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Published on:

13th Nov 2024

1050: Harnessing the Power of Three: Dynatrace’s Layered AI Strategy | Jim Benson, CFO, Dynatrace

One of the key lessons that helped advance Jim Benson down the CFO path was one in clarity and focus during his tenure as FP&A leader for the customer service division of Compaq, freshly acquired by Hewlett-Packard. Eager to influence how the division’s performance was presented, Benson dedicated himself to crafting detailed reports and narratives. However, each time he handed his work to the general manager—a skilled storyteller in his own right—his carefully prepared materials were distilled down to two or three essential points.

At first, Benson, a ten year HP veteran, found the process frustrating. “You work very hard to prepare a set of materials and a narrative,” he recalls, “but he would take my materials and build his own narrative.” Yet over time, Benson began to see the value of simplicity and focus, especially in conveying complex financial information to large audiences. The customer service division was in the spotlight for HP’s earnings, so every quarter required a clear, compelling story that was rooted in financial reality and accessible to diverse audiences.

Through this process, Benson honed his storytelling skills, learning to construct narratives that cut to the core of the message without sacrificing key details. This foundational experience shaped his leadership style, setting a high standard for strategic communication throughout his career. Today, as CFO of Dynatrace, Benson applies these skills to ensure that every financial story aligns with the company’s mission, balancing growth, profitability, and innovation.

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About the Podcast

CFO THOUGHT LEADER
CFO THOUGHT LEADER is a podcast featuring firsthand accounts of finance leaders who are driving change within their organizations.
We share the career journey of our spotlighted CFO guest: What do they struggle with? How do they persevere? What makes them successful CFOs? CFO THOUGHT LEADER is all about inspiring finance professionals to take a leadership leap. We know that by hearing about the successes — (and yes, also the failures) — of others, today’s CFOs can more confidently chart their own leadership paths across the enterprise and take inspired action.

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Jack Sweeney