277. First 100 Days as a CFO: The Career Strategies Every New CFO Needs to Know with John Lees

In this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Monro sits down with John Lees career strategist, coach, and author to unpack the real work behind a successful CFO transition.

John shares why your first 100 days actually begin long before day one, how to balance appearing confident with genuine curiosity, and the art of "checking in" with peers, stakeholders, and even the person on the security desk. He also digs into the people dynamics that make or break a new role: spotting enablers, navigating blockers, understanding personality at the top, and building trust across the C-suite fast.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The three biggest mistakes new CFOs make in their first 90 daysHow to practise "informed curiosity" to build credibility from day oneWhy due diligence on culture and people matters more than technical skillsHow to navigate difficult early conversations when the numbers don't add upThe check-in framework for 30, 60, and 90 days and why it matters

Links mentioned in this episode

John's Linkedin Learn more about John Lee's Associates John's Book "Get Ahead in Your New Job"Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.Subscribe to our Podcast!