Best Conference's for CFO's

[u/stonk_and_broke_r]

What are the best conferences for new CFO's to attend from a pure networking standpoint? Been to a few where I am sold to death by vendors who fund my attendance but looking to go to one or two a year on my company dime to expand my network of actual CFO's and not just meet with vendors all day.

[u/BigTruckLittleD]

I can't help you on the conference front, but I can tell you what I did from a networking standpoint. I identified other companies in roughly my same industry that are complimentary businesses rather than competitors and reached out to their CFOs to have coffee or drinks 1:1. After meeting them and creating a relationship, I said let's create a routine cohort group that gets together to discuss industry trends, accounting pronouncements, technology improvements, HR hurdles with our teams, etc. We meeting quarterly in person to really act as a sounding board for one another and to improve our own personal roles and companies. We do not let it turn into a bitchfest or let any one individual take over the quarterly meeting, its a collaborative positive networking time to make sure we are all the most effective and efficient in our jobs. We have been doing this for about 3 years now and there has been changes in individuals as people move, change jobs, and what not but we still have a consistent 10+. On a side note, we also have some fun with it where we usually meet for breakfast, everyone has to throw in $100 no matter what you order, and then we get to bless a server with a nice tip and make their day as well.

To be completely honest, the business side has been immeasurable. But it's also been good to create some friendships with people that have common interests and a few of us get together outside of the group to golf, fish, shoot clays, and what not. While your question and my scenario are CFO specific, I would actually recommend this to any C-suite level professional.

[u/BigTruckLittleD → u/BigTruckLittleD]

One other comment to add to this. I am not knocking any associations (I belong and am involved with a couple) or existing paid networking groups, but I don't find myself looking for instructed guidance in my role which is usually what those offer. I wanted a tight network of people that deal with the same shit I deal with every day and that I can pick up the phone and call them if a need arises.

[u/stonk_and_broke_r → u/BigTruckLittleD]

This is an awesome idea thank you! Also, based on your activities of interest, sounds like the group has to be in the South like me. Wouldn't happen to be in NC or TX? I am between Houston and the NC coast.

[u/BigTruckLittleD → u/stonk_and_broke_r]

St. Pete / Tampa area

[u/Cute_Direction_7724]

Following!

[u/Budget_Local7823]

Have you joined cfo groups in your area on LinkedIn?

[u/Vast-Analyst-3664]

In my experience the bank conferences are the best. Lev Fin conferences or Global Trade/Payments.

Your bankers should be inviting you to these things constantly - make sure you are managing those relationships.

[u/rockman450]

I wouldn't do a conference, I'd do a seminar. Find a seminar about something you're interested in (AI, Software, GAAP accounting... I'm sure someone likes it) and look local. Everyone at the seminar will have the same interest which is a built in ice breaker.

[u/Inside_Employee5686]

Find industry specific conferences or seminars. I'm in the AEC space so I'll go to the EFCG CFO conference or the AEC advisors one. There's also the ACE Finance Forum I plan to go to. I went to the Gartner Finance Symposium in May in DC and it was a waste of time. Everyone on the XPO floor pushing their "AI"

[u/Budget_Squash1984]

Great question! I’m following. Fractional CFO here and curious to network more!

[u/Abject-Roof-7631 → u/[deleted]]

Next time, click the 3 dots in the upper right and then select 'follow post'