What allows some CFOs to lead with influence while others never move beyond the numbers?

Today's CFOs are expected to do much more than oversee financial performance. They must build trust, influence executive decisions, communicate with empathy, and help shape company strategy. In this episode, leadership expert and former CFO Dr. Emilia Bunea shares why technical expertise alone isn't enough and explains the mindset and behaviors that help CFOs lead executive teams, boards, and entire organizations more effectively.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Discover why relationship building and influence have become essential skills as CFOs lead beyond traditional finance responsibilities.
• Learn practical techniques for communicating strategic recommendations in ways that earn buy-in from CEOs, boards, and executive teams.
• Understand the leadership habits that prepare finance executives to become trusted business leaders and future CEOs.

Listen now to learn how CFOs lead with influence, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence to create stronger organizations and position themselves for greater leadership opportunities.

Check out:

05:10 | Why CFOs Lead Through Relationships, Not Just Numbers

Dr. Emilia Bunea explains the difference between an accounting leader and a true CFO, revealing why relationship management and influence are what separate finance executives from strategic leaders.

14:35 | Influence Is More Powerful Than Logic

Learn why even the strongest financial arguments can fail without emotional engagement, and how CFOs can present ideas that inspire action instead of resistance.

31:10 | Preparing CFOs to Become CEOs

Hear the leadership qualities boards look for when evaluating CFOs for the CEO role, including strategic thinking, executive presence, and building trust outside the finance function.

About Emilia Bunea

Dr. Emilia Bunea, CFA, is a leadership lecturer at VU University Amsterdam and co-founder and CEO of Ed.movie, a California-based edutainment company. She served in CFO and CEO roles at large financial corporations, most recently as CEO of MetLife Romania, and previously as CFO of ING Insurance Europe, and currently serves on the board of directors of an asset management company.

Dr. Bunea received her Ph.D. in Management from VU Amsterdam, her MBA from the University of Washington, and is a CFA charterholder. She delivers lectures and keynotes on leadership at business schools, companies, and events around the world. Her research was published in Human Resource Management Review, Corporate Governance - An International Review, Frontiers in Psychology, Academy of Management Proceedings, and shared through outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Le Monde.

Emilia Bunea is the producer and co-writer of Crossroads Life, the world's first "cinematic management case"—a groundbreaking teaching tool that combines the rigor of the case study method with the storytelling power of film. Based on the real-life leadership journey of a CFO, the film has won multiple international awards (IMDb link). Each chapter of her book, Leadership for the CFO, includes curated film scenes that bring its concepts to life.

Is your leadership team truly aligned, or are competing priorities quietly slowing your company's growth?

Even the most talented leadership teams struggle when everyone is chasing different priorities or measuring success differently. In this episode, Kristen McAlister shares a practical framework to help CEOs stay aligned by defining the right outcomes, assigning clear ownership, and creating accountability through meaningful scoreboards and metrics. If you've ever felt like your team is busy but not making the progress you expected, this conversation will help you build the clarity and focus needed to achieve your biggest goals.

What You'll Gain From This Episode:

• Learn how to stay aligned by starting with the end goal and connecting every leader's priorities to the outcomes that matter most.

• Discover how scoreboards, leading indicators, and clear ownership create accountability without relying on annual performance reviews.

• Understand how CEOs can reduce bottlenecks, leverage fractional leadership, and build a business that operates successfully without depending on the owner.

If you're ready to stay aligned, improve accountability, and help your leadership team execute with greater focus and confidence, this episode provides practical strategies you can start applying immediately.

Check out:

• 7:50 – Why Great Leaders Start at the Finish Line
  Karen Miscaluce explains why the first step to helping teams stay aligned is defining the desired outcome before assigning work, making every decision easier and more intentional.
• 22:30 – The One Question That Keeps Teams Focused
  Learn how saying "not now" instead of "no" helps CEOs manage shiny-object syndrome while keeping the organization aligned around its highest priorities.
• 43:10 – Why Every Team Needs a Scoreboard
  Karen shares how visible scoreboards and meaningful metrics create accountability, improve performance, and help leadership teams stay aligned without relying on traditional performance reviews.

