The 10x Finance Podcast features sharp, 15-minute conversations with finance leaders from high-growth startups and the investment world. We dive into the real challenges of scaling — from managing cash flow and fundraising to building agile FP&A functions and aligning finance with strategy.
Each episode delivers real-world insights and actionable takeaways to help finance professionals stay sharp and ahead of the curve — brought to you by Aleph, the FP&A platform built for modern finance teams.
Finance roles are changing drastically - with Gabby Marasco
Finance roles are changing drastically, and the teams that aren't adapting are about to feel it.
In this episode of The 10x Finance Podcast, Albert Gozzi sits down with Gabriella Marasco, Director of FP&A at Applause, to dig into what's actually different about running finance in 2025. The short version: finance is moving from buyer to builder. Spreadsheets aren't going anywhere (70% of businesses, including some $100B ARR ones, still live in them), but the layer on top is being rebuilt by finance teams themselves.
Gabby walks through what that looks like in practice: running 20+ pricing scenarios in six hours instead of a month, querying the product database in natural language, and becoming the connective tissue between the ERP, CRM, and product data. She also makes the case that the traditional FP&A profile (task-oriented, historicals-first) is going to struggle. The people who thrive will be curious, creative, and willing to get into the weeds with messy data.
If you're scaling a finance team right now, her advice is blunt: don't. Or at least, rethink what "scaling" means before you write the next job description.
Chapters
00:00 — Intro
00:33 — Hot Take: Finance roles are changing drastically
01:20 — What finance teams will build vs. buy
02:44 — The "finance engineer" profile
04:04 — How to get started if you're a curious finance person
05:30 — The AI tools changing the day-to-day
06:53 — 20 pricing models in 6 hours
09:53 — Pushing the new mindset across the org
11:42 — Rapid fire: The biggest mistake finance teams make
12:32 — Advice for scaling finance teams
13:12 — The trend that will define the next 5 years
30 Apr 2026
Alignment is completely overrated - with Taylor Otstot
Most finance teams treat alignment as the finish line. Taylor Otstot, VP of Finance at Dashlane, argues it's the wrong goal entirely. In this episode, Taylor unpacks why "getting everyone to nod" is one of the most expensive mistakes finance teams make, how buried dissent surfaces right after the budget locks, and a simple technique he learned from a former CEO to force honest signal out of any room: the "no sevens allowed" confidence poll.
Albert and Taylor dig into when to let a six stand, when to push for an eight, how finance leaders train stakeholders to speak up earlier, and why AI's biggest shift isn't the cost to produce analysis, it's the cost to consume it. If you run planning cycles, own a budget, or sit between execs and operators, this one is for you.
Chapters:
00:00 — Cold open: "Alignment is overrated"
00:58 — Show intro
01:07 — Welcome + guest intro: Taylor Otstot, VP Finance at Dashlane
01:29 — The Hot Take: alignment vs. surfacing dissent
03:17 — The "no sevens allowed" confidence poll
05:40 — Do it blind or in the open? Training your stakeholders
07:00 — When to accept a six, and when to push for an eight
09:20 — Operationalizing: tracking confidence scores over time
10:20 — Numbers over words: the HBR study on "never" and "always"
11:20 — Rapid fire: the most common finance team mistake
12:00 — Rapid fire: advice for finance leaders scaling their team
13:10 — Rapid fire: the next five years in finance (AI and the cost to consume)
14:10 — The power of subtraction
14:30 — Close
23 Apr 2026
Not all cash burn is created equal - with Diya Sagar
Every venture-backed startup burns cash. The question is whether that burn is an investment or a slow walk toward bankruptcy.
In this episode of The 10x Finance Podcast, Albert Gozzi sits down with Diya Sagar, CFO at AWA Studios, to break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in startup finance: the difference between good cash burn and bad cash burn.
Diya shares the framework she uses to evaluate spend, how to tell the two apart on a cash flow statement (spoiler: you can't, fully), where most teams go wrong on marketing budget, and how to coach non-finance budget owners on thinking in costs versus benefits without turning every conversation into a spreadsheet.
