In this episode of Burning Ledges, Matthias Steinberg speaks with Carla Aranda, CFO of L'Oreal's Professional Products Division in North America. They discuss the transformative impact of AI on finance and Carla's journey in leveraging AI technologies at L'Oreal, emphasizing the importance of fostering a culture of curiosity and innovation. Finally, Carla shares insights on overcoming challenges in implementing AI projects, the significance of simplicity in work processes, and the evolving role of the CFO.

Carla Aranda is a global finance executive and the "Chief Simplifier" who advocates for the discipline of subtraction to drive organizational excellence. With over 25 years of experience leading operations for global corporations, Carla specializes in leveraging technology to automate the routine and illuminate the strategy. Having lived and worked in the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina, she is a passionate advocate for empowering high-performing multicultural teams and the next generation of finance leaders.

For more content from Carla, check out this LinkedIn article where she expands on her philosophy titled "Simplicity at Work."

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/simplicity-work-joinblend-au7qe/

To learn more about Blend, click here: https://www.joinblend.com/

Matthias is joined by Mark McDonald, founder of Finance Next, to discuss the transformative impact of AI on finance, exploring its evolution, current use cases, and future implications. Hear their thoughts on emphasizing the importance of understanding ROI, the need for CFOs to adapt to new technologies, and the cultural shifts required for successful AI adoption.

Mark brings over two decades of hands on operations and corporate finance leadership mostly at Siemens in the US and in Germany. After earning his Master's in Software Engineering from Harvard with a focus on Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI, Mark joined Gartner where he established the AI competency in the finance practice, helping hundreds of clients introduce AI to their finance operations. He now leads Finance Next, an independent consulting practice dedicated to helping finance leaders responsibly transition their operations to AI and assisting software providers in addressing the accounting and finance market.

Listen to Matthias' conversation with Rachel Kirkham, Chief Technology Officer at MindBridge, as they explore how artificial intelligence is impacting public accounting firms and their external audit and assurance services.

Rachel is responsible for leading AI product strategy and the data science teams. Prior to joining MindBridge, she was the Head of Data Analytics Research at the UK National Audit Office, leading a team of data scientists and analysts in developing unique capabilities for financial auditors. Rachel is an ACA-qualified chartered accountant and holds an MBA from Imperial College.

In this episode, guest co-host Stephen DeWitt joins Matthias Steinberg to discuss the transformative impact of AI in finance with guests Marie Myers (CFO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise) and Geoffrey Moore (Author and Advisor). Listen now as they explore the evolving role of the CFO, the importance of trust and integrity in financial operations, and the need for companies to embrace AI to enhance productivity and decision making.

Executive producer Ernest Anunciacion interviews Burning Ledgers host, Matthias Steinberg as he shares what "Burning Ledgers" means, how AI is reshaping the CFO's role, and what to expect from future guests and episodes.

Matthias has more than 15 years experience in investing in and managing high growth technology businesses. Prior to MindBridge he was CFO of IONOS, Europe's largest mass market hoster where he also served on the board of several group companies. He as held leadership roles in several organizations including Summit Partners and Lokad SaS. Matthias holds a master of engineering and an MBA from INSEAD.