James Kennedy sits down with Luca Aversa, corporate finance advisor and fractional CFO based in Northern Italy, to explore why banking relationships, timing, and disciplined financial strategy can be a true superpower for growing businesses. From Luca’s early career inside major Italian banks to advising SMEs across manufacturing, construction, real estate, and distribution, this episode dives into how founders can secure funding, choose the right financial partners, and move beyond rigid budgeting toward more adaptive, strategic finance models.
Drawing parallels between karate and CFO decision-making, Luca explains why timing matters more than force, how scenario planning builds lender confidence, and why concepts like Beyond Budgeting, North Star metrics, and OKRs are reshaping modern finance leadership.
About Luca Aversa:
Luca Aversa is a corporate finance advisor and fractional CFO with over a decade of experience supporting small and mid-sized enterprises (€5M–€50M revenue) across Italy and Europe. He began his career at Intesa Sanpaolo, one of Europe’s largest banking groups, where he worked in corporate banking while completing his studies. Luca later earned a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from Bocconi University and transitioned into advisory work during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Today, through LA Corporate Finance, Luca helps founders and leadership teams navigate bank financing, build multi-year investment plans, implement modern budgeting frameworks, and align financial strategy with long-term business goals.
What You’ll Learn:
● Karate & CFO Mindset: Why timing, discipline, and commitment matter more than brute force in business decisions.
● Inside Corporate Banking: What Luca learned working directly with SMEs inside a major European bank.
● Leaving Security for Impact: Why he left banking during the financial crisis to become a fractional CFO.
● Financing a Startup from Scratch: How a €50K idea became a pan-European manufacturing business through structured planning.
● Choosing the Right Banks: How to match companies with the right mix of national, regional, and specialist lenders.
● Scenario Planning That Wins Funding: Why lenders trust businesses that prepare base, worst-case, and upside plans.
● Beyond Budgeting: How rolling forecasts and flexible resource allocation outperform rigid annual budgets.
● North Star Metrics & OKRs: Aligning finance, operations, and strategy around what truly drives long-term value.
Episode Highlights:
“Karate teaches you that timing matters more than strength and business works the same way.”
“A strong business plan isn’t just about Plan A. Banks want to see Plan B and Plan C too.”
“Traditional budgets can limit growth – flexibility and continuous planning create resilience.”
“The right financial partner can change the entire trajectory of a company.”
More About Luca’s Role:
Through LA Corporate Finance, Luca partners with founders as an external CFO – bridging the gap between strategy, finance, and banking execution. He specializes in bank financing, investment planning, scenario analysis, and strategic budgeting, helping leadership teams gain credibility with lenders, maintain liquidity through growth, and make smarter long-term decisions. Luca’s approach blends deep banking insight with modern management tools, ensuring finance supports momentum rather than restricting it.
