Chris Franz, Author at The Financial Executives Journal

The Silent Cost of Decision Fatigue in Leadership

When everything is urgent, nothing is wise.That sentence may appear deceptively simple, but it speaks of one of the most pervasive threats facing modern leaders: the erosion of decision quality under constant…

Professional Development

Chris Franz

5 mins read

The CFO Turnover Contradiction: Why So Many Are Leaving, And So Few Are Landing

📍 chrisfranz1.substack.com The CFO seat has never been hotter, or harder to keep warm. According to a recent report by The Times (link here), CFO turnover has reached its highest level in six years. More…

Career Growth·Uncategorized

Chris Franz

2 mins read

What You Can Control: 10 Strategic Actions for Job Seekers

More than seven million Americans are in transition, and not by choice. Most have stories that do not fit cleanly into drop-down menus or keyword filters. These are people with real experience,…

Career Growth

Chris Franz

16 mins read

Shedding the Shadow Skin: An Open Dialogue on Executive Growth and the Modern CFO

We all carry a shadow skin. Not physically, of course, but mentally and emotionally. It is the version of ourselves built over time by pressure, disappointment, fear, and misinterpreted success. For CFOs…

CFO and Leadership Catalyst

Chris Franz

5 mins read

Reclaiming the Process: Breaking the Speed/Scale Trap in Hiring

After publishing The Illusion of Progress, The Erosion of Trust, a reader messaged me with a question that stuck: “What do you see as the first step for leaders who are ready…

Career Growth·Technology

Chris Franz

5 mins read

Photo by sculpies / Adobe Stock

The Long Game: Rory McIlroy, the Masters, and What Endurance Reveals About Leadership

In a world where patience often feels like a liability, Rory McIlroy offers a masterclass in what long-term commitment can actually achieve. The story is not about a single putt, a single…

CFO and Leadership Catalyst

Chris Franz

5 mins read

The Glass Cannon: Leading When Strength Is Fragile

Recently, I posted about the concept of a “glass cannon.” It’s a term borrowed from gaming, used to describe a character that delivers massive damage but has almost no defense. It’s powerful,…

CFO and Leadership Catalyst

Chris Franz

5 mins read

The Illusion of Progress, The Erosion of Trust

When I wrote “The Great Talent Paradox,” I opened the door to a conversation many hiring leaders have felt but struggled to articulate. There is a persistent and growing disconnect between what…

Career Growth

Chris Franz

4 mins read

From Boardrooms to Backups: Leadership Lessons from a Clogged Sink

It was a long day of meetings. Back-to-back sessions with our executive team. Strategy alignment with the board. A call with investors, a team update, and a final networking dinner that stretched…

Professional Development

Chris Franz

6 mins read

The Great Talent Paradox

Introduction The labor market is sending conflicting signals. On the one hand, companies and recruiters lament the scarcity of top-tier talent, expressing frustration over unfilled leadership roles and a dwindling pool of…

Career Growth

Chris Franz

6 mins read