Balancing Stability and Innovation: The CFO Playbook from Thumbtack

About This Episode

What does it take to lead a high-growth company through economic uncertainty, while still innovating for the future? 

Larry Roseman, Chief Financial Officer of Thumbtack, joins us to explore the modern finance leader's role in balancing resilience, agility, and long-term value creation. With a career spanning investment banking, accounting, and tech, Larry shares how he's redefined capital allocation, empowered decision-making across teams, and built a finance organization that thrives on trust and flexibility. 

Learn how to lead with clarity, empower innovation (without waste), and turn volatility into opportunity. 

Discussed in This Episode: 

• Why CFOs must shift from fixed annual planning to rolling investment cycles 
• The power of decentralized decision-making in fast-moving companies 
• How to empower teams with "envelope budgeting" and shared accountability 
• Why flexibility and financial discipline must go hand-in-hand 
• How to balance profitability and growth through portfolio-style capital planning 
• Tactics for encouraging innovation without a near-term ROI 

Episode Resources: 

• 4 Data-Backed Tips for Finance Leaders in Times of Increasing Uncertainty 
• Tariffs, Turbulence and Market Unrest: How FP&A Teams Can Lead Businesses Through 
• The Bridge Between Finance and Strategy: How To Become a More Strategic CFO 
• 13 Books Every CFO Should Read in 2025 
• What the CFO Reports to the Board of Directors (Template Included) 
• The Best FP&A Conferences for 2025 (Virtual and In-Person) 
• The State of Strategic Finance 2025 [Vena] 

Related Episodes: 

• The CFO as Compass: Navigating Turbulent Times with Myles Corson 
• CFO’s Balancing Act: Productivity and Efficiency 
• Driving Growth: The CRO-Finance Team Business Partnership