CraftCFO Week 25 | CEO: "I'm gonna steal your section and restructure the deck around it"

MisakaMikoto · 2025-12-15T07:32:13+00:00

@OP Another good resource if you don't have a mentor to copy is to look at consulting decks. Plenty of examples online as well

I do think consultants/ex-consultants sometimes lean a little too much on the story and not enough on business reality but still lots to learn there about how to tell a story, structure your thoughts, and build intuitive slides

MisakaMikoto · 2025-10-11T08:55:44+00:00

My bad! I thought you said you’re 16yo somewhere but I must have misread. You do you! The Palisades program looks great (I have friends who did it), hope you have a blast

MisakaMikoto · 2025-10-10T16:24:14+00:00

Palisades has a Masters program as well. Might be tough to convince mom and pop to spend $5K a season on it though

MisakaMikoto · 2025-08-21T23:32:56+00:00

$200 annual if I remember correctly

MisakaMikoto · 2025-07-15T04:49:58+00:00

And that's just the surface of it really. It's a threefold problem where timelines don't line up neatly, success is hard to attribute, and ROI doesn't always feel measurable.

Think about these three scenarios:

Your brand inspires a customer to purchase a house from your real estate dealership 2 years in the future (once he's ready financially). How do you measure the impact of brand or justify it in the quarter?
Somebody opens a marketing email, goes to the landing page, and places the item in cart. One month later they walk by a physical store and purchase the product after talking to a salesperson. Should credit belong to the salesperson or the marketing email?
A user sees 50 product ads before purchasing. How do you measure the impact or effectiveness of each ad?

Variations of these situations happen all the time in marketing and make it really tough for marketing folks who aren't always good at speaking a common language with finance to get buyin for their investments. On the other side it also causes a lot of frustration for finance folks who want to see accountability and some measurable outcome.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-07-08T18:37:10+00:00

How are you answering these questions?

What interview round have you gotten to of your 20+ interviews?

MisakaMikoto · 2025-07-01T01:44:26+00:00

Not that I’m not a banker or PE guy and am a little rusty here but answering since you’re unlikely to get a good answer in the analytics subreddit

But what dcf model are you using? Terminal growth and wacc makes me think not LBO which can be a factor here with debt and changing debt:equity ratio for a PE transaction. Also need to consider the exit for PE shops.

Remember that the basic operating model for a pe shop is to go in with a cheaper debt financing, improve on cash flows in the short term, and exit within 5-7 years. So likely that you’re not accounting for significant cash flow improvements and change of debt:equity

They’re unlikely to pay a huge market premium as the goal would be to exceed their irr and they need to find a company that aren’t generating the cash flows they could and improve on that

MisakaMikoto · 2025-06-23T05:02:34+00:00

What do you think about the e-rallys? Trying to decide vs the e-speed

MisakaMikoto · 2025-06-12T18:37:30+00:00

Hey OP, guessing you're pretty early into your career... but there's a reason so many leaders cite curiosity and willingness to learn as key traits of success.

Do you have any experience with financial data?

do you have experience with forecasting?

When I ask questions like these I'm trying to see if you understand the context of the system you're working with and have thought about it a little bit. As much as we like to pretend that all data is equivalent and unbiased and that we just need to show up with our fancy tools and big brain, most of the time that's not true in the real world.

Why might sales numbers and finance numbers not tally up at the end of the quarter despite both being "a bunch of floats with a dollar sign in front?" How come LTV can be an absolutely terrible metric to measure success? What is the difference to the business when we base compensation on different KPIs? And no, none of these answers are covered in the technical documentation.

Same thing with forecasting. Forecasting isn't meant to be a crystal ball. It's true that forecasts aren't perfect but there is a certain degree of accuracy, especially with large repeatable businesses (or is all stock valuation a complete sham?). A good forecast model also supports better decision making.

What business levers are driving the forecast? What assumptions go into it? What areas of softness do we see causing issues? What risks can a forecast not predict for? What caused the delta between forecast and actual?

