CFO 4.0 Podcast

277. First 100 Days as a CFO: The Career Strategies Every New CFO Needs to Know with John Lees

2026-07-07

In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Monro sits down with John Lees career strategist, coach, and author to unpack the real work behind a successful CFO transition.

John shares why your first 100 days actually begin long before day one, how to balance appearing confident with genuine curiosity, and the art of "checking in" with peers, stakeholders, and even the person on the security desk. He also digs into the people dynamics that make or break a new role: spotting enablers, navigating blockers, understanding personality at the top, and building trust across the C-suite fast.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The three biggest mistakes new CFOs make in their first 90 daysHow to practise "informed curiosity" to build credibility from day oneWhy due diligence on culture and people matters more than technical skillsHow to navigate difficult early conversations when the numbers don't add upThe check-in framework for 30, 60, and 90 days and why it matters

Links mentioned in this episode

John's Linkedin Learn more about John Lee's Associates John's Book "Get Ahead in Your New Job"Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.Subscribe to our Podcast!

No. of episodes

280

Latest episode

2026-07-14

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Welcome to CFO 4.0, where we explore the dynamic landscape of Financial Leadership in the era of Technology 4.0. I'm your host, Hannah Munro, Managing Director of itas, a pioneering Financial Transformation consultancy.

 

In this podcast series, we unravel the intricate connection between cutting-edge technologies and the financial domain. It's more than just adopting tools; it's about cultivating the skills necessary to navigate and spearhead the transformative journey within Finance. 

 

CFO 4.0 embodies the archetype of the Financial Leader in the future — a fusion of strategic visionaries and tech-savvy innovators. As the CFO role swiftly evolves from a mere cost controller to a strategic influencer, each transition opens up novel possibilities. Tune in as we share valuable insights and guidance from inspirational CFOs and finance leaders every episode, empowering you to revolutionise your processes, people, and data.

 

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