The Venture-Backed CFO: Mastering Boardroom Influence with Mark Dempster, Partner at Founders Circle Capital

Episode notes

In this episode of CFO Weekly, Mark Dempster, Founder & Chief People Officer at The Circle by Founders Circle Capital , joins Megan Weis to explore how peer community has become essential infrastructure for CFOs navigating the intense pressure of pre-IPO growth. Mark brings a rare perspective shaped by decades at the intersection of leadership, brand, and venture capital, having previously served as the marketing partner at Sequoia Capital where he was among the first to create this role at a venture capital firm. With his deep background in brand strategy and relationship management, Mark shares how The Circle, a private leadership community for CXOs, has evolved from accidental dinner conversations into a structured peer-to-peer environment where finance leaders can be vulnerable, process uncertainty, and build the confidence needed to scale themselves and their companies. Currently serving as Founder & Chief People Officer at The Circle by Founders Circle Capital, Mark oversees leadership services for the firm's CXO community, driving vision and culture internally while supporting CFOs through one of the most scrutinized phases of their careers.