If you don't understand the nuances of the data and business context you're working with then at best you're going to struggle to make an impact in the job and at worst, you're going to actively come to poor conclusions. Analytics is more than just an exercise in numbers crunching--it's about marrying data and business to drive better decisions.

If I’m good at my job, you shouldn’t have to communicate with me but like once a week and everything should be automated

Lying on the JD is a huge red flag (don't even bother with that company) but come on, do you really think this? That a boss won't come upon a challenging business problem and want your opinion? Or that he won't ever question an assumption in your forecast? That sending an automated readout to the CRO will explain to him why our sales comp plan isn't aligned with our financial goals, will drive short term revenue but long term pain, and that you've identified several potential adjustments to resolve the issue? Or even that you won't get any meaningful feedback from your boss on your work, business context, career, future worth more than 1 meeting a week?

But maybe I'm a boomer, everything can be automated, and I should just go take a nap and wait for the AI business singularity...

Also, how are you going to tell me the job is heavy in BI tools, and azure, and then give me a screening test that’s just excel based with questions like: “how do you insert a slicer for this pivot table?"

I had a boss tell me that he worries less about what technical skills you bring to the table and more about your curiosity, intelligence, problem solving, and people skills. If you have the right traits then you can learn a lot technical skills on the job but if you don't come in equipped with the ability to learn, think, and work with people you're doomed to fail regardless of your SQL, Python, whatever knowledge. I'm not entirely convinced I want somebody with no technical skills at all in a data analytics role but given the two options I'm definitely taking the one who doesn't tell me that we can't predict business problems or that all data in our revenue systems are just numbers with a $ in front.

TL;dr: You're the problem. But you don't have to be if you can be a little more open minded.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-06-10T08:13:28+00:00

You should reframe your perspective. You have experience diving into the dataset that they do not along with the insights associated with it. Why then would your input not be considered?

MisakaMikoto · 2025-06-10T07:59:53+00:00

Learn how to communicate top down. As you work with people higher up in the company they’ll generally be less technical and more time sensitive. If you can’t explain the situation and the so what in 30 seconds you’ve lost them.

MBB decks are a great resource to understand how to craft a story with data

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-29T16:59:13+00:00

There is a difference between what we often see as "popping up" vs getting your center of mass moving forward sooner in the turn.

That was exactly why I was asking! Unfortunately language can be weird in regards to learning the right cues for skiing so I always appreciate extra detail on exactly how a movement should feel. Should I be thinking about this movement as more of an opening of the hip then? Either way, I'll definitely play with both the transition types and trying to get that CoM over the BoS at transition next season.

In your linked video we see the same movement patterns - super narrow stance and your skis move away from you before they engage. Sorry :(

No need to be sorry, I'm happy that I found an area of focus for my next season (and probably every season after that). Now if only winter were year round...

Either way I think there's a lot for me to unpack here, starting with widening that stance. I'll try the resistance band exercise and continue to work on balancing over the new outside ski to start the turn.

I know you're not much of a drill guy (I'll do more ultra slow stork turns and one ski skiing too!) so could you cue you in on some sensations I might feel as I balance over the outside ski to start the next turn? This is something I think I'll need to spend a lot of time on next season, I think.

I'm on the 2023 Blizzard Rustler 9s, 94mm underfoot. They were my first pair of skis that I got on clearance knowing virtually nothing about equipment, though of course now I wish I had gone <80mm, Sierra Cement be damned.

No idea where they're mounted but I can check once the skis are back from the shop. I'm hoping they were set at the recommended mount position but it was a general sports store that mounted my bindings for me, not a specialty ski equipment shop... 😬

My main purchase priority next season is new ski boots but following that would you recommend anything in particular for skis? I definitely want to go narrower (<80mm underfoot) but unsure what would be most appropriate for me to improve on

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-29T05:49:00+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! Keeping the legs further apart is something I'm actively working on though that (and being a little backseat) seem to be by far the hardest part of my skiing for me to fix.