If you're a finance leader, founder, or budget owner at a high-growth company, this one is 15 minutes well spent.
Chapters
00:00 — Cold open: Not all cash burn is created equal
00:49 — Welcome to The 10x Finance Podcast
01:07 — Introducing Diya Sagar, CFO at AWA Studios
01:36 — The Hot Take: Good burn vs. bad burn
02:54 — How to tell the good from the bad
04:33 — Why cash flow statements don't give you the whole picture
05:53 — The marketing spend trap: brand vs. growth
07:39 — Brand spend vs. growth spend at different stages
08:37 — Risk, reward, and long-term contracts
10:48 — Coaching non-finance budget owners
12:42 — Rapid fire: the one mistake finance teams repeat
13:25 — Rapid fire: advice for scaling finance teams
13:54 — Rapid fire: the trend that will shape the next five years
14:21 — Wrap
10 Feb 2026
AI's role in transforming finance - with Chris Mossa
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcasts), Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) and Chris Mossa (linkedin.com/in/chrismossa) discuss the evolving role of AI in finance, particularly its impact on financial modeling and the importance of human oversight. They explore the challenges of integrating AI into financial workflows, the significance of effective prompting, and the balance between learning and scaling in finance. The conversation also touches on the future of finance roles as storytelling becomes increasingly vital in the industry.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Graphite and AI in Finance
01:11 The Impact of AI on Financial Services
04:21 Challenges of AI in Financial Modeling
06:10 The Importance of Prompts in AI
09:12 Balancing Learning and Scaling in Finance
11:56 Rapid Fire Questions and Key Takeaways
29 Jan 2026
How SaaS pricing is about to change - with Johnnie Walker
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcasts), Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) and Jonnie Walker (https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbcwalker/) discuss the evolving landscape of finance, particularly in relation to SaaS pricing models and the challenges of forecasting revenue in a usage-based world. They explore the complexities of financial projections, the role of finance teams as buyers, and the importance of change management in adopting new tools. The conversation highlights the exciting yet challenging times in finance, driven by technological advancements and shifting market dynamics.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Modern Finance Challenges
02:52 The Evolution of SaaS Pricing Models
05:45 Forecasting Revenue in a Usage-Based World
09:04 The Complexity of Financial Modeling
11:53 The Role of Finance Teams as Buyers
14:42 Rapid Fire Insights on Finance Trends
20 Jan 2026
The 20/80 rule for modern FP&A teams - with Karsten Loose
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcasts), Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) and Karsten Loose (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karstenloose/) discuss the evolving landscape of finance and accounting, emphasizing the need for finance teams to shift their focus from traditional FP&A practices to more forward-looking strategies. They explore the role of AI in automating tasks, the importance of actionable insights from reporting, and the necessity of accountability in financial planning. Karsten shares practical advice for finance leaders on how to effectively scale their teams and leverage technology to enhance decision-making.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Modern Finance Challenges
01:03 Rethinking FP&A: A Bold Perspective
06:09 The Role of AI in Finance
11:21 Transforming Reporting into Actionable Insights
16:46 Building Accountability in Financial Planning
17:36 Rapid Fire Insights on Finance Leadership
13 Jan 2026
The hidden complexity of B2B finance - with Axel Amar
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcasts), Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) speaks with Axel Amar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelamar/) about the complexities of finance in B2B versus B2C environments. They explore the challenges of forecasting, the importance of understanding business drivers, and the evolving role of finance leaders in organizations. Axel shares insights from his experiences at Turo and Airbyte, emphasizing the need for finance teams to communicate effectively and adapt to changing technologies, particularly AI.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Finance Challenges
01:28 B2B vs B2C Finance Dynamics
06:36 Learnings from B2C to B2B
10:36 The Complexity of Forecasting in B2B
12:02 Rapid Fire Insights and Advice
6 Jan 2026
Board meetings shouldn’t be about reporting - with Alysaa Co
