Strata Decision Technology Leadership & Management

Describe your new role. What does your day-to-day look like, and what are the biggest priorities you’re focused on addressing?

In my new role as CFO, I oversee the finance, corporate operations and legal teams, with a current focus on integrating two legacy teams following a significant merger in August 2023. My immediate priorities include building the right team structure, integrating enterprise applications and laying out a midterm roadmap for automation to streamline processes. Additionally, a key part of my day-to-day involves maturing our strategic and operating framework to efficiently execute on our growth strategies. I’m also dedicating time to understanding our business, from the industry and customers to the competitive marketplace, which is all new to me.

What has your career journey looked like so far? What skills are you bringing with you into your new role?

My career began at PwC in Arizona and later in Switzerland, where I learned to navigate fast-paced global environments. I then moved to Starwood Hotels, where I held roles in both corporate functions and hotel operations. Here, I developed key skills such as team management, communicating with owners, building automation and system improvements, and eventually worked in financial planning and analysis, where I consolidated information and reported trends to senior leadership.

Following Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood, I transitioned to STATS, a Vista PE-owned company. This experience sharpened my ability to operate in high-pressure environments, manage a global footprint and handle post-acquisition integrations, including the merging of systems and processes.

Most recently, I served as CFO at Pampered Chef, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. In this role, I deepened my understanding of strategic processes, fostered a culture of continuous improvement across the company, and honed my ability to influence cross-functional teams. These experiences have equipped me with the tools to effectively lead in dynamic and evolving environments.

What are you most excited to accomplish with your team over the next year?

I’m really excited about unifying our team under one system where we can win and grow together. This will allow us to identify synergies, streamline processes and implement automation improvements. A key focus will be building value-added work, such as internal business case development and reducing administrative burdens across the organization. Additionally, I’m eager to leverage AI and technology in our close process to drive efficiency and continue elevating the team’s overall impact.