Templates Build Trust
And, are you data aware, or data driven?
CFOs are under pressure to “adopt AI”—but what’s often missing is clarity.
Where does AI actually move the needle for finance teams, and where is it just hype?
That’s the focus of Finance Forward: Navigating AI & Strategy with a CFO Mindset, a virtual event for strategic finance leaders on August 26th. Glenn Hopper, CFO, AI strategist, and author, will open with a practical framework for evaluating AI in finance. Following his session, a panel of three world-class PE-backed CFOs will share how they’re navigating investor scrutiny, boardroom dynamics, and automation decisions in the age of AI.
You’ll leave with actionable insights on how to separate signal from noise—and where your finance team can truly leverage AI to drive impact.
“Templates Build Trust”
When Paul Stansik, Operating Partner at Parker Gale, dropped that line on me, it hit different.
Mostly because I had just roasted him on Run the Numbers as “The PE Guy Who Makes Me Fill Out Annoying Templates.” Wasn't expecting the truth serum.
Look, templates are annoying. It’s another clunky tab to fill out. Another pre formatted, oddly mustard colored cell (that for some reason refuses to be recognized as a currency). Another row of perfectly good historical data that got wiped out (which you pray you can re-locate). Another column that makes you think, “Wait, where do we even pull that number from?”
I get it.
But here's the thing… as gross as the collection process is, something clicks over time.
Templates aren't busywork if they’re asking for the right shared set of metrics. They're a form of alignment. They're saving you from getting your head caved in during the next board meeting.
As Dave Kellogg once told me: “Templates build agreement.”
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The Good Type of Friction
Most software companies are hiding a structural mess under the hood.
You're selling five things, but only reporting two. Your CRM's definition of “customer” doesn't match what shows up in the ERP. You don't realize your pipeline math is completely busted until someone asks for conversion rates by channel (and you blue screen).
Templates force a pause. The friction is a feature, not a bug.
They make you decide:
What are we actually selling?
What does a "win" look like?
What numbers will we need to defend in diligence?
If you're living for today, you're answering today's board question somewhere in a conference room with a machete and a Hubspot login. If you're rehearsing for tomorrow, you're pre-answering the pop quiz that comes at exit.
Coming to an agreement on what metrics you’ll continually measure, how they’re defined, and at what interval, is an investment in future sanity (and personal credibility).
Metrics Are a Proxy for Truth
“Metrics are a proxy for truth.”
Yet… What does "pipeline" mean?
Ask three people, get five answers.
Numbers (not to get meta on you) don't mean anything until we assign significance to them. Until we define what they mean within a given context.
If someone drops a number six months into a hold period and we need a 20-minute debate to explain what it means... we've already lost the room.
Templates let you skip the “well, it depends” dance. When someone drops a number, you know exactly what's in it and what's not. No more turning every metric into a philosophical debate. The CAC is either gross margin adjusted, or it’s not.
Are You Data Aware, or Data Driven?
Paul nailed this distinction:
“Being data-aware is like being a defense lawyer.
You're picking the number that helps your case.”
If you're piecing together a metric with duct tape and vlookups under the cover of night, you're not data-driven. You're reaching for evidence.
That's artisanal data. And artisanal doesn't scale.
Templates keep you honest. Because you can’t be artisanal on a consistent basis and produce reliable results.
During my career I’ve messed up board decks by accidently restating artisanal historical data. It made me realize it's not just about getting the right answer once. It's about making sure you can get that same answer again without having to become a cast member from CSI Miami. You want a link to a dashboard, not some legend about “the one person who knows how to pull this report” (my guy was Ryan Walsh at Snyk, and he truly is a legend. Thanks for saving me so many times, my man.)
Templates industrialize your reporting. They let you measure things without rebuilding the factory every month.
Building Your Data Diet:
Start here:
If we answer this question with a number, would it tell us if we're winning or losing?
That's your KPI shortlist.
From there:
Co-create the list with management and your sponsor
Pick the most boring, reliable source possible (if it lives in Notion or requires “pulling a few reports and combining them,” try again. It needs to come from a single system of record with change controls.)
Set a cadence: The frequency of the metric should match the associated activity level it measures.
You don't need a Rolex. You just need a Swatch that tells you when you're running late.
KYA (Know Your Audience)
Speaking of a data diet, the goal isn't just knowing when to eat, it's repeatability based on the stakeholder you are cooking for.
Every company needs some version of:
Operating metrics for running the business internally
Fundraising metrics for when you need to look shiny
Exiting metrics for when the banker's in the room
There are overlaps between all three buckets.
Some KPIs show up everywhere (ARR, net retention). Others are one-time asks that'll bite you if you're not ready (historical rep attainment, capex forecasting).
The key is knowing which is which, and being ready to produce it without panic.
TL;DR
In the words of Paul:
“A closed door only invites more scrutiny.”
Templates build trust because they remove interpretation. Even more, they build a rhythm and cadence that gives everyone the same pulse on the business.
They keep you from being the person who says, “Well, it depends how you look at it...” when all anyone wanted was a straight answer.
And that's what gets rewarded… just giving the (right) damn answer when it’s needed. Whether it's next week's board meeting or next year's exit.
Thanks for reading, and make sure to check out our sponsor, Finqore. You ain’t gotta get ready if you stay ready for a fundraise or exit. Attend their upcoming virtual event for finance leaders who want to get smarter on AI use cases on August 26th.