In technology, three CEO profiles continually present themselves when it comes to the handling of finances.   In each case, the CEO has a blind spot or a persistent, nagging feeling that help is needed.  The self-aware executive recognizes that with rapidly changing business models and dynamics, expert financial management is a requirement for their business and financial expertise must be represented on their team.  However, their hesitancy continues.

Do any of these sound like you?

• The Discomforted – This executive is less certain about company finances and controls than setting the vision, strategy, customer interaction or sales approach but feels they “should” be focused on finances.
• The Bootstrapper  – Many founders who have created their businesses are totally hands-on and feel no one know their business like they do. These executives are rarely adept at the fine points, such as finding new sources of capital or know what equity investors want.
• The Ambivalent – This CEO knows deep down that they are not the right person to be overseeing finances but “doesn’t know what they don’t know” and therefore have become the default finance executive because they don’t see another way out.