News & Insights

Chief financial officers today find themselves at a strategic crossroads where artificial intelligence and agile budgeting converge, reshaping finance into a forward‑looking discipline. According to the World Economic Forum, AI has moved from being a peripheral tool focused on cost reduction to a central element in CFO strategy.

Read the rest of entry »

Strategic planning has become a critical skill for CFOs. According to Travelers’ 2024 CFO study, 62% of CFOs consider strategic planning their most valued skill, highlighting its importance in future-proofing organizations. This shift underscores the CFO's role in managing not just finances, but also in shaping the company’s direction amid economic uncertainties.

Read the rest of entry »

Uncertainty is not just a challenge; it can be an opportunity. While many organizations stall or retreat when markets become volatile, others sometimes adapt, accelerate, and gain market share. The key difference often lies in leadership and strategies. Resilient leaders do not wait for clarity, they navigate through the fog.

According to KPMG 2024 report, 72% of CEOs indicate that the current economic environment is the most volatile they have ever experienced. Yet, some of the most successful companies of the past two decades such as Airbnb, Uber, and Slack were launched or scaled during economic downturns. This is not a coincidence, it clearly illustrates that effective leadership in uncertain times can create lasting competitive advantages.

Read the rest of entry »

PHOENIX, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Integro Bank is proud to announce the next CEO Club event, “Strategy Through Time: Learning from the Past, Navigate the Present, and Shape a Stronger Future Together During Uncertain Times” with a panel of CFOs speaking from real-world experience.

Read the rest of entry »

The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has transformed significantly. CFOs are no longer limited to traditional financial stewardship; instead, they have become central figures in driving strategic growth and innovation within organizations.

Historically, CFOs were primarily responsible for financial reporting and risk management. Today, they play a critical role in strategic decision-making. According to Gartner, CFOs are increasingly expected to align their organization's cost structure with unique capabilities and to act as executive champions in enterprise-wide data and analytics governance.

This shift is further illustrated by the rising number of CFOs transitioning into CEO roles. A 2023 survey by Heidrick & Struggles revealed that nearly one-third of FTSE 100 CEOs were former CFOs, an increase from 21% in 2019.

Read the rest of entry »

On May 7, 2025, According to NBC News, The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced its decision to maintain the federal funds rate at the current range of 4.25% to 4.50%. This marks the third consecutive meeting where the Fed has held rates steady, reflecting a cautious approach amid ongoing economic uncertainties.

Read the rest of entry »

Neglecting mental health in the workplace can have considerable financial consequences. According to the National Institutes of Health in the United States, untreated mental illness costs businesses up to $193.2 billion annually due to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased healthcare expenses. Likewise, according to Deloitte in the United Kingdom, poor mental health among employees costs employers approximately £51 billion each year, with presenteeism—when employees work while unwell—accounting for around £24 billion of this total.

Read the rest of entry »

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the business landscape, with approximately 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., representing 42% of all companies, according to Psychology Today. However, the entrepreneurial journey often presents unique mental health challenges for women, stemming from societal expectations, systemic biases, and the various roles they undertake.

Read the rest of entry »

Entrepreneurship is exhilarating, but for small business owners, it often comes with a significant mental toll. Juggling multiple responsibilities, managing cash flow, and making high-stakes decisions frequently leaves little room for self-care or emotional support. A study by UC Berkeley revealed that 72% of entrepreneurs experience mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and burnout, highlighting the prevalence of these struggles among founders.

Read the rest of entry »

The banks in the Phoenix area with the fastest-growing commercial and industrial loan portfolios reported loans valued at $1.167 trillion as of Sept. 30, marking a 1.481% increase over what was reported in the year-earlier period.

The online version of this ranking expands beyond what appears in print; another 16 lenders are included in our digital rankings, in addition to the 40 featured in this week's print edition.

Read the rest of entry »