From Philosophy to Finance: Funmi Oriji’s Global Career Journey In this episode of Member Spotlight on FinPod, Funmi Oriji shares her inspiring path from aspiring doctor to McKinsey consultant and Amazon finance leader. With warmth, resilience, and deep insight, Funmi reflects on the pivots that shaped her career from counting cash in her grandmother’s textile…
Many finance careers involve degrees and certifications. Both build knowledge and strengthen your qualifications, but they serve different purposes. Degrees establish theoretical foundations, while certifications offer focused learning tied to a specific career path. This guide breaks down how they differ in structure, cost, skill development, and career impact, so you can better understand how…
How Do Major Companies Plan for Long-Term Success and Stay Agile When Things Change? In this episode of What’s New at CFI, Duncan McKeen breaks down the essentials of corporate budgeting, why it’s critical for aligning strategy with execution, and how FP&A teams use budgeting to drive better decision-making across every department. Whether you’re a…
What is €STR? The Euro Short-Term Rate (€STR or ESTER) is the European Union’s official overnight benchmark interest rate. It reflects the average rate at which banks and financial institutions borrow euros overnight on an unsecured basis, meaning no collateral is used. Published by the European Central Bank (ECB), €STR provides a consistent reference point…
What is CORRA? The Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average (CORRA) is Canada’s primary risk-free interest rate benchmark. It reflects the cost of overnight borrowing through repurchase agreements (repos) secured by Government of Canada securities. In June 2024, CORRA officially replaced the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (CDOR) as Canada’s main reference rate for derivatives and other…
Finance professionals today face a problem that numbers alone can’t solve. While we celebrate growth stories and market dominance, the reality is that companies hit rough patches. Sometimes, those rough patches turn into financial cliffs. What separates companies that recover from those that don’t? It’s not luck. It’s recognizing trouble early and having the right…
Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is more than simple math—it’s the cornerstone of smart business decisions. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we dive deep into how companies weigh financial trade-offs, avoid common pitfalls, and use CBA to drive strategy. Learn how leading firms like Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Ford, and Quibi used (or misused) CBA to…
PhD to Corporate Finance & M&A? Gabriel Fung’s Unconventional Journey! Ever wondered how a PhD in Pathology transitions to high-stakes roles in Equity Research and Corporate Development? In this episode of Careers in Finance on FinPod, Gabriel Fung reveals his unique path from the lab to leading strategic M&A and partnerships at Exact Sciences in…
You’ve probably noticed AI agents in finance popping up everywhere, from trading desks to audit teams. But what exactly are AI agents, and why do they matter for a career in FP&A? Imagine a digital teammate constantly watching data, spotting issues instantly, deciding next steps, and acting without your input at every step. With tighter…
From steering company growth to valuing a business, financial modeling is the engine that powers high-stakes decision-making in finance. However, even the most carefully built model can fall short without real-time industry data. That’s why the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) and IBISWorld collaborated on a new whitepaper: Leveraging Industry Intelligence for Informed Financial Modeling and…
