August 28, 2024

The Day Silicon Valley Bank Died

On this episode of the Gross Profit Podcast, James Kennedy sits down with Julia Leask, a seasoned Fractional FD/CFO at Leask Advisory Solutions. Julia shares her firsthand experiences and valuable insights from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, discussing the vital lessons learned during that tumultuous period.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Day Silicon Valley Bank Died
Loading
/

Show Notes

This week James Kennedy speaks with Julia Leask, a seasoned Fractional FD/CFO at Leask Advisory Solutions. Julia shares her firsthand experiences and valuable insights from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, discussing the vital lessons learned during that tumultuous period.

About Julia Leask: Julia Leask brings over two decades of financial expertise, primarily aiding innovative businesses in navigating complex financial landscapes. As a Fractional FD/CFO, Julia has a proven track record of enhancing financial management and strategy for a diverse range of companies. Her experience spans several industries, providing her with a robust understanding of financial crises management, strategic planning, and risk mitigation.

What You’ll Learn:

  1. Crisis Management: Julia’s account of managing financial stability during the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the immediate actions taken to safeguard client assets.
  2. Importance of Cash Management: Discussion on the critical role of effective cash management and contingency planning in times of financial uncertainty.
  3. Spreading Financial Risk: Insights into the strategies for diversifying financial risk across multiple institutions to prevent significant impacts from unexpected financial disruptions.

Episode Highlights:

  • “Julia, can you walk us through the scenario planning that took place during the Silicon Valley Bank crisis?”
  • “What are some key strategies you recommend for businesses to manage cash flow effectively during a crisis?”
  • “How important is it to spread financial risks, and what practical steps can companies take to mitigate these risks?”

From Julia’s Perspective: Julia emphasizes that understanding financial data profoundly and preparing for potential financial disruptions are crucial. Her expertise has enabled numerous businesses to not only survive but thrive by implementing robust financial strategies and maintaining flexibility in their financial operations.

This podcast is tagged under:

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Wendy Laxton – Fund Accounting Explained: Why Grant Money Gets Spent Wrong

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Wendy Laxton, founder of Laxton CFO Services, to unpack the “modern” version of fund accounting – how nonprofits manage restricted vs. unrestricted funds, align grant requirements with real-world operations, and avoid credibility-killing misallocations. Wendy shares how the 2008 recession unexpectedly led her into fractional CFO work, why niching down to nonprofits was a defining move, and what she’s learned from guiding organizations through system complexity – from overbuilt ERPs to intentionally “resetting” in QuickBooks and rebuilding structure over time.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Kerry Peters – Microsoft MVP Exposes the #1 ERP Mistake Companies Make

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Kerry Peters, Microsoft MVP and Co-Founder of New View Strategies, to unpack why so many ERP implementations fail – and how businesses can finally get the financial clarity, process efficiency, and operational visibility they were promised.

Kerry shares how her unique blend of corporate controller experience, ERP expertise, and a passion for business process has helped hundreds of companies turn struggling implementations into scalable, high-performing systems. From a publishing company with 21,000 general ledger accounts to organizations stuck in endless month-end closes, Kerry explains the root causes, the fixes, and how to prevent the pain in the first place.

She also reveals how she unintentionally built a thriving fractional CFO practice – simply by helping companies bridge the gap between software, people, and process.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Shane Bender – Agency Finances Are BROKEN – 3 Blind Spots Killing Your Profits

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with fractional CFO Shane Bender, founder of Bender CFO Services, to dig into the financial realities of running a marketing or digital agency. Using his love of weather models as a metaphor for forecasting, Shane explains why most agency owners are flying blind on margins, cash flow, and growth targets – and how better data, simple models, and discipline can turn chaos into clarity. From client-level profitability to weekly cash planning and “smarter” goals, this conversation is a practical roadmap for agencies that want to grow without blowing up their finances.

Listen Now »