In this masterclass Shifra Isaacs, developer Relations Advocate at Ascend.io, delves into her experience as data scientist, technical writer, and support lead providing fresh insights for FP&A and finance professionals.

In this episode:

• Data science vs business analytics
• Pulling data not yet able to be modeled
• Python for Excel
• The right models for risk scoring, variance analysis and forecasting
• Replicating a process with a new tool using AI
• How can we survive in an AI first world

Connect with Shifra Isaacs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shifra-isaacs/

Taylor Otstot, Vice President Finance, Dashlane joined GoDaddy (now a $30billion valued) domain registry, domain registrar and web hosting company before their IP. In 8 years he climbed to senior Director of Finance running an FP&A team of 14. From this experience and as VP Finance at DashLane he says he hires for 3 things: curiosity, ambition, and finance leaders who are service-oriented. “If you bring those three things to the table, you're able to wade through a lot of the ambiguity that comes with those decision making processes.”

Also in this episode:

• Finance and FP&A as antidote to the machine of Big 4
• 3- 4 years in audit as the “perfect amount”
• Getting to strategy in FP&A
• Partnership vs accountability as a false choice for FP&A
• Improv comedy having its moment in finance
• The Tarantino approach to finance presentations

Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorotstot/

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Dave Sackett is Co-Founder and CFO of ecommerce company, AIOne, and former CFO of semiconductor company, ULVAC Technologies. He is a vocal advocate for blockchain and AI and finance, bringing a blend of tech savvy, operational rigor, and a focus on “servant leadership" - that is putting the needs of the employees first and helping people develop and perform as highly as possible. He's a frequent keynote speaker, a Forbes contributor, and an active member of Financial Executives International.

• Cost accountant to CFO and AI leader
• How I practice servant leadership mindset as a CFO
• Being an introvert CFO leader and overcoming the challenges
• Costly failures of traditional forecasting in FP&A
• Where FP&A Software is going to be in 5 years
• Finance AI use cases
• FP&A as custodians of financial truth in AI age

Connect with Dave Sackett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesackett/