Episode 20. Future-Proof Finance: Playbooks, Podcasts, and 2025 Opportunities
Welcome to our November Edition of the Zanda Newsletter!
As we head towards December and look ahead to 2025, we wanted to share all the valuable resources we’ve published this month to help you navigate the evolving landscape of finance and leadership. From actionable playbooks to exclusive interviews and career opportunities, we’ve curated resources to support your strategy—whether you’re a founder building for the future or a CFO preparing for your next move.
In this issue, we sit down with Stan Williams, Partner at Fuel Ventures, to explore what makes a successful investment and the importance of resilience when fundraising. Plus, we celebrate the launch of our CFO Hiring Playbook, packed with VC advice on how to nail the CFO hiring process. We also share highlights from our CFO Roundtable discussions, insights from The GrowCFO Show, and a placement announcement worth sharing.
By being a part of this community you won’t miss a beat when it comes to all the opportunities, events and partnerships we have lined up. Notice something missing? Let us know how we can could improve.
We’d be super grateful, if you find these newsletters insightful to share them with your network. Also, remember to reach out if you have a Finance leader requirement or need any advice on how to elevate your finance function.
Enjoy this month’s edition and if there is anything you would like to see included, get in touch with [email protected]
Venture Voices | Fuel Ventures
For this episode of Venture Voices we sat down with one of the partners and directors at Fuel Ventures, Stan Williams.
Fuel Ventures ??is a Venture Capital firm that focuses on investing in early stage, European technology companies and Stan has been with the company for six and a half years, helping scalable tech deals on their journey toward exit.
In this episode we dive into Fuel Ventures reputation, discuss what they look for in investment and growth metrics and learn about the post-investment support they offer. Stan puts himself in a founder’s shoes and highlights the need for adaptability and resilience when fundraising.
Now Live | CFO Hiring Playbook
?? Our CFO Hiring Playbook is now LIVE!
Thank you to everyone who has already downloaded our CFO Hiring Playbook. We have received great feedback and we’re excited to see how our first playbook is utilised as hiring strategies are created for 2025.
Obviously we are biased, but we believe that the CFO hire is the most important hire that a founder can make and our CFO Hiring Playbook can equip you with the combined knowledge of VCs, CPOs and Founders, so you can feel educated on:
? What a great CFO looks like.
? What they can own and how they can free up the founder's focus.
? When you should bring a CFO onboard.
? What other finance leader options there are.
? How to assess and onboard a CFO.
Built with early stage founders in mind who are considering their first CFO hire, AS WELL AS the experienced founder looking to improve their hiring and onboarding process ahead of finding their next CFO.
We hope you can use this comprehensive playbook to guide you through the process with confidence!
CFO Roundtable Roundup | Thank you ??
We are proud to have hosted 20 roundtables for CFOs this year across London, New York, and Manchester.
It's been amazing to facilitate getting startup finance leaders together and 2024 has been quite the year, so it's been important to provide an outlet to share, learn and most importantly laugh.
Popular topics for conversation this year have been:
?? Fundraising strategies: scaling vs managing a limited runway
?? Metrics for driving capital & resource allocation decisions
?? Setting up the finance team and infrastructure for success
?? Strategies on how best to partner with a Founder / CEO
If you are a CFO based in London, Manchester or NYC who wants to expand their community and join the roundtable hype ?? Register below to join the 2025 waiting list.
Testimonial
We know that some roles come with unique challenges, but what makes all the difference is a strong, trusting partnership with our clients. Open, timely communication and mutual trust empower us to go the extra mile in finding that perfect fit ??
We recently had the pleasure of collaborating with Rita Kale, whose leadership and professionalism stood out at every turn. Her clear guidance and unwavering support not only made the process with Graviton Bioscience seamless but also incredibly rewarding. To all our partners—thank you for your trust and collaboration. Together, we turn hiring challenges into success stories!
If you require similar support, get in touch here ?
The GrowCFO Show | How Do You Become CFO Ready?
A few months ago, Andrew was invited to delve into the dynamic evolution of the Chief Financial Officer’s role on The GrowCFO show.
As businesses navigate a post-lockdown world, the conversation reveals how CFOs have transitioned from a focus on transformation to leading the charge in sustainable growth and efficient cash flow management.
Andrew and Kevin discuss the critical importance of soft skills in today’s financial landscape and the necessity for CFOs to blend entrepreneurial spirit with pragmatic decision-making, fostering an environment where finance leaders can thrive and drive substantial organizational impact.
Placement Announcement
We want to end this month with a big congratulations to Tom Curran for his recent placement at Storio group, Europe's leading digital consumer service for personalised photo products and gifts.
It was a pleasure collaborating with Storio and Stuart Wolstenholme (He/Him) on this role and we look forward to seeing the impact Tom will make in his new position as Group FP&A Director!
Get in touch with Andrew Waters, if you’re a UK-based Founder or VC looking to hire a finance leader with similar experience or calibre.
Current Opportunities
In this episode we have highlighted just a handful of our newest jobs, if you would like to see all the opportunities we are support on, head to our jobs board.
Select the opportunity you would like to apply for and send an application directly to the team member managing that job through LinkedIn.
UK -?Click to apply
If you have a similar role you are currently recruiting for, register your vacancy here!