#287 Why AI Hesitation Could Cost CFOs More Than Bad Decisions, Todd McElhatton, COFO, Zuora

Episode notes

.entry-img img{ display:none !important; } .single .hentry .entry-img{ display:none !important; } Delaying action on emerging technologies is often seen as the safest path for finance leaders. But in today’s environment, standing still can quietly erode competitiveness faster than visible missteps. For CFOs, the choice is no longer between perfection and experimentation; it is between shaping how intelligent tools transform their business model, or inheriting a cost base, tech stack, and operating rhythm that were designed for a world that no longer exists. The real risk now lies in missed efficiencies, slower decision cycles, and constrained strategic options when rivals are already compounding the benefits of data- and AI-enabled finance. In this GrowCFO Show episode, host Kevin Appleby speaks with Todd McElhatton , CFO of Zuora , about why hesitating on AI adoption could be more damaging for CFOs than making imperfect early decisions. They frame AI not as a distant future technology, but as an immediate strategic lever that will separate adaptive finance leaders from those who are left managing obsolete operating models.