The PEOPLE CFO. A PowerPoint presentation on Caroline Vullmahn, CFO, CPA, Illinois

A PowerPoint presentation to highlight the office of a people CFO. Caroline Vullmahn has a background in corporate finance and strong success in helping organizations.

Transcript

1. The PEOPLE CFO In 2018 & beyond, relationships matter more than ever Caroline Vullmahn, CPA 773-339-4636 Caroline.Vullmahn@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/CarolineVullmahn www.twitter.com/CarolineVullmahn www.slideshare.net/CarolineVullmahn
2. I’ve always wanted to change the world, one person, one day at a time.
3. Experience One
4. Change The World: At Work A newly hired senior leader was concerned about getting approval from the Board for a program that would benefit the stakeholders and the community. The issue was the Board continued to develop obstacles that resulted in the program still awaiting Board approval three years later.
5. Change The World: At Work Understaffed with an overflowing schedule and insufficient resources, I intervened to assist this new leader in creating a simple solution and overall message to the Board that overcame the delays and roadblocks and made it simple, quick, and easy for the Board to finally approve.
6. Change The World: At Work This experience reinforced my belief that leaders are called to help outside of their title, scope, and department, especially when it impacts the entire organization, the success of peers and employees alike, and benefit users, stakeholders, and customers. We are all called in work and in life to help others and to serve for the greater good.
7. Experience Two
8. Change The World: Not Just At Work How wonderful! At dinner one evening my husband shared he was asked to be the new Cubmaster for the group of 20 Cub Scouts. I smiled ear to ear as I understood what an amazing opportunity to be for him to impact children in our community in such a positive way.
9. Change The World: Not Just At Work Yikes! What an interesting surprise to learn that there were no funds, no volunteers to assist, and no support materials or instructions to help him with this new endeavor.
10. Change the World: Not Just at Work It was fun and enjoyable to quickly create unity with the scouts and parents, and to develop a vision, strategy, and action plan, and unite the people with the tasks needed to make this a success.
11. Change the World: Not Just at Work How wonderful that the group of 20 Cub Scouts grew to nearly 60 Cub Scouts supported by a financial budget with funds, support network of parents, and a motivated and inspired group of scouts that were learning and growing by the day. It is even more wonderful that even more of these Cub Scouts moved on to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. An achievement of which only 5% of all Boy Scouts in the US successfully achieve.
12. Change The World: Not Just At Work Since the inception of the Eagle Scout award in 1912, only 2.1% of eligible scouts have earned scouting’s highest honor.
13. I’ve always wanted to be part of something meaningful and special making an impact, a difference.
14. Experience Three
15. Making An Impact, A Difference How sad it was to learn that a married colleague with two children were beginning divorce proceedings.
16. Making An Impact, A Difference I was touched that my colleague sought me out to discuss and share during this very difficult time. Although work was hectic, I was glad to have an open ear and to be a person they trusted to open up to.
17. Making An Impact, A Difference This experience reinforced how important it was to listen, have empathy for others, to be supportive even when it means to encounter awkwardness, uncertainty, raw emotion, and conflict. It also reinforced the importance of helping others even when it is not convenient, easy, and makes us feel uncomfortable.
18. Making An Impact, A Difference What a blessing to learn that the couple resolved their differences and today has a far better relationship with each other and their children.
19. Making An Impact, A Difference This person continued to perform well and succeed with our company while adding value and performing at even a higher level which is not normally the case when people go through difficult situations in their lives.
20. Experience Four
21. Making An Impact, A Difference I don’t just love people. I love seeing them happy, full of joy, and becoming better versions of themselves.
22. Making An Impact, A Difference How exciting! The Chicago Marathon! I couldn’t wait to support the participants on mile 24 as I cheered and handed out water to each passing runner.
23. Making An Impact, A Difference I was grateful for the opportunity to help a runner who collapsed and needed medical attention. With the person in my arms, I focused on consoling and keeping them calm while we waited for medics. It was a touching, emotional experience that I will never forget.
24. Making An Impact, A Difference It is likely they have long forgotten about this painful experience. I will always be inspired by this person who exhibited such discipline in their training, commitment to putting themselves to the test, persevering their goals to the point of complete physical exhaustion, and their resilience to get back up after falling. We were two people holding and giving to each other in ways I struggle to even express.
25. I’ve always wanted to be helping people see their strengths while empowering them to succeed.
26. Experience Five
27. Seeing Their Strengths We all help each other grow from entry level to executive management. We can all learn, grow, and evolve. In any organization where we exist, don’t we have a duty to collaborate and help others?
28. Seeing Their Strengths Working with the founder of the firm was a wonderful experience. Integrity. Generosity. Strong work ethic. Kindness. Helping others. Critical thinking. Continuous learning. Passionate leader. These are just some of the wonderful leadership qualities I learned from him.
29. Seeing Their Strengths It was so much fun to help the founder of the firm elevate his passionate interest for investing in the stock market to a successful private foundation. By supporting his enthusiasm and providing a simple macro and template he was able to substantially increase the amount dedicated to academic institutions, community organizations, and medical research.