About Kristen McAlister

Kristen McAlister is on a mission to make it easier for businesses through the power of intentional leadership and dynamic teams. As an owner of Cerius Executives, she has dedicated the last 15 years to educating companies on how to leverage interim and fractional leadership to address their challenges and achieve growth.

Her passion for empowering businesses is matched by her personal drive and discipline. As a mother, Ironman triathlete and wife of a retired Marine, Kristen brings a unique blend of real-world experiences and a relentless mindset to every challenge. Her life experiences have honed her ability to navigate complex challenges with resilience and grace.

What does it take to turn a simple idea like Chicken Salad Chick into one of the fastest-growing restaurant franchise brands in America?

Growing a business from a handful of locations to hundreds of restaurants takes more than a great product. It requires the right culture, disciplined leadership, a scalable franchise model, and an unwavering commitment to the customer experience. In this episode, you'll hear how Scott Deviney transformed Chicken Salad Chick from a promising regional concept into a nationally recognized brand by focusing on servant leadership, operational simplicity, and building a franchise system that empowers entrepreneurs to succeed. Whether you're leading a growing company or considering franchise expansion, you'll walk away with practical lessons that apply far beyond the restaurant industry.

What You'll Gain From This Episode:

• Learn how Chicken Salad Chick built a scalable franchise system without losing its culture, hospitality, or commitment to quality.
• Discover why servant leadership, operational simplicity, and disciplined franchise selection have fueled the brand's remarkable growth.
• Understand how successful CEOs balance innovation, franchise relationships, and long-term strategic expansion while staying true to their core mission.

If you're interested in scaling a business, building a franchise brand, or leading a high-growth organization without sacrificing culture, this episode delivers practical insights from the CEO behind Chicken Salad Chick's remarkable success story.

Check out:

• 8:45 – Why Scott Deviney Chose Chicken Salad Chick
  Scott shares the pivotal moment he recognized that Chicken Salad Chick was unlike any other restaurant concept, citing its people-first culture, unique market position, and long-term growth potential.
• 28:40 – The Secret to Maintaining Culture Across Hundreds of Franchise Locations
  Learn how Scott and his leadership team preserve the Chicken Salad Chick guest experience by focusing on servant leadership, franchisee selection, operational simplicity, and a shared purpose.
• 47:20 – What's Next for Chicken Salad Chick?
  Scott discusses the company's ambitious expansion plans, the path toward 500 restaurants and $1 billion in systemwide sales, and why he believes the brand is still in the early stages of its growth.

Scott Deviney, CEO of Chicken Salad Chick, has grown his enterprise tenfold in 10 years — from 32 restaurants in six states when he started in May 2015 to 309 eateries in 22 states today. He plans to serve customers in 30 states by year-end 2026. "Chicken Salad Chick is all about people," says Deviney (AB '95). "It's about taking care of our restaurant and franchise teams, taking care of our guests. Making chicken salad fresh, every day, from scratch, is our way to love on people."

Deviney grew up in Carrollton, Georgia. He credits his parents with his work ethic. "They gave me something of tremendous value," he says, "my work ethic. I learned that when things have to be done, you go do them."

Deviney started his professional career at SunTrust Bank, where he spent 13 years, including time in a food and beverage group. In 2008, he left banking to buy 19 Wendy's fast-food restaurants. Six years later, he sold those, plus a few added along the way, then looked for new opportunities. He bought Chicken Salad Chick with a private equity partner. The business was hatched in Auburn, Alabama, in 2008 by Kevin Brown and his wife, Stacy, who named her various chicken salad blends (Fancy Nancy, Classic Carol, Kickin' Kay Lynne) after female family members and friends. Deviney moved headquarters to Atlanta and began spreading the chicken salad gospel.