How Nixon Kitimoi starts his day
Kitimoi discusses the value of perpetual change, his favorite quote from Winston Churchill, and his harmonious favorite number.
How Olivier Leonetti starts his day
Leonetti shares the importance of being a lifelong learner, the power of a good team, and the key to effective meetings.
How Paolo Poma starts his day
“Do what you say and say what you do,” and “Better to blush once than to turn pale a thousand times.”
I’m not sure if these quotes translate directly into English, however, they resonate with me because straightforwardness, commitment, and transparency are pillars of my managerial style.
How Rebeca Sanchez Sarmiento starts her day
Many CFOs start their day with some caffeine, but for Sanchez Sarmiento, “Morning coffee is essential. But for me, that coffee is less about the caffeine boost and more about the ritual. I love grinding the beans, brewing the pot, and affording myself a few minutes of peace before diving into work. There’s a calming effect in the routine that anchors my day and mind in the right place.”
How Roy Pasco Starts His Day
Pasco shares what has changed his perspective on time management, the action figures on his desk that keep him cheerful, and his favorite number (hint: it’s from a basketball jersey).
How Sam Monti Starts His Day
Sam Monti shares how he keeps the oxygen in his business meetings, how “the sweet science” plays a role in his life, and the powerful Leonardo da Vinci concept that inspires him.
How Sandeep Aujla starts his day
“I am inspired by my parents and the sacrifices they made to bring me and my sister to the U.S. so we could have the abundance of opportunities that exist. And by my kids who work exceptionally hard and are growing into amazing human beings who are both caring and driven.”
How Shana Veale Starts Her Day
Shana Veale shares the many hats she wears as CFO, who keeps her company during her long hours in the office, and what time she starts her day. (Hint: It’s what many consider the middle of the night).
How Simon Edwards starts his day
“Although my golf game is still a work in progress, I’m always looking for ways to improve.”
How Simona King starts her day
“[My parents] have always supported my choices and believed in me. They taught me the value of hard work, how to adapt to a new culture and that education is the key to building a better future. I truly feel like I’m living the American dream because of them.”
How Simone Nardi starts his day
“Begin with the end in mind.”
When you start something important, you may not know how you will get there, but it is important to aspire to what you want to get out of it. But do not be so rigid on it.
How Stacey Ryan-Cornelius starts her day
“I work in a dynamic, creative environment where I try to establish a controlled chaos, but the beauty and challenge of this environment is always being on your toes. There are some “normal” days but more often than, not I use the mental positioning of pause is power.”
How Steven Nutt Starts His Day
Steven Nutt shares his lifelong fandom of baseball, his methods for passing his financial literacy to the next generation, and how he likes to do things “with purpose.”
How Tom Donnelly starts his day
Donnelly shares his thoughts on meeting structures, leadership self-awareness, and the importance of developing talent.
How Tony Tiscornia starts his day
The Coupa CFO shares his love of music, refrigerator moving, and “Joe Cool.”
How Veronica von Heise-Rotenburg Starts Her Day
Dr. Veronika von Heise-Rotenburg shares her morning pet routine, where she gets the herbs for her daily homemade teas, and how a narrow focus relieves her work-related stress.
How Converge’s Ying Miao starts her day
“I learned early in my career that if someone who isn’t a numbers person couldn’t understand what my model was trying to say, then I haven’t done my job.”
How Zane Rowe starts his day
“When at home I’m typically joined by Echo, my Bernese Mountain dog, who reminds me when it’s time for a walk or time to be fed!”
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