In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper welcome Alex Curran, CEO of Aptitude Software, to discuss the future of finance systems, AI-native ERP, and how organizations can prepare their finance functions for a rapidly changing technology landscape. Alex shares how finance teams can move beyond outdated systems, improve data foundations, and use AI to enable faster, more informed decision-making.

Alex Curran is the CEO of Aptitude Software, a company that has spent over 40 years building finance solutions for complex organizations. After joining Aptitude over 12 years ago, Alex progressed through multiple leadership roles before becoming CEO in 2023. She now leads the company’s focus on AI-native finance technology and modern ERP solutions.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why CFOs are expected to become strategic partners in business decisions.
• Why clean data and strong architecture are essential for successful AI adoption.
• How AI-native ERP systems differ from traditional finance platforms.
• Why real-time finance and continuous close are becoming possible.
• How AI will change finance roles and create new opportunities.

Alex explains why the future of finance is not just about adding AI tools, but about building the right systems, data foundations, and processes to make AI valuable and trustworthy.

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow Alex:

Website: http://fynapse.app/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-curran-9aa593b/

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:00] – Trailer

[05:22] – The Modern CFO Role

[11:36] – Building Flexible AI Systems

[15:16] – Evaluating ERP Solutions

[19:08] – Legacy ERP vs AI-Native ERP

[23:39] – Real-Time Finance & Continuous Close

[27:02] – AI’s Impact on Finance Teams

[30:24] – The Future of Accountants

[35:44] – AI Questions & Leadership Lessons

[36:53] – Finance System Implementation Challenges

[38:40] – Alex’s CEO Journey

[40:04] – Closing Thoughts on Finance’s Future

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper welcome Robert Collie to discuss artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the future of work. Robert shares his journey from helping build Power Pivot and Power BI at Microsoft to founding P3 Adaptive. He explains how AI is changing the role of finance and data professionals, why strong data foundations still matter, and why continuous learning is essential in an AI-driven world.

Robert Collie is the founder and CEO of P3 Adaptive, a Microsoft analytics and AI consulting firm. During his 13 years at Microsoft, he helped lead the development of Power Pivot and Power BI. He is also the author of Power Pivot and Power BI and the upcoming book Fair Game: Customizing AI to Your Business Is Easier Than You Think.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How Power Pivot and Power BI transformed data analytics.
• Why AI is creating new opportunities for finance professionals.
• Why adapting skills is critical in the AI era.
• How businesses can make AI practical and accessible.

Robert shares practical insights on combining data expertise, AI, and human judgment to create value in the future of work.

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow Robert:

Website: https://p3adaptive.com/

Book: https://fairgamebook.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robcollie/

In Today’s Episode:

[03:58] - Building Power Pivot and Power BI at Microsoft

[08:56] - Leaving Microsoft and Founding P3 Adaptive

[13:36] - AI and the Future of Work

[17:13] - Introducing Fair Game

[19:41] - Making AI Practical and Accessible

[21:31] - Helping Everyone Understand AI

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper welcome Robert Collie, founder and CEO of P3 Adaptive, for a conversation about artificial intelligence, data analytics, and how finance professionals can prepare for the future of work. Robert shares his journey from helping build Power BI at Microsoft to founding P3 Adaptive and explains why AI is creating both disruption and new opportunities for finance and data professionals.

Robert Collie is the founder and CEO of P3 Adaptive, a Microsoft analytics and AI consulting firm. During his 13 years at Microsoft, Robert helped lead the development of Power Pivot and Power BI. He is also the author of the bestselling Power Pivot and Power BI book and hosts the Raw Data with Rob Collie podcast. His upcoming book, Fair Game: Customizing AI to Your Business is Easier Than You Think, explores how organizations can make AI practical and accessible.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How Power BI and Power Pivot changed the way organizations use data.
• Why AI is creating new opportunities for finance and data professionals.
• Why sitting still with current skills can create career risks.
• How companies can build AI systems using strong data foundations.
• Why semantic models are becoming essential for AI adoption.

Robert brings decades of experience in business intelligence, analytics, and AI, sharing practical lessons on how finance leaders and data professionals can adapt, learn, and create value in a rapidly changing environment.

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow Robert:

Website: https://p3adaptive.com/

Book: https://fairgamebook.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robcollie/

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:00] – Trailer

[00:00] – How AI is changing jobs

[02:43] – Robert’s Microsoft journey

[06:06] – Power BI and Power Pivot impact

[11:25] – Leaving Microsoft for P3 Adaptive

[15:43] – AI and the future of data work

[19:33] – Making AI accessible

[25:13] – AI tools and better workflows

[31:11] – AI in career planning

[33:38] – AI changing finance and consulting

[35:16] – Why semantic models matter

[38:35] – Building a strong company culture

[40:34] – Robert’s AI book and future plans