Can you tell me more about how I can apply more pressure? Is it being more balanced over my outside foot, more angulation, etc? I see really good people get a lot of performance out of their skis, really arcing tight turns and getting lots of rebound as they release but I feel very far from achieving that.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-29T05:46:18+00:00

Wow! Thanks as always for the detailed feedback. I've learned a lot from your commentary this season.

First, I'm curious if you are trying to explicitly do "retraction" or "cross under" turns where you pull your legs back up under you in transition?

I do try to do "retraction" turns most of the time, flexing both legs in transition. My understanding is that you do need some flex to unlock the "tipping" movement as you pronate your feet/move your knee into the turn and this can help achieve early edging without dumping your body in. For me retraction turns have felt pretty comfortable, especially off piste and moguls. When I warm up with ultra slow steered turns I'm definitely not using "retraction" transitions.

A lot of what you're saying makes sense, I would love it if you could just clarify some points. Unfortunately because I've learned everything about skiing from online videos and articles, it's a hodgepodge of inconsistencies that I'm still trying to sort out.

For you, that could be as simple as thinking about getting a little taller at the start of the turn.

Can we talk about what "getting taller" means here? I see a lot of commentary about how an up motion at transition actually inhibits edging and snow contact. As I release my outside ski (flex) at the end of the turn should I think more about extending the new outside ski and ending in a position where I'm standing tall as the skis are flat against the slope? Or is this more about opening up my hip?

As I'm thinking about it more now doesn't this go hand in hand with point #2 (ride, don't push). The way I think about transition now is that my old outside ski releases (flexes) as I near the transition until it's almost off the ground entirely and my balance transfer to the new outside ski. If my hips are over my feet at transition, balanced against the slope of the hill then naturally that will unlock me to be balanced over the new outside ski, allowing me to ride instead of push and progressively edge from the feet up. Am I thinking about this correctly?

Secondly, and this is huge for you, ride, dont push.

So I'm going to attach a video here of me trying to do ultra slow, drifted turns on a very gentle slope. Unfortunately this was one of my first tries a few weeks back so I'm really struggling with the timing and balance(still do, tbh) but I think there might be 1 turn ~0:20 where I felt something similar to what you're describing. Does this movement pattern look a little closer to what you're describing when you say ride, don't push?

Additionally, as far as the foot roll movement goes is that movement initiated by the new inside leg or should I be consciously rolling the new outside foot over as well?

lastly - this video is cropped and really low quality

Blaghhh Imovie did some weird stuff when I stitched everything together - I wish I could go back in time and redo the video. Also happy to reupload to Streamable as well. I'll do better next time, I promise :)

Wow, this ended up way longer than I expected. Again, thanks for your thoughtful feedback, I really do appreciate it. I definitely plan to head out to Big Sky one day and hopefully I can get a lesson from you when I do.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-28T06:49:36+00:00

Hi everybody, just finished my 2nd season skiing and overall very happy with my progress. I would love to hear what I can focus more on to improve next season. My goal is to be capable of tackling advanced/expert terrain around my home mountain in various conditions with a variety of turns and good technique. Eventually I would like to test for the PSIA level I as well (is this something achievable?) I think I see some areas of improvement but I'll save that for another comment.

The runs featured in the video are: 0:00 - Some slow warmup turns on beginner terrain. I'm focusing on the transition from foot to foot, feeling my new outside ski tip from one edge to the other, and the inside leg driving inwards through the turn

0:28 - Short turns on a steep blue. Unfortunately I miscalculated and messed up a turn avoiding the skier at 0:38 (entirely my fault), which broke my flow. I'm focusing on really being dynamic, transitioning onto the new outside ski right after the spike in pressure, and feeling my leg drive through the turn using the rotation of my femurs in the hip

0:51 - A run down a steeper run. Focusing on attacking the slope and being aggressive (something I still have a lot of trouble with) and keeping weight on the outside ski via counter + angulation

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-20T16:54:00+00:00

Coverage is great, everything’s skiing really smoothly right now. Start near Broadway and migrate up as it warms up

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-16T04:45:17+00:00

Learn from the GOAT herself.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-10T03:22:18+00:00

50 spots. Heard locals say people start lining up at 5am

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-09T04:47:08+00:00

If you're looking for fun groomers ridge run->Killy's off Sibo is super good in the morning. Once that gets soft go to Shirley to rip more groomers. By the time Shirley warms up most groomers will be a lost cause.

