Dustin Williamson On Building a Finance Function That Enables Growth

Dustin Williamson, Houston Managing Director at vcfo, was a featured guest on the podcast Above the Clouds: Stories from the Boardroom, hosted by Richard Byrd.

In this episode, Dustin discusses how finance leaders can evolve from traditional scorekeepers into critical partners in business growth—particularly in fast-moving, private equity-backed companies. Drawing from decades of experience in strategic finance, M&A, and operational leadership, he breaks down what separates reactive financial teams from proactive ones.

Key discussion points include:

• How to build financial models that drive business decisions
• Why forecasting and clean data are essential in volatile markets
• When to hire in-house vs. outsource
• What true financial maturity looks likeand how to get there

The episode provides valuable perspective for CEOs, investors, and finance professionals navigating complex growth environments.

Listen to the episode here.