30. Seeing Their Strengths In all relationships we have the opportunity to learn while helping others learn. We help others grow while growing. We help others succeed more while also succeeding. We help others celebrate their passion by becoming more passionate about others.
31. Experience Six
32. Seeing Their Strengths “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” - John Quincy Adams “Managers help people see themselves as they are; Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are.” - Jim Rohn “A leader's role is to raise people's aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there.” - David R. Gergen
33. Seeing Their Strengths The tears in my eyes were a mixture of sadness and happiness when I learned an exceptional employee was offered a role at a much larger firm. Mostly happiness – it had been wonderful to see this employee evolve and develop and become closer to that best version of himself.
34. Seeing Their Strengths The tears of sadness were due to his resignation. He had outgrown our department, his role, and he was ready to advance beyond what we had to offer.
35. Seeing Their Strengths Leadership of others is a calling to help people achieve greatness and become more. It was sad to see him leave but the joy in seeing him soar continues to bring tears of happiness and joy that may last forever.
36. Seeing Their Strengths When we help others grow, we grow. When we help people grow, our cultures and teams grow. When we help people grow, we all win.
37. All of this is who I am, who I’ve become. My journey in life has been filled with wonderful opportunities to focus on what is most important: People I love people, and I love helping people to learn, grow, succeed, and thrive.
38. In everything that I do, in every aspect of my life, it is about people. Even in the world of corporate finance which focuses on strategy, numbers, costs, revenue, profit, improving, and growing businesses.
39. These things are all important, but without the right people, we cannot have consistency in achieving all the important financial things. People aren’t things, and in focusing on people, we are able to empower organizations to manage their financial needs, and wants BETTER.
40. My goal has been to make a positive impact to do more.
41. We are all on the same team.
42. Joining our strengths and sharing our knowledge promotes growth.
43. Experience Seven
44. Promote Growth The most productive, profitable, and successful teams, departments, and organizations I have worked with were a blend of camaraderie and fun which kept morale high, even on the toughest days.
45. Promote Growth It is amazing on how finding ways to make people smile, laugh, and enjoy each other, even for a brief moment, could create unity while providing the essential balance that keeps people focused, productive, and happy in the midst of challenging days and initiatives.
46. Promote Growth Laughter and humor can heal and unite in very special ways in healthy and respectful environments. I have found that being able to laugh at ourselves, even as a leader, can not only act as a magical elixir but also unite a leader with people.
47. A thank you, a smile, and a kind word. It is the little things.
48. Experience Eight
49. Little Things: Everywhere In all relationships, details are critical. At home, with friends, with ourselves, and at work. The details in our relationships can be the difference between consistent, meaningful, and happy success, or the alternative. Failure and mediocrity in relationships are often an oversight to the essential essence of details.
50. Little Things: Everywhere Just ask a newly wed who has made the mistake of forgetting a birthday, anniversary, or another special day. It is an error they may be surely reminded of for years to come.
51. Little Things: Everywhere In all meaningful relationships, the attention to detail can be the foundational factor that creates noteworthy, consistent, meaningful, and successful outcomes for years to come.
52. Little Things: Everywhere Building relationships, learning about and focusing on others, and making people feel that special “you remembered”, has been a practice that I have seen create powerful and strong teams that are the catalyst for the overall success in departments and organizations.
53. Little Things: Everywhere The little things like remembering everyone’s interests, special dates, hobbies, and families are wonderful opportunities to make others smile, show they are important, appreciated, wanted, and needed.
54. Little Things: Everywhere These little things often become the morsels of nourishment that sustain the life of our relationships and act as the glue to our most valuable and impactful resources---people.
55. Everyday be generous and humble.
56. Experience Nine
57. Generous and Humble We are all human. To be human is to err. A new entry level employee and a CEO both find that mistakes are made. It’s how we react to our humanity, our mistakes, and the mistakes of others that make a difference.
58. Generous and Humble The loss of my grandmother, who also served as my mother, mentor, and inspiration, was perhaps the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. Her passing during a very challenging time at work, made the loss especially painful. Not wanting to disappoint, the best solution seemed to bury myself in my work.
59. Generous and Humble The pain turned into tears of gratitude when my staff helped me have a leadership breakthrough. So often as leaders we have the opportunity to learn so much from others around us, regardless of age or experience.
60. Generous and Humble I will always remain grateful that my eyes, ears, mind, and heart were open to the support of my staff. Their consolation was a learning experience I received as a gift.
61. Generous and Humble Learning to receive humbly from others result in building and growing the most wonderful and meaningful relationships. It is in giving that we receive, and it is in receiving that we become complete. The PEOPLE CFO Caroline Vullmahn, CPA 773-339-4636 Caroline.Vullmahn@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/CarolineVullmahn www.twitter.com/CarolineVullmahn www.slideshare.net/CarolineVullmahn