The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 17, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is Chief Financial Officer finalist in the Private Company: Annual Revenue <$100M category Carter Wood, CFO of Buchanan & Edwards. Here, he discusses the importance of leading with empathy, managing up, extending grace after a mistake and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2022 / 2023?
We completed our integration of RenXTech into greater Buchanan & Edwards (BE) during 2022. It was one of the smoothest integrations I’ve ever participated in, and we’re all very proud to have been part of it.
It is a true testament to our corporate and operations teams and to our collective focus on our existing and newly integrated employees.
What has made you successful in your current role?
I work towards balance in everything I do. I maintain engagement by being an authentic leader, striving for harmony between decision making, fiscal management and collaboration. I believe in leading with an empathetic heart and spirit and focus on community, diversity and teamwork.
What’s one key thing you learned from a failure you had?
In my career, I’ve been extended my share of grace and second chances. Even the best people make mistakes, and so I am quick to empathize with others and extend that same grace. However, with forgiveness also comes the expectation that we learn from our mistakes, so they don’t happen again if avoidable.
What was your biggest career struggle and how did you overcome it?
Early in my CFO career, I struggled to balance between managing up and managing down. In retrospect, I focused too much energy on managing down in those early days. With age and experience, I’ve learned that managing up is as important, if not more important, for a leader to be successful.