7 Sept 2026
Can Empathy Really Take Your Career to the Next Level?
What if empathy could actually take your career to the next level?In this episode of Behind Numbers, I sit down with Paul Barnhurst, The FP&A Guy, to talk about what really separates great finance professionals and leaders from the rest.Paul has spent more than 12 years in corporate FP&A, including roles at American Express, Solera, and DigiCert, before building his own business around FP&A education, content, training, and advisory work. Today, he is a recognized voice in the finance community, a Microsoft MVP, FPAC/FPAP/AFM-certified finance professional, educator, speaker, and host of multiple finance podcasts.But this conversation goes far beyond FP&A.We talk about why "technical skills alone aren't enough to build a successful finance career", and why the ability to understand people, communicate effectively, and become a true business partner can make such a difference.Paul shares his perspective on:• Why empathy may be the most important soft skill for an FP&A professional• How putting yourself in the shoes of the business can completely change the way you approach finance• Why understanding the business is often more important than simply understanding the numbers• The growing importance of data storytelling and turning numbers into insights and recommendations• Why curiosity can be more valuable than technical expertise when hiring finance professionals• The biggest mistake candidates can make in an interview• What junior finance professionals should do today to accelerate their careers• Why communication, relationships, and influence matter so much in finance• How technology is changing the technical side of finance—and potentially giving finance professionals more time to focus on people and the business• The leadership lessons Paul learned from one of his former CEOs• Why great leaders don't always need to be the smartest person in the room• Why being hungry and humble can be such a powerful combination• And why you should “network your timeline” instead of waiting until you need your networkPaul also shares lessons from his own unconventional career journey—from government procurement to American Express, into corporate FP&A, and eventually into entrepreneurship and building The FP&A Guy brand.One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is simple:The further you progress in your career, the less it's about what you know—and the more it becomes about how effectively you can use what you know to help other people and the business succeed.About Paul BarnhurstPaul Barnhurst, known as **The FP&A Guy**, is a finance professional, educator, trainer, speaker, content creator, and podcast host specializing in FP&A, financial modeling, business partnering, and finance transformation.After more than 12 years in corporate FP&A at companies including American Express, Solera, and DigiCert, Paul went independent to help finance professionals and teams become better business partners. He is a Microsoft MVP and holds FPAC, FPAP, and Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM) credentials. He also hosts finance podcasts including FP&A Unlocked and Financial Modeler's Corner.If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to Behind Numbers for more conversations with the leaders, entrepreneurs, and finance professionals shaping the future of business.#Finance #FPA #Leadership #CareerGrowth #BusinessPartnering #BehindNumbers
