Mostly metrics
Run the Numbers
E6: Carta CFO Charly Kevers on the Importance of Truth Telling
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E6: Carta CFO Charly Kevers on the Importance of Truth Telling

Charly Kevers (CFO of Carta) joins CJ on episode six of Run the Numbers, where they talk through the most important qualities of great CFOs, why you should look at every part of your business as a startup, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics 

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SPONSORS:

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/metrics and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.

Tropic is the next-generation Procurement Platform that’s helping modern CFOs take control of their budgets and bottom line. By combining approval workflows, supplier management, and pricing benchmarks all in one place, Tropic makes savings opportunities easy to find and act on. 🌴 Visit www.tropicapp.io/metrics to learn how. 

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact? Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners, Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors. Check out the first episode with the architect of Netflix’s culture deck Patty McCord.

https://link.chtbl.com/hrheretics

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X / TWITTER:

@CKevers (Charly)

@cjgustafson222 (CJ)

@TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Episode Preview

(00:15) SEGMENT: CJ's opening “Off the Books” monologue - CJ’s First Negotiation

(06:54) Start of interview

(08:22) The #1 thing that kept Charly up at night when he started at Carta

(09:00) Sponsor: Netsuite

(10:24) How Charly communicated with his CEO when he started

(11:43) Charly's tactics on truth-telling

(13:07) How to talk to investors

(16:25) Frameworks on communicating the tough news

(17:33) Charly's experience at HP

(20:03) Qualities of great vs. good CFOs

(22:20) Metrics to share with investors

(28:22) Relationship with Carta CEO and how the dynamic has changed

(34:23) How Charly works with his CEO to make decisions

(40:33) On Carta X

(48:53) SEGMENT: Long-ass Lightning Round

(50:01) SEGMENT: Rep Yo Stack - Sponsored by Tropic

(51:36) Craziest thing someone has tried to expense at Carta

Discussion about this podcast

Mostly metrics
Run the Numbers
Run the Numbers is a twice-weekly podcast about financial metrics and business models, designed for ambitious people operating tech startups. It's a collection of things host CJ Gustafson (CFO at Partstech and writer of Mostly Metrics) has learned and thought about in the trenches as a tech CFO.
This show is meant to serve as a playbook of sorts for the stuff CJ wishes he knew earlier in his career, both from experience and from copying people smarter than himself.
Topics frequently touch upon Startup SaaS Metrics, Annual Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, Headcount, Equity, Dilution, and Fundraising – and how all of these drive business performance and growth.