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcasts), host Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) interviews Alysaa Co (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alysaa-co/) to discuss the evolving landscape of board meetings and the importance of focusing on strategic priorities rather than granular reporting. They explore effective reporting strategies, the balance of power between CEOs and board members, and the significance of time management in meetings. Elisa shares insights on preferred materials for board meetings and the future of finance with AI integration.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests
01:06 Understanding Bain Capital Ventures
02:00 Rethinking Board Meeting Dynamics
05:46 The Importance of Context in Reporting
08:43 Balancing CEO and Board Input
11:35 Effective Time Management in Board Meetings
13:20 Preferred Formats for Board Materials
15:54 Rapid Fire Insights on Finance Trends
2 Dec 2025
Why weekly reporting matters - with Brandon Sullivan
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcast), host Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) interviews Brandon Sullivan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsullivan2x/), CFO at 2x Marketing, about transforming finance operations through weekly reporting cadences. Brandon shares the importance of real-time monitoring of business metrics and the impact it has on board engagement. He emphasizes the need for continuous course correction in business strategies to ensure alignment with goals and improve overall dynamics within the organization.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to 2X Marketing and Brandon Sullivan
02:34 The Importance of Weekly Financial Reporting
07:14 Metrics That Matter: Identifying Key Performance Indicators
09:39 Tools and Technology in Financial Reporting
11:54 Cultural Resistance and Stakeholder Buy-In
13:23 Common Mistakes in Financial Reporting
15:25 Rapid Fire Questions with Brandon Sullivan
18:45 Podcast Outro
18 Nov 2025
How to close your books faster - with Parker Gilbert
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the10xfinancepodcast/), host Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) and guest Parker Gilbert (https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-gilbert-99483298/) discuss the intricacies of closing financial books faster. They explore the evolution of finance teams, the importance of understanding maturity cycles, and the balance between speed and accuracy in financial reporting. The conversation also highlights common mistakes finance teams make, the significance of collaboration between finance and accounting, and the future impact of AI on finance processes.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Closing Books Faster
02:31 Understanding the Maturity Cycle in Finance
04:19 Evolution of Closing Processes
06:51 Identifying Workflow Dependencies
08:58 Balancing Speed and Accuracy
11:01 Improving Collaboration Between Finance Teams
13:08 Common Mistakes in Finance Teams
15:05 Hiring for Intangibles in Finance
16:22 The Future of AI in Finance
11 Nov 2025
How to get paid faster - with Ali Hussain
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcast), host Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/) and guest Ali Hussain (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hussain786/) discuss the evolution of collections in finance, the role of AI in revenue automation, and the importance of data hygiene in speeding up payment processes. They explore common bottlenecks in invoicing and share insights on how finance teams can improve their operations to get paid faster. The conversation also touches on trends shaping the future of finance, emphasizing the need for flexibility and innovation in financial practices.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Revenue Automation
02:12 The Evolution of Collections Process
04:59 Identifying Bottlenecks in Invoicing
09:32 Strategies for Getting Paid Faster
12:19 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights
4 Nov 2025
What the best run startups have in common - with Greg Capitolo
In this episode of the 10x Finance Podcast (https://www.getaleph.com/podcast), host Albert Gozzi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertgozzi/)and guest Greg Capitolo (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregcapitolo/) discuss the common traits of successful startups, the importance of financial understanding among leadership teams, and the role of finance in driving growth. They emphasize the need for collaboration across teams, the significance of building a finance function early in a startup's lifecycle, and the impact of AI on the finance industry. The conversation concludes with rapid-fire questions that provide insights into common mistakes and advice for finance leaders.
Learn more about Aleph at https://www.getaleph.com/ (https://www.getaleph.com/)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Startup Finance
01:46 Common Traits of Successful Startups
03:20 The Role of Leadership in Financial Understanding
06:25 Collaboration Across Teams for Financial Success
10:14 Building a Finance Function Early
13:52 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights
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