CBO Speaks from NACUBO showcases our most seasoned CBO colleagues from top institutions around the country as they share stories of their journey as business officers. Their experiences inspire us and show us what's possible in our own work.
Educator First, Rule Enforcer Second: Building Trust in Higher Ed Finance with Case Western Reserve CBO Brian Burnett
Brian Burnett is executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In this episode, Burnett joins host Melissa Farley to talk about his unconventional path from a Colorado state budget analyst to chief financial officer at five different universities, why he's convinced patience beats fast decisions under pressure, and the Finance Academy model he's built at every institution he's served to open up the budget process to faculty and staff.
"You work for an educational institution," Burnett says, recalling advice a mentor gave him early in his career as a chief business officer. He took the lesson to heart, building his leadership style around transparency rather than authority. "You see yourself as an educator first and a rule enforcer second, and I think you'll have more success." Burnett goes on to discuss how that mindset led him to create the Finance Academy, a recurring walkthrough of institutional finances for faculty and senior leaders, at every university he's served since.
Join us for a conversation with Burnett as he discusses how Case Western Reserve is approaching AI adoption across teaching, research, and operations, his approach to building and developing the next generation of chief business officers, and the "Colors of Money" budgeting taxonomy behind the legacy of transparency he hopes to leave.
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15 May 2026
Trust Before You Need It: Financial Resilience and Radical Transparency with Vermont State Colleges CBO Sharron Scott
Sharron Scott is the chief financial and operating officer for the Vermont State Colleges in Montpelier, Vermont. In this episode, Scott joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating one of public higher education's most visible financial crises, making the case for radical transparency with boards and stakeholders, and how a systems-thinking mindset shaped her approach to institutional transformation.
"Protect the organization's options and protect your own," Scott says. She explains that liquidity creates space for thoughtful decision-making, while trust gives leaders the flexibility to act without triggering resistance from boards, legislatures, and the communities they serve. "Both of those things require you to be honest—really honest—early, well before conditions are going to force your hand." Scott goes on to discuss how that combination of fiscal discipline and proactive transparency became the foundation of her approach as the Vermont State Colleges climbed from eight days of cash on hand in 2020 to roughly four months of reserves by the time of this recording.
Join us for a conversation with Scott as she discusses what it means to lead with a "mile wide, inch deep" knowledge base, how she learned to put people before dollars—and why that shift made the financial decisions easier—and the advice she'd give to aspiring CBOs who bring a nontraditional background to the table.
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1 May 2026
I Can Do Hard Things: Resilience, Leadership, and the Long Game with New England College of Optometry CBO Rich Kelley
Rich Kelley is chief financial officer at New England College of Optometry in Boston. In this episode, Kelley joins host Melissa Farley to talk about the leadership philosophy he calls transparent accountability, the financial planning challenges facing tuition-dependent institutions, and the lasting value of mentorship and professional networks in higher education.
"I started to realize that the more important skill is creating the conditions to help others arrive at the right answer," Kelley says—whether that means a provost, a president, or someone in admissions. This shift in perspective, from needing to have every answer to empowering others to find them, forms the foundation of a leadership approach he calls transparent accountability. "That just means that I'm as clear as I can be about what I expect, as clear as I can be about what I know, and transparent about the things that I don't know." Kelley goes on to discuss how this philosophy has helped him build credibility and trust across the institution, from the finance office to the senior leadership table.
Join us for a conversation with Kelley as he discusses how endurance athletics have shaped his professional resilience, why financial jargon can become a barrier to collaboration rather than a badge of expertise, and what he sees ahead for higher education as institutions navigate demographic pressures, federal uncertainty, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Connect with Rich Kelley
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richkelley77/)
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Who has been a guest on CBO Speaks
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Kimberly Kvaal
John Crawford
Robin Van Harpen
Christopher Calvert
Nicole Long
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
46,878
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
91
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
82
Contact CBO Speaks
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about CBO Speaks
Who hosts CBO Speaks?
Donna Schiele host the show. Published by NACUBO.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does CBO Speaks take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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