In this episode, I sit down with Nelson Tepfer, Managing Partner at Pro CFO Partners, to explore how bringing in the right people is essential for building sustainable growth. Ranked No. 613 on the 2024 Inc 5000 list, ProCFO Partners has thrived under Nelson’s leadership by assembling exceptional talent to drive business success. We discuss the importance of identifying, attracting, and retaining top performers who align with your company’s vision and values. Nelson shares actionable strategies for leaders focused on bringing in the right people to fuel growth and innovation. Tune in to learn why bringing in the right people is a foundational step toward achieving long-term success.
- Introduction to Growth and Talent
- The Importance of Right People
- Growth and Its Challenges
- Identifying the Right People
- Screening Candidates Effectively
- Interview Techniques for Success
- Onboarding for Long-Term Fit
- Developing Leaders Within the Organization
- Building a Strong Company Culture
- The Cost of Settling for Talent
- Letting Go of Toxic High Performers
- Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Scaling Success: The Art of Building Teams and Selecting the Right CFOs with Nelson Tepfer
In this episode, I am joined by Nelson Tepfer, co-founder of Pro CFO Partners, a company that has seen remarkable growth since its inception in January 2020. We dive deep into the critical importance of bringing the right people into an organization, particularly in the context of rapidly scaling businesses. We explore how selecting fractional CFOs is not merely about evaluating their technical skills but requires a nuanced understanding of their personalities and fit within a broader team dynamic.
Throughout our conversation, we highlight that hiring based on gut instinct or a surface-level intuition often leads to mismatches that can hinder progress. Nelson shares valuable insights from his experience managing a team that has grown from six to nearly sixty CFOs in a short span. He emphasizes that successful fractional CFOs need not only strong technical skills but also the ability to operate within a framework that requires juggling multiple clients and adapting to diverse corporate cultures. This stark realization led Pro CFO Partners to develop a keen focus on understanding the specific profile of a CFO suited for their unique model.
Hiring Smarter: Nelson Tepfer on Personality Profiling, Soft Skills, and Pro CFO Partners’ Unique Onboarding Process
We then delve into the structured processes that Pro CFO Partners has instituted for screening new hires. Nelson discusses the use of various personality profiling tools, such as Predictive Index and DISC, emphasizing how these assessments aid in understanding communication styles and stress responses. However, he stresses that technical competencies are the easier part to assess, and the true challenge lies in evaluating soft skills that ensure long-term success. The organization has implemented a five-week onboarding process, ensuring each new member has a clear understanding of the firm’s mission, values, and client engagement strategies. This approach allows them to identify misalignments early in the onboarding phase, which is a departure from traditional practices that often carry the wrong fit forward in the organization.
Fostering Leadership and Culture: Nelson Tepfer on Developing Talent and Building Cohesion in a Remote Team
Moreover, we touch upon the principles Nelson believes are vital for developing talent within the firm. He shares how leading a team of experienced executives can be both a blessing and a challenge, as it requires a delicate balance between fostering autonomy while ensuring alignment with the company’s vision. Regular touchpoints, all-hands meetings, and quarterly workshops are discussed as means to cultivate a cohesive culture. Nelson also reflects on their first opportunity to bring the entire remote team together for an in-person meeting, highlighting the importance of fostering relationships regardless of a virtual setup.
Redefining Excellence: Nelson Tepfer on the Power of Cultural Fit and High Standards in Organizational Growth
As we wrap up, Nelson reiterates a pivotal insight: organizations should never settle for “good enough” talent. He emphasizes that high performers who may not fit well into the cultural fabric can cause significant disruption, outlining a lesson learned through their own experiences. This commitment to maintaining high standards—not just in skills but also in cultural fit—is framed as essential for sustained growth and success.
Our discussion ultimately paints a comprehensive picture of how intentional hiring practices, a rigorous selection process, and strategic onboarding can transform an organization and fuel exponential growth. Nelson leaves us with a fundamental reminder: the success of any firm hinges not just on the expertise of its members but on their collective alignment with the organization’s values and objectives.
