John duHadway Learned to Verify the Numbers at Deloitte. A Mentor Taught Him What to Do With Them.

🎙️ From the 2008 Mortgage Collapse to Founder-Led Finance: John duHadway's Journey Building Strategic CFO Solutions

In this episode, John duHadway, founder and managing director of Strategic CFO Solutions, shares how serving as CFO inside a subprime mortgage lender during its 2007 collapse shaped the way he now guides founder-led companies through growth, capital raises, and exits. John opens up about the employees he couldn't forget, the mentor who taught him to simplify complex problems, and why he now dedicates part of his practice to pro bono work with startups.

✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:

• Raised by a single mother, work ethic was instilled in him from childhood necessity

• Spent 12 years at Deloitte before moving into executive finance leadership

• Saw early warning signs of repurchase risk months before the 2008 mortgage crisis hit

• Helped shut down a nearly 1,000-employee mortgage company overnight

• Stayed on through bankruptcy proceedings to help secure priority payments for employees

• Founded Strategic CFO Solutions somewhat by accident, through referrals rather than a plan

• Now works exclusively with $10 to $50 million founder-led companies

• Dedicates roughly 15% of his workload to pro bono work with startups and accelerators

• Uses AI for research and brainstorming but keeps client data out of it for now

• Has guided company exits ranging from $50 million to $500 million

🌟 John's Key Mentors:

• His Mother: A single-parent school teacher whose work ethic shaped his resilience

• Harold (Deloitte National Partner): Took him under his wing and taught him to simplify complex financial concepts

• Bill Dallas (Co-Founder): Longtime business partner who shares his drive to keep working

• His Professional Network: M&A attorneys, wealth managers, and CPA firms who refer clients based on trust, not transactions

👉 Hear how a CFO who lived through the mortgage industry's collapse now helps founder-led companies avoid the same blind spots before it's too late.

🔗 Connect with John duHadway:

Website: stratcfos.com

📄 Transcript Available: John duHadway Learned to Verify the Numbers at Deloitte. A Mentor Taught Him What to Do With Them. 

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📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line

Website: addbackbenefits.com