Being great with numbers may open the door—but it’s your emotional intelligence that keeps you in the room.
In this episode, Erik Nakamura—CFO of Journal Technologies—joins hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy to explore how emotional intelligence (EQ) is transforming the modern CFO role from number cruncher to strategic business partner.
With 25+ years of experience across startups, public companies, IPOs, and CFO consulting, Erik shares real-world insights on how today’s finance leaders can lead with empathy, drive culture, and communicate with clarity.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Erik’s three pillars for choosing the right company as a CFO.
- Why EQ matters more than IQ in building high-performing teams.
- How CFOs can become trusted communicators, not just financial enforcers.
- Why Erik says CFO should also mean Chief Feelings Officer.
- How coaching his kids in sports shaped his leadership style.
- The value of mentorship, humility, and curiosity in finance.
“You want to treat people how they want to be treated. That takes emotional intelligence. That’s how you build trust—and trust is everything.” — Erik Nakamura
Whether you're hiring your first CFO, leading a finance team, or just exploring how to grow your leadership skills, this episode is packed with tactical advice and human-first leadership insights.
Chapters:
- 00:53 Meet Erik Nakamura: A Journey Through Finance
- 01:21 Erik's Career Highlights and Lessons Learned
- 03:27 The Three Pillars of Choosing the Right Company
- 07:43 Assessing Company Culture and Leadership
- 12:07 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
- 16:28 The Evolving Role of the CFO
- 18:52 The Importance of Storytelling in Finance
- 19:30 Adapting Communication for Different Audiences
- 20:23 Coaching and Mentorship in Leadership
- 22:34 The Role of EQ in a CFO's Daily Practice
- 24:15 Building Relationships and Culture in Finance
- 26:37 The Journey to Confidence and EQ Mastery
- 31:19 The Impact of Coaching on Professional Growth
Watch this episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/lYktfwG2w44?si=Sz3CdbO-anAITqTr
Connect with Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eriknakamura/
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlouisy/
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenepearl/
The Growth-Minded CFO podcast aims to challenge the status-quo and explore how the best CFOs approach their work and lives. Hosts Lauren Pearl (Fractional CFO, 3-time Founder and Startup Finance Instructor at NYU) and Alex Louisy (FinTech CEO and Y Combinator graduate) speak with inspiring finance and business leaders who’ll share what great CFOs are doing to support high-performing organizations.
This podcast is powered by Upflow - a Financial Relationship Management platform enabling faster payments, stronger customer relationships and efficient growth for your business.
Join thousands of next-level finance leaders and go from chasing invoices to engaging customers. Find out more at https://upflow.io/
Feedback or praise for the podcast? Want to get in touch? Reach out to our producer at joseph.sweeney@upflow.io
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