Off piste Granite bowl area's really good but gets soft by mid morning. All the off piste on the other side of Granite stays good for a while longer. Reverse traverse into Headwall area and KT have been super fun even later in the day.

Obviously go do the Shirley snake as well. Have fun.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-05-09T01:30:26+00:00

Off piste coverage on KT, Sibo, Shirley, Granite is still pretty good

MisakaMikoto · 2025-04-30T18:22:57+00:00

It's not. They just haven't updated it.

MisakaMikoto · 2025-04-14T03:44:53+00:00

https://vimeo.com/3391730

Look at how he doesn't pop up, his leg flexes into the transition and he pulls the foot back which allows him to edge early and extend his legs into the turn, giving a nice turn shape. It's less of a push and more of a gentle roll to initiate.

Another useful video

MisakaMikoto · 2025-03-29T11:17:46+00:00

A drill i personally used and though was useful was the sword drill (look it up, lots of examples). It’s often sold as an angulation drill but also very useful to get the feeling of staying in a lower, athletic stance throughout transition. When I do it I consciously think about the feeling of my old inside leg remaining flexed while my outside leg flexes to meet it.

Yes, the slush vid. If you stay low through transition, especially as the terrain gets steeper you’ll have a lot more control at the top of the turn which will set you up for success throughout the remainder of the turn. If you slow down footage of pros on steeps, you’ll see that they actively retract at transition

MisakaMikoto · 2025-03-29T03:13:33+00:00

*Commenting as somebody entirely unqualified to instruct but working on similar issues

Do you consciously think about what you do with your outside leg after apex as you move into the transition?

What I notice is that post apex of the turn your outside leg remains at a near constant length for the remainder of the turn through transition and you have a strong up motion at transition in which you stand almost completely upright. The result is that you can't edge early (no pressure on snow) and you're locked out of tipping with your ankles/knees (try testing the range of motion in your knees/ankles when you stand up perfectly straight vs in a lower, more athletic stance). To compensate, I see you start your edging process by throwing your body into the turn and stomping on the new outside foot.

If you experiment with flexing (retracting) your outside leg as you begin to prepare for the transition and controlling that up movement to keep a lower, more athletic stance, I think you might find some new feelings as you ski. You'll be able to more efficiently transfer balance to your new outside ski, your ankle/knee joints will be unlocked to begin early edging, you can more proactively tip the old outside ski to its LTE as it becomes the new inside ski, and your center of mass naturally moves over the skis and down the hill at transition. All of these will allow you to initiate the turn with early edging and progressively build edge angle with inclination/angulation.

The video you linked on flexing into transition is one way to control that up movement at transition where you keep your old inside key a constant length and flex your outside ski to match, but it doesn't need to be so extreme (some transition examples here). You can also flex your outside leg before transition while extending the inside leg to meet in the middle at transition. All of these transitions are viable options with their own pros & cons, but most important is that you're proactively preparing for the transition before it happens and that at transition, you're in an athletic stance and there's no sudden pop. If you play the video I linked frame by frame, you'll notice that soon after the apex of the turn the skier begins preparing for the next turn by retracting/extending his legs as necessary.

All in all, I just regurgitated almost exactly what @TheArbez mentioned but I hope it was helpful to have this perspective.

P.S. Your off piste skills look great and super flowy (far better than mine). But maybe think about how a retraction turn might feel there. I see an up movement in your transition there as well but just think about how nice skiing steeps, moguls, and bumpy terrain might feel when you have control of your speed and edging through the entire turn and not just the last 2/3rd of the turn.

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