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Value Creation in an Evolving Market – The CFO Mandate Across VC-Backed, PE-Backed, and Public Companies
Every CFO is expected to create enterprise value – but the role looks fundamentally different depending on company ownership. Capital structure and financing, cash and liquidity management, board dynamics, and investor communication shape the CFO mandate differently across VC-backed, PE-backed, and public companies. Reporting cadence and data governance, value creation priorities, and compensation and equity structures also distinguish the role in each environment. And 2026 has sharpened the stakes: exits remain constrained even as megadeals reshape the M&A landscape, public-market activity is testing what "exit-ready" really means, and sponsors and boards alike are separating demonstrated value creators from financial engineers.
Our fall panel brings together CFOs from VC-backed, PE-backed, and public companies for a candid conversation about what value creation actually demands today – how the mandate diverges across ownership models, where CFOs are evaluated differently, and what separates a finance leader who drives enterprise value from one who just reports on it. Building on our January panel "What PE & VC Firms Expect from CFOs and Finance Operating Partners," this session widens the lens to include public company CFOs and takes the conversation deeper into the value creation mandate itself.
Panelists
- David Cooper – CFO, Renew Home. He also served as CFO of OhmConnect, Ripple Foods, Tile, Premier Nutrition Corporation, Satmetrix Systems, and Art.com.
- Lon Ensler – CFO, Momentus Space (MNTS). He held prior CFO roles at Ziteo Medical and Xradia.
Suzy Taherian – CFO, Carbon Upcycling Technologies. She previously served as CFO at 3Degrees Group, Xpansiv, Kinetic Systems, NobleIron, eCullet, and LanzaTech. Suzy also serves on the board of NewHold Investment Corp. (NHICU).
- Bonnie Tomei – CFO, International Battery Company. She previously held CFO roles at Salience Labs and Spectra7 Microsystems.
- Moderator: Larisa Rapoport – Principal, Baker Tilly
Special thanks to our event partners!
Baker Tilly – venue, content, and outreach partner
Robert Half – host and outreach partner
Riveron – content partner
REGISTRATION
FEI SFBA Members & Strategic Partners – Register on this page.
IMPORTANT – There are several screens in the registration process. Be sure to complete registration by clicking “Express Checkout.” If registration is successful, you’ll receive an email confirmation immediately following registration.
Non-Members/Guests
Guests who qualify for FEI membership may attend: (i) one chapter event with a speaker/panel and (ii) one Local Pod social event on a complimentary basis to evaluate the benefits of FEI membership. Please confirm that you qualify for FEI membership and obtain guest approval before registering for the event.
To request guest approval, email chapter.admin@fei-sfba.org with the following information:
- Full name, company name, job title
- Address, city, state, zip
- Phone number & mobile number
- Email address
- LinkedIn address
Please email chapter.admin@fei-sfba.org with any registration questions.