Leadership for the CFO is the first book to place finance at the center of the leadership conversation. Written from the perspective of a seasoned CFO and grounded in the depth of leadership scholarship, it decodes what it really takes to lead from the top finance seat at a time when the role is evolving faster than ever. Drawing on cutting-edge research, real-world CFO cases, and exclusive access to scenes from Crossroads Life—an award-winning film about a CFO’s leadership journey—the book delivers insights that are both rigorous and relatable.

As the CFO role expands, finance leaders must rise to new levels of influence across the C-suite and throughout their organizations. More than ever, they face critical questions: How can CFOs influence non-finance stakeholders and communicate with real impact? What blind spots hold even the most capable leaders back from developing talent? And what’s the smartest path from the CFO chair to the CEO seat?

Dr. Emilia Bunea, CFA, is a leadership lecturer at VU University Amsterdam, as well as co-founder and CEO of Ed.movie, a California-based edutainment company. She served in CFO and CEO roles at large financial corporations, most recently as CEO of Metlife Romania, and previously as CFO of ING Insurance Europe, and currently serves on the board of directors of an asset management company.

Dr. Bunea received her Ph.D. in Organisational Leadership from VU Amsterdam, her MBA from University of Washington, and is a CFA charterholder. She delivers lectures and keynotes on leadership at business schools, companies, and events around the world. Her research was published in Human Resource Management Review, Corporate Governance - An International Review, Frontiers in Psychology, Academy of Management Proceedings, and shared through outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Les Échos.