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.
CBO Speaks
Claim This Podcastby NACUBO
5.0(10 reviews)
212 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
77
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality91
Social0
YouTube76
Engagement82
Podcast Overview
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.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/17/2015
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77
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality91
Social0
YouTube76
Engagement82
9
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1
Good Performance
9
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excellent
Episode Length
25 minutes
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good
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6.5/10
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Every 23 days
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Recent Episodes
May 15, 2026
Trust Before You Need It: Financial Resilience and Radical Transparency with Vermont State Colleges CBO Sharron Scott
<div>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.</div> <div>"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.</div> <div>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.</div> <div><strong>Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!</strong></div> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.nacubo.org/Online-Education/NACUBO-Podcasts/Career-Conversations"> Career Conversations</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.nacubo.org/Online-Education/NACUBO-Podcasts/NACUBO-In-Brief"> NACUBO in Brief</a></li> </ul>
May 1, 2026
I Can Do Hard Things: Resilience, Leadership, and the Long Game with New England College of Optometry CBO Rich Kelley
<div>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.</div> <div>"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.</div> <div>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.</div> <div> <p class= "font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]"> <strong>Connect with Rich Kelley</strong></p> <ul class= "[li_&]:mb-0 [li_&]:mt-1 [li_&]:gap-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><a class= "underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/richkelley77/">LinkedIn</a></li> </ul> </div> <div><strong>Check out NACUBO's other podcasts!</strong></div> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.nacubo.org/Online-Education/NACUBO-Podcasts/Career-Conversations"> Career Conversations</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.nacubo.org/Online-Education/NACUBO-Podcasts/NACUBO-In-Brief"> NACUBO in Brief</a></li> </ul>
April 3, 2026
Relationships Are the Strategy: Building Career and Institution with Vassar College CBO Bryan Swarthout
<div>Bryan Swarthout is vice president for finance and administration at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. In this episode, Swarthout joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating the transition from corporate finance to higher education, leading with influence and servant leadership, and managing a broad institutional portfolio with strategic intentionality.</div> <div>"Be open to opportunities—you never know what project, role, or skill you could build through a new experience that will be the one to help you advance throughout your career," Swarthout says. He urges aspiring finance leaders to experiment, stretch beyond comfort zones, and invest time in learning the full breadth of the organizations they serve. "Build those relationships because they will serve the work that you do very well, as well as your career." Swarthout goes on to discuss how relationship-building is the connective tissue of effective higher ed finance leadership—enabling the trust and influence that moves people and institutions in the same direction.</div> <div>Join us for a conversation with Swarthout as he discusses leveraging AI as both an efficiency tool and a team-building opportunity, applying a mission-first framework to high-stakes financial decisions, and mentoring the next generation of higher education finance leaders.</div> <div><strong>Check out NACUBO' other podcasts!</strong></div> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.nacubo.org/Online-Education/NACUBO-Podcasts/Career-Conversations"> Career Conversations</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.nacubo.org/Online-Education/NACUBO-Podcasts/NACUBO-In-Brief"> NACUBO in Brief</a></li> </ul>
212 total episodes available
Recent guests on CBO Speaks
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Kimberly Kvaal
Guest
John Crawford
Guest
Robin Van Harpen
Guest
Christopher Calvert
Guest
Nicole Long
Guest
Peter Elliott
Guest
Abby Benson
Guest
Carmen Roberts
Guest
Brian Lueth
Guest
Michelle Matis
Guest
Todd Kilburn
Guest
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is CBO Speaks?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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