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

Hillel Steiner – This Israeli CFO Secret Could Double Your Profits

This week James sits down with Hillel Steiner, founder of ProfitUp Financials and a fractional CFO based in Israel, to discuss the surprising advantages of working with international finance talent. Together, they dive into the differences between U.S. and Israeli business cultures, what founders often get wrong about funding, and how having a strong financial strategy can be the difference between staying stuck and scaling up.
Hillel also walks through a real-life case study of a BI company stuck in a high-revenue, low-profit cycle – and how he helped them transform by refocusing their service model and aligning their team more efficiently.
Stick around to the end for a massive bonus offer from Hillel that’s perfect for growing service-based companies.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Patrick Arnold – 7M Sales, Zero Profit: The Fix 

This week James sits down with Patrick Arnold, Director of Client Advisory Services at Elliott Davis, to explore the power of Client Advisory Services (CAS) and its game-changing impact on business profitability. Patrick shares an engaging case study of how he helped a golf cart business in South Carolina go from stagnant growth to seven-figure annual distributions – all by optimizing inventory, restructuring financial processes, and leveraging technology for smarter decision-making.
They also dive into the role of CAS in modern accounting, the evolution of public accounting firms to include more strategic, forward-thinking advisory, and how business owners can unlock hidden cash flow by better managing working capital.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Chris May – Fake CFOs Exposed: How to Spot the Difference

This week James sits down with Chris May, founder and CEO of Quadrant Advisory, to explore what separates real CFO strategy from everyday accounting. From turning around a $50M political consulting firm to navigating tricky incumbent finance teams, Chris shares practical advice for business leaders and fractional CFOs alike.
Together, they unpack key finance tools like sensitivity analysis, working capital management, and how to tell whether your books are just “done” – or actually useful. Chris also walks us through his own acquisition of a bookkeeping SaaS and what it taught him about keeping services laser-focused.

Listen Now »