What do IPOs, fitness coaching, and crisis management have in common? In this inaugural episode of our new mini-series, Treasury Trailblazers, host Rida Khan, VP of Marketing at Trovata, sits down with Stef Layne, Klaviyo’s VP of Treasury, Payroll, and Go-To-Market Compensation. With not one, not two, but three IPOs under her belt, Stef shares how she’s built resilience in high-stakes environments—from navigating crises like the SVB collapse to laying the groundwork for public company readiness with solid controls and processes.
And as if that weren’t impressive enough, she’s also a gym owner and certified fitness coach, balancing leadership in finance with coaching in the gym. She opens up about the parallels between coaching in the gym and leading global finance teams, and why treating bankers as partners is key to modern treasury success. It’s an episode full of tactical wisdom, candid reflections, and a few laughs about spreadsheets, sweat, and papercuts.
- IPO readiness starts early: Hear how building SOX controls and treasury infrastructure well before going public can drastically reduce chaos and improve strategic cash deployment post-IPO.
- Crises reveal character: Stef’s swift action during the SVB collapse—cutting exposure from 46% to 3% in a single day—highlights the importance of readiness, trust in your instincts, and a strong peer network.
- Fitness & finance parallels: Stef's coaching philosophy—progress over perfection, proper form, and the necessity of rest—mirrors her leadership style in treasury, underscoring the value of balance and patience.
- Treasurers deserve budget, too: Tips to advocate for budget for your own treasury team, to invest in the latest technology and attract top talent.
This episode is brought to you by Trovata. Trovata empowers everyone to analyze, report, forecast, move – manage cash like a pro – no matter who your business banks with. Save time, ensure data accuracy, and drive smarter decisions with access to your data across multiple banks and accounts. Learn more about Trovata at https://bit.ly/3JXHbcC.
About guest, Stef Layne:
Stef Layne is the Vice President of Treasury, Payroll, and GTM Compensation at Klaviyo, where she leads global financial operations, supports international expansion, and brings deep expertise in scaling teams through hyper-growth. With a track record that includes three successful IPOs (each valued over $1B), Stef has held senior treasury roles at leading tech companies like PayPal, Box, and Unity Technologies. She’s known for taking decisive action under pressure—most notably navigating the SVB collapse by swiftly reducing Klaviyo’s cash exposure from 46% to under 3%. Stef thrives at the intersection of finance, tech, and operations, and leads with authenticity and heart. A certified personal trainer and co-owner of The 5th Element Fitness, she brings the same energy and discipline to the gym as she does to the boardroom.
Connect with Stef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stef-layne/
About host, Rida Khan
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.