Scaling Smarter: How Fractional CFOs Unlock Enterprise Value | Ellen Wood
Millionaire Mindcast
Matt Aitchison
4.4 • 716 Ratings
🗓️ 15 September 2025
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of the Millionaire Mindcast, Matty A. welcomes Ellen Wood, founder and CEO of VCFO, who pioneered the fractional CFO model and has supported more than 6,000 companies through growth and exit planning.
Ellen shares her journey in building VCFO, the inspiration behind trademarking “virtual CFO,” and why more businesses are turning to fractional financial leadership. From the power of the V360 Assessment to the critical role of accountability and culture, Ellen outlines the strategies that differentiate businesses that scale successfully from those that stall.
She also dives into common exit planning mistakes, the importance of preparation years in advance, and her perspective on the future of fractional CFO services as AI and private equity reshape the office of the CFO.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The origins of VCFO and the rise of fractional CFO services
- How the V360 Assessment identifies risks and opportunities
- Why accountability and culture are key drivers of value
- The biggest mistakes business owners make before an exit
- Strategies to scale successfully and retain top talent
- How AI and private equity are transforming finance functions
- Ellen’s personal lessons and advice to entrepreneurs
Timestamps:
01:00 – Ellen Wood’s background and founding VCFO
03:30 – Building the fractional CFO model
07:00 – Expanding into HR and operational support
11:45 – Using V360 to prepare for growth and exit
17:30 – Culture and accountability as hidden value drivers
21:30 – Exit preparation: what most founders get wrong
25:45 – Scaling vs. stalling businesses
29:00 – The future of fractional CFO services
32:00 – Advice to her younger entrepreneurial self
Connect with Ellen Wood:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenewood/
Episode Sponsored By:
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What's going on, guys. |
| 0:11.2 | Welcome into today's episode. |
| 0:13.2 | I am sitting down with Ellen Wood, founder and CEO of VCFO. |
| 0:18.9 | She's a true pioneer in the fractional CFO space. And for nearly 30 years, Ellen and her |
| 0:24.6 | team have supported more than 6,000 companies from startups to firms doing literally hundreds of |
| 0:29.7 | millions of dollars a year in revenue, helping them scale, strengthen their financial foundations |
| 0:34.2 | and maximizing the value of their company. In our conversation, Ellen and I |
| 0:39.2 | talked about how she created and trademarked the concept of virtual CFO before anyone else was doing |
| 0:45.0 | it. The biggest mistakes business owners make when preparing for an exit and how to avoid |
| 0:49.5 | leaving millions of dollars on the table, we dove in and talked about company culture, |
| 0:53.6 | accountability, and people |
| 0:55.1 | first leadership as they are critical, just as important as financial metrics in building |
| 1:02.1 | lasting value within your organization and how tools like her firm's V-360 assessment can uncover |
| 1:09.4 | hidden opportunities and prepare your business for any transaction |
| 1:13.2 | or growth that you are looking to accomplish. So if you're a business owner, you're an |
| 1:16.7 | entrepreneur, you're a visionary leader, you're an investor. The episode is packed with |
| 1:21.4 | practical insights to help you sharpen your financial toolkit, strengthen your |
| 1:25.6 | company's foundation, and set yourself apart |
| 1:28.1 | for long-term success. Without further ado, let's dive in today's episode with Ellen Wood. |
| 1:33.8 | Let's take a quick break in here from today's show sponsor. I want to personally invite you to the |
| 1:39.2 | very first wise investor mastermind. And this is going to be held in none other than the wine |
| 1:44.7 | and food mecca of the world, Napa Valley, California. |
... |
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