CBO Speaks

CBO Speaks from NACUBO showcases our most seasoned CBO colleagues from top institutions around the country as they share stories of their journey as business officers. Their experiences inspire us and show us what's possible in our own work.

CBO Speaks is a education podcast hosted by NACUBO, with 174 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

NACUBO hosts CBO Speaks, a education show with 174 episodes published.

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  Episode #1

  Educator First, Rule Enforcer Second: Building Trust in Higher Ed Finance with Case Western Reserve CBO Brian Burnett

  Sep 18, 202645 minS13

  Brian Burnett is executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In this episode, Burnett joins host Melissa Farley to talk about his unconventional path from a Colorado state budget analyst to chief financial officer at five different universities, why he's convinced patience beats fast decisions under pressure, and the Finance Academy model he's built at every institution he's served to open up the budget process to faculty and staff. "You work for an educational institution," Burnett says, recalling advice a mentor gave him early in his career as a chief business officer. He took the lesson to heart, building his leadership style around transparency rather than authority. "You see yourself as an educator first and a rule enforcer second, and I think you'll have more success." Burnett goes on to discuss how that mindset led him to create the Finance Academy, a recurring walkthrough of institutional finances for faculty and senior leaders, at every university he's served since. Join us for a conversation with Burnett as he discusses how Case Western Reserve is approaching AI adoption across teaching, research, and operations, his approach to building and developing the next generation of chief business officers, and the "Colors of Money" budgeting taxonomy behind the legacy of transparency he hopes to leave. Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

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  Episode #10

  Trust Before You Need It: Financial Resilience and Radical Transparency with Vermont State Colleges CBO Sharron Scott

  May 15, 202641 minS12

  Sharron Scott is the chief financial and operating officer for the Vermont State Colleges in Montpelier, Vermont. In this episode, Scott joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating one of public higher education's most visible financial crises, making the case for radical transparency with boards and stakeholders, and how a systems-thinking mindset shaped her approach to institutional transformation. "Protect the organization's options and protect your own," Scott says. She explains that liquidity creates space for thoughtful decision-making, while trust gives leaders the flexibility to act without triggering resistance from boards, legislatures, and the communities they serve. "Both of those things require you to be honest—really honest—early, well before conditions are going to force your hand." Scott goes on to discuss how that combination of fiscal discipline and proactive transparency became the foundation of her approach as the Vermont State Colleges climbed from eight days of cash on hand in 2020 to roughly four months of reserves by the time of this recording. Join us for a conversation with Scott as she discusses what it means to lead with a "mile wide, inch deep" knowledge base, how she learned to put people before dollars—and why that shift made the financial decisions easier—and the advice she'd give to aspiring CBOs who bring a nontraditional background to the table. Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

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  Episode #9

  I Can Do Hard Things: Resilience, Leadership, and the Long Game with New England College of Optometry CBO Rich Kelley

  May 1, 202640 minS12

  Rich Kelley is chief financial officer at New England College of Optometry in Boston. In this episode, Kelley joins host Melissa Farley to talk about the leadership philosophy he calls transparent accountability, the financial planning challenges facing tuition-dependent institutions, and the lasting value of mentorship and professional networks in higher education. "I started to realize that the more important skill is creating the conditions to help others arrive at the right answer," Kelley says—whether that means a provost, a president, or someone in admissions. This shift in perspective, from needing to have every answer to empowering others to find them, forms the foundation of a leadership approach he calls transparent accountability. "That just means that I'm as clear as I can be about what I expect, as clear as I can be about what I know, and transparent about the things that I don't know." Kelley goes on to discuss how this philosophy has helped him build credibility and trust across the institution, from the finance office to the senior leadership table. Join us for a conversation with Kelley as he discusses how endurance athletics have shaped his professional resilience, why financial jargon can become a barrier to collaboration rather than a badge of expertise, and what he sees ahead for higher education as institutions navigate demographic pressures, federal uncertainty, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Connect with Rich Kelley LinkedIn Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

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  Episode #8

  Relationships Are the Strategy: Building Career and Institution with Vassar College CBO Bryan Swarthout

  Apr 3, 202642 minS12

  Bryan Swarthout is vice president for finance and administration at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. In this episode, Swarthout joins host Melissa Farley to talk about navigating the transition from corporate finance to higher education, leading with influence and servant leadership, and managing a broad institutional portfolio with strategic intentionality. "Be open to opportunities—you never know what project, role, or skill you could build through a new experience that will be the one to help you advance throughout your career," Swarthout says. He urges aspiring finance leaders to experiment, stretch beyond comfort zones, and invest time in learning the full breadth of the organizations they serve. "Build those relationships because they will serve the work that you do very well, as well as your career." Swarthout goes on to discuss how relationship-building is the connective tissue of effective higher ed finance leadership—enabling the trust and influence that moves people and institutions in the same direction. Join us for a conversation with Swarthout as he discusses leveraging AI as both an efficiency tool and a team-building opportunity, applying a mission-first framework to high-stakes financial decisions, and mentoring the next generation of higher education finance leaders. Check out NACUBO' other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

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  Episode #7

  Beyond the Balance Sheet: Creating Trust-Based Leadership with Oregon State University CBO Carla Hoʻā

  Feb 6, 202641 minS12

  Carla Hoʻā is vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. In this episode, Hoʻā joins host Melissa Farley to talk about building organizational resilience, leading through complexity, and transforming higher education through relationship-centered leadership. "The role of the CBO has changed over time... moving from a more transactional leadership to a strategic level of leadership," Hoʻā says. She emphasizes that modern higher education finance leaders must be catalysts who get out of their offices to find paths forward for their organizations. "We cannot be passive leaders in this space. We have to be catalysts for our organizations." Join us for a conversation with Hoʻā as she discusses navigating institutional scale, implementing AI in administrative systems, building trust through shared governance, and creating lasting organizational impact through people-centered leadership. Links Check out NACUBO's other podcasts! Career Conversations NACUBO in Brief

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