Next Exit

#12: How to Lead a Public Company Through a Strategic and Operational Reset with Joseph Sanborn, CFO of EverQuote

In this episode, Dan speaks with Joseph Sanborn, CFO of EverQuote, about leading a public company through a full strategic and operational reset. Joseph shares how EverQuote navigated a severe industry downturn, exited non-core initiatives, refocused on its data and technology strengths, and rebuilt discipline around cash flow, profitability, and decision-making. Drawing on his background in investment banking, corporate strategy, and M&A, Joseph explains how CFOs build credibility during uncertainty, why clarity beats optimism with investors, and how aligning teams around fundamentals ultimately drove a significant recovery in shareholder value. This episode is a practical look at what modern CFO leadership really looks like when conditions turn. Key Takeaways: * How CFOs lead a reset during a downturn by simplifying strategy and doubling down on core strengths. * Why credibility with investors matters more than optimism when navigating public market pressure. * How aligning teams around cash flow and profitability changes behaviour across the organisation. * Why the CFO’s real leverage is decision-making, not reporting, especially in volatile markets. Subscribe to the Next Exit podcast. Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com

#11: The Decisions CEOs Make That Create Value with 6-time CEO Patrick Dennis

In this episode, Dan speaks with Patrick Dennis, a six-time CEO and seasoned private equity operator, about the decisions that create value, and why most leadership teams get this wrong. Patrick’s career spans leading global businesses through IPOs, complex restructurings, PE-backed transformations, and multiple exits, including serving as CEO of Avaya during a critical turnaround period. Drawing on decades of experience at the sharp end of decision-making, he explains how the best CEOs cut through noise early, identify the few decisions that truly matter, and avoid the complexity that destroys value. From “no-regret” moves in the first 60–90 days, to pricing discipline, operating focus, forecasting clarity, and exit readiness, this episode breaks down how experienced CEOs translate judgment into momentum, and momentum into value. Key Takeaways: * How CEOs identify the few decisions that actually create value, instead of pursuing too many initiatives at once. * Why the first 60–90 days matter most, and how “no-regret moves” build momentum early. * How focus, sequencing, and trade-offs outperform scale and complexity in PE-backed businesses. * Why pricing, forecasting discipline, and operating clarity are critical inputs to value creation and successful exits. * How experienced CEOs think about exits from day one, without running the business for the deal. Subscribe to the Next Exit podcast. Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com

#10: How to Build a $100B Business That Never Missed a Forecast with Keith Taylor, CFO of Equinix

In this episode, Dan speaks with Keith Taylor, CFO of Equinix, the $100B global digital infrastructure company and one of the longest-serving CFOs in the S&P 500. Keith shares how he helped build Equinix from a 10-person startup into a global market leader that delivered 88 consecutive quarters of revenue growth and missed a forecast only once in 25 years. From surviving the dot-com crash and restructuring billions in debt to leading global expansion across more than 75 markets, Keith explains how discipline, adaptability, and long-term thinking have shaped the business. He also breaks down his forecasting philosophy, why capital structure can make or break a company, and what it really takes to thrive as a public-company CFO in one of the most capital-intensive industries in the world. Key Takeaways: * How to build forecasting precision that keeps investors confident quarter after quarter. * How to balance growth and capital discipline through market crashes and global expansion. * How to lead through volatility with the right team, systems, and adaptability. * How to future-proof your finance function for an AI-driven world. Subscribe to the Next Exit podcast. Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com

#09: Fixing Churn and Cash Burn: How CFOs Build Exit-Ready SaaS Models with Neil Hodson

In this episode, Dan speaks with Neil Hodson, multi-time CFO, COO and now Director of LMS Digital, about how finance leaders can take control of SaaS businesses under pressure. Neil shares how he tackled high churn and cash burn at FONN, reshaped the sales and marketing model around contribution and ACV, and turned the business into a retention-led, profitable SaaS platform that successfully exited to Access Group. From applying his “as-is to to-be” framework, to demanding ROI on every pound spent, Neil explains how CFOs can move beyond spreadsheets to lead commercial change, safeguard cash runway, and always stay exit-ready. Key Takeaways: * How to assess your “as-is” reality and model the “to-be” plan that investors expect. * How to fix churn and cash burn by reshaping sales and marketing around contribution and ACV. * How to enforce ROI discipline so every pound spent drives retention and growth. * How to stay exit-ready by building forecasts, governance, and visibility into unit economics. Subscribe to the Next Exit podcast. Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com

#08: The War on Working Capital with CFO, Bob Gold

In this episode, Dan speaks with Bob Gold, Veteran CFO and PE Specialist, about his battle-tested approach to unlocking cash and stabilising businesses: the “War on Working Capital.” Bob breaks down how he takes day-one ownership of cash, sets up visual wallboards for AR, inventory, and AP, and drives cross-functional accountability through rapid standups. He shares lessons from 9 CFO seats across PE-backed and public companies, including why EBITDA can mislead operators, how to structure a practical 30/60/90 plan, and why the best CFOs act like operators, not bookkeepers. Key Takeaways: * Start with cash. Day 1 for any CFO is mapping sources and uses, tightening forecasting, and ensuring the business has liquidity before anything else. * Run a “War on Working Capital.” Use wallboards and 30-minute standups to make AR, inventory, and AP visible, assign ownership, and enforce countermeasures. * Build cross-functional accountability. Customer service, procurement, and payables must each own their piece of working capital. Finance can’t do it alone. * Measure what matters. Cash flow is the most accurate KPI; EBITDA (especially adjusted EBITDA) often obscures the true health of the business. Subscribe to the Next Exit podcast. Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com Check out Dan’s Private Equity-Grade Forecasting software, Kluster, here: https://www.kluster.com/ [https://www.kluster.com/] Send podcast guest pitches to: dan.thompson@kluster.com