How American Express Groomed a CFO E11
The podcast episode of Financial Footsteps offers a compelling narrative of Maureen Musselman’s journey through the world of finance. Hosted by Chad Dean, the interview provides insights into Musselman’s upbringing in Phoenix, Arizona, her professional experiences in New York and with American Express, and her subsequent roles at organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation and Vitalant. Musselman’s story is one of determination and adaptability, as she navigates various challenges and opportunities, ultimately carving out a successful career path in finance.
Throughout the interview, Musselman emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities, taking risks, and prioritizing personal growth. She shares valuable advice on career advancement, the significance of building strong relationships, and the role of leadership in shaping organizational culture. Musselman’s reflections on balancing career aspirations with family life, overcoming fear and self-doubt, and finding fulfillment in working with people underscore her passion and commitment to her profession. The interview serves as an inspiring narrative of resilience, ambition, and continuous learning in the field of finance.
Students and those in the very beginning of an Accounting or Finance career will benefit from listening to Maureen’s journey to the CFO title.
Vitalant (Vye-TAL-ent) is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission.
As the Chief Financial Officer, Maureen Musselman has responsibilities for the Financial Planning and Analysis, Compliance, and Controllership organizations, she is also the staff lead for the Audit and Finance and Investment Committees for the National Board of Trustees.
Prior to joining Vitalant Maureen served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Make-A-Wish® America where she was responsible for the Finance, Compliance, Shared Financial Servicing, and Transformation and Strategic execution organizations. Before joining the nonprofit world Maureen spent much of her career with American Express.
In her most recent role, she was the Vice President of Finance Transformation at American Express where she was recruited to establish a global FP&A shared service organization. Identifying process, people, and placement along with developing tools to enable and create efficiencies. Prior to her transformation role Maureen was the Chief Financial Officer of Global Business Services at American Express leading the FP&A, Accounting and Decision Support for the internal shared servicing organization focused on driving operational excellence, transforming the customer experience, and partnering to drive growth.
Maureen has a strong financial and business acumen having had financial oversight of operating budgets of approximately $1.9B, Investment portfolios of $200M and delivering cost savings and efficiencies in all her roles. She expertly navigates cultural boundaries and is a servant leader leveraging her extensive experience in developing and managing high performing global teams. This experience was gained through her 28 years with American Express having held various leadership positions in Phoenix, AZ and New York, NY.
Maureen holds an MBA from Columbia University, Columbia Business School in NY and a Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Arizona State University, W.P.Carey School of Business.
Connect with Maureen on LinkedIn.
About Financial Footsteps
Financial Footsteps is dedicated to providing insider access to successful accounting and finance leaders thereby providing ideas, insights, and ‘secrets to success’ to those aspiring to be leaders themselves.
Interactive conversations with guests will reveal the genesis for a career in accounting and finance, the great (and not so great) decisions that were made along the way, and the advice that these leaders would give to their younger selves.
About Your Host
Chad Dean has been an executive recruiter since 1996. He currently is owner and CEO of a top-ranked national recruiting firm with a 33 year history servicing the Finance disciplines.
Chad Dean’s relaxed and authentic recruiting style combined with a relentless work ethic and dedication to ethical recruiting has propelled him to the highest levels of success in recruitment and career counseling. He has been sought after by CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications for his expertise.
Chad Dean is a proud Arizona native, married for 21 years, with two second-generation native teenage sons. He has an MBA from Arizona State University and a BS in Biology from FHSU.
About Our Sponsor
Integrated Management Resources was founded in 1990 in Tempe Arizona. Starting with clients like Goldman Sachs (first client and still a client today) and top Wall Street hedge funds, IMR built a robust recruiting process that digs out the most desirable ‘passive’ candidates from our client’s competitors.
IMR’s Phoenix Accounting and Finance practice services large and medium sized organizations for mid-senior level full-time placement and interim staffing.
Sarah McCraren is an Arizona native with a strong sense of community. Sarah spent many years in the corporate finance world specializing in the operational analysis, measurement and accountability systems, project management and software implementations. However, Sarah wanted to do work which was meaningful and would positively impact her community.
No arm twisting is required to get Jeremy Neis, a CC Arizona leadership team member, to engage in conversation with impassioned business minds on the topic of leveraging enterprise to create long lasting advancements for humanity.
