Cash Is Queen: Klaviyo’s Stef Layne Shares Lessons on Leading 3 IPOs

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