{"podcast":{"title":"The Diary of a CFO","slug":"the-diary-of-a-cfo-7023798","podcast_index_feed_id":7023798,"rss_url":"https://media.rss.com/the-diary-of-a-cfo/feed.xml","website_url":"https://thediaryofacfo.com/","image_url":"https://media.rss.com/the-diary-of-a-cfo/20250904_120906_0bf247ed95afa72db8972f4888894be0.png","author":"Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA","episode_count":65,"summary":"If you're currently a CFO or on the path to become one, this podcast is for you. The Diary of a CFO takes you behind the scenes of modern finance leadership through honest conversations about how real finance leaders build their careers, make tough decisions, and carry the weight of the CFO role. Hosted by award-winning CFO Wassia Kamon, each episode covers what it actually takes to lead finance teams, work with CEOs and boards, navigate capital decisions, and grow without burning out. To suggest topics, email ask@thediaryofacfo.com . To become a guest or sponsor, visit thediaryofacfo.com .","last_synced_at":"2026-06-26T00:17:25.199784+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-diary-of-a-cfo-7023798"},"episode":{"title":"Former Caterpillar Group CFO on The Leadership Skills Finance Professionals Must Master to Reach the Top","slug":"former-caterpillar-group-cfo-on-the-leadership-skills-finance-professionals-must-master-to-reach-the-top","published_at":"2026-02-26T22:46:28+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-diary-of-a-cfo-7023798/former-caterpillar-group-cfo-on-the-leadership-skills-finance-professionals-must-master-to-reach-the-top","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-diary-of-a-cfo-7023798","url":"https://rss.com/podcasts/the-diary-of-a-cfo/2577652","audio_url":"https://content.rss.com/episodes/318978/2577652/the-diary-of-a-cfo/2026_02_26_22_35_29_39a61fe0-759c-47ee-a9a7-ffd15b15a0c8.mp3","summary":"In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast , host Wassia Kamon sits down with Dave DeFreitas , retired group CFO of Caterpillar Inc., to explore the unconventional career path that took him from staff accountant to the C-suite. Drawing on over 30 years of experience leading finance teams at one of the world's largest manufacturing companies, Dave shares why he had seven different jobs in his first six years before getting his first promotion, and how those lateral moves built the foundation for executive-level thinking. The conversation also explores: The situational leadership framework that allows leaders to adapt their approach based on where each team member is in their development, Why understanding how a company works matters more than functional expertise, The critical difference between managing change and leading improvements. This episode is for CFOs, aspiring CFOs, and senior finance leaders who want a realistic roadmap to the C-suite and the leadership skills that matter most once you get there. Key Timestamps 01:19 Three things that made the difference to group CFO 03:25 The power of lateral moves in career progression 12:06 Situational leadership framework explained 15:41 Leading a team where most direct reports are older than you 24:04 The difference between managers and leaders 28:16 Value stream mapping and process optimization 42:09 How university curriculum needs to evolve for AI 47:37 What finance professionals must do to adapt to AI Learn more about the podcast at https://www.thediaryofacfo.com Explore the CFO Readiness Scorecard at https://thecfo.scoreapp.com 👉 If becoming a CFO is in your 5-year plan, get your free CFO Readiness Scorecard here: http://thecfo.scoreapp.com","meta_description":"In this episode of The Diary of a CFO Podcast , host Wassia Kamon sits down with Dave DeFreitas , retired group CFO of Caterpillar Inc., to explore the un…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3125,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-diary-of-a-cfo-7023798/episodes/former-caterpillar-group-cfo-on-the-leadership-skills-finance-professionals-must-master-to-reach-the-top/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-diary-of-a-cfo-7023798/former-caterpillar-group-cfo-on-the-leadership-skills-finance-professionals-must-master-to-reach-the-top.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}