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Joe Diubaldo, host of “Next Moves,” interviews Shawn Wilson, a seasoned CFO with a rich background in various industries such as renewable energy, construction, professional services, business process outsourcing, and technology. Joe introduces Shawn as a strategic thinker who has significantly impacted both small and large organizations, with a unique approach to building great teams and a strong focus on culture and strategic development.
Shawn started as a Chartered Accountant (CA) with a large firm but quickly transitioned to a small CA firm where he developed a passion for entrepreneurship by working with pre-IPO clients. After moving into a role as a Controller, Shawn soon became CFO at 29, learning valuable lessons about financial management and resilience during a company’s bankruptcy. Since then, Shawn has held various leadership positions at companies like CanLift and Amp Solar Group where he has guided organizations through massive growth and transformation and cultivated a network of incredible individuals who have helped contribute to his career success.
Shawn’s Take on Making the Right Next Move
During the conversation with Joe, Shawn emphasized the importance of honesty, transparency, clear objectives, and accountability in evaluating potential ventures and partners. He stresses the need for discipline and the right team to operationalize entrepreneurial visions effectively. The conversation also highlighted the importance of managing stress, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining a balance between personal well-being and professional responsibilities.
The Role of the CFO within PE-Backed Companies
Shawn discussed how transitioning to private equity-backed companies involves significant changes, requiring a more structured and disciplined approach to achieve growth and meet stakeholder expectations. CFOs tend to be programmatic by nature, and the increased accountability and governance that come with working within a PE-backed company was welcomed. Shawn explained that, in the end, the goal of private equity is to create value within an organization and there must be alignment in objectives.
Creating Alignment in Growth Companies
Shawn believes that every organization needs to set clear departmental objectives with effective ways to measure them. He believes that once you have measurement, people can understand their impacts on their department’s objective and how it affects the company’s objective. When you have those two things, it creates transparency and clarity in how performance is managed and creates alignment across the organization.
Listen to the full conversation to hear more about Shawn’s insights on leadership, industry trends, capital raising, personal resilience, and effective communication. Shawn has had an incredible career journey, and his emphasis on work ethic, curiosity, and respect for colleagues underscores his approach to professional growth and team success.
Clarity has worked with people like Shawn Wilson and numerous C-level executives throughout their hiring and career journeys. If you’re trying to find the high-performing talent you need to build your finance, accounting and data analytics teams, we’re ready to help!
