Revisiting: Ilana Esterrich (CFO @ Planned Parenthood) On Leading Beyond The Numbers

<p>If your role as CFO stops at the numbers, you’re already behind.</p><p>Ilana Esterrich, CFO at Planned Parenthood, breaks down what it actually means to lead in today’s environment—from building resilient teams to operating in constant uncertainty.</p><p>With a background in the military, Ilana brings a unique perspective on leadership, discipline, and adaptability—showing how finance leaders can step into a far more strategic role inside their organisations.</p><p>In this episode, we cover:</p><ul><li>What a “growth-minded” CFO really looks like in practice</li><li>How to lead finance teams through uncertainty and change</li><li>Lessons from the military that translate to modern leadership</li><li>Moving from tactical execution to strategic impact</li><li>Why curiosity and continuous learning matter more than ever</li></ul><p>About our guest:</p><p>Ilana Esterrich is the CFO at Planned Parenthood, where she leads financial strategy in a complex, high-stakes environment. With a background in the military, she brings a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and team development.</p><p>The Growth-Minded CFO is the podcast for finance leaders who want to go beyond the numbers and play a bigger role in driving growth.</p><p>Hosted by Alex Louisy (CEO at Upflow) and Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO and Founder), the show explores how modern CFOs are building, leading, and scaling high-performing organisations.</p><p>This podcast is powered by Upflow - helping businesses get paid faster, strengthen customer relationships, and grow more efficiently. Learn more at upflow.io</p><p>Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io</p><p>Want to recommend a guest? Apply via our form: https://insights.upflow.io/apply-to-be-a-guest-on-the-growth-minded-cfo-podcast</p>