It's not all about the numbers! By GENCFO

Everyone is talking about AI, but are organisations focusing on the wrong problem? In this episode of So What?, Chris Argent and Mike Rose explore why adaptability may be a far more important capability than technology itself. From broken processes and failed transformation programmes to change management, curiosity and leadership, they unpack why simply layering AI onto existing ways of working rarely delivers the results organisations expect. 

Wassia Kamon joins Chris and Mike to discuss career growth, mentorship, leadership and the power of helping others succeed. From moving from Ivory Coast to Atlanta, to becoming a CFO at 37, Wassia shares how relationships, authenticity and paying it forward shaped her journey. 

Why do smart people still avoid difficult decisions? Chris and Mike sit down with Lesley Thomas to unpack the emotional side of leadership, money and workplace pressure. Together they explore uncertainty, AI, confidence, culture and why businesses can’t automate human trust.

In part two of this reflective special, Chris turns the tables on Mike as they look back at first jobs, office culture, early career chaos and how much the workplace has changed. From typing pools and Quattro Pro to waste licences, landfill sites and hybrid working, Mike reflects on the strange, formative and occasionally terrifying experiences that shaped his career — and what they reveal about leadership, autonomy, mentoring and the future of work.

In this reflective special, Chris and Mike look back at how work has changed since Chris first entered the workplace in the 1990s. From paper invoices, handwritten ledgers and strict office hierarchies to AI assistants, flexible working and side hustles, they explore what has improved, what has been lost, and what the next 30 years of work might look like.

*** Trigger warning *** This episode covers work stress and suicide. Chris and Mike are joined by Cris Beswick, strategic advisor and keynote speaker on leadership, culture and innovation-led growth. What begins with AI, transformation and the BBC quickly turns into one of the podcast’s most honest conversations yet, covering burnout, vulnerability, leadership masks, and why “I don’t know, what do you think?” might be one of the most powerful questions a leader can ask.

Chris and Mike record from New York with their first in-person US guest, Nathan Foulger, executive producer and fellow Brummie. They explore how AI is reshaping the creative industry, what finance leaders can learn from that disruption, and why the best leadership lesson might still be the simplest one of all: be nice.

Chris and Mike are joined by Doug Wilson OBE, founder of Verdant Edge and honorary professor at Nottingham Trent University. From environmental monitoring and pandemic response to coaching and leadership, Doug shares why more data isn’t always better. They explore how to focus on what really matters, communicate clearly, and make better decisions without getting lost in the noise.

In Part 2 of the GENCFO Live retrospective, Chris and Mike are joined by Mia, Millie, Zaki, and James from Liberty Global to bring a fresh perspective from the next generation of finance leaders. From AI and legacy systems to soft skills and career development, they explore what the future of finance really looks like — and why senior leaders might have more to learn than they think.