From Spreadsheets to Storytelling: Communication & EQ Tips for CFOs, with Erik Nakamura
Being great with numbers may open the door—but it’s your emotional intelligence as a CFO that keeps you in the room.
In this episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, hosts Lauren Pearl and Alex Louisy welcome Erik Nakamura, CFO of Journal Technologies and a seasoned finance leader, to unpack how emotional intelligence (EQ) transforms CFOs from number crunchers into business influencers.
With 25 years of experience across public companies, startups, and consulting, Erik shares how finance leaders can develop the EQ to lead with clarity, influence cross-functional teams, and become culture carriers in their organizations.
“You want to treat people how they want to be treated...and that takes emotional intelligence. That’s how you build trust—and trust is everything.”
The Three Pillars of a High-Impact CFO
When choosing where to work, Erik doesn’t fixate on industry or company size. Instead, he relies on what he calls his “three pillars” for alignment:
1. Work with people you trust, like, and respect
Finance leaders often need to deliver uncomfortable truths. Having mutual respect and rapport across the executive team allows for candid, constructive conversations—without derailing relationships.
“If we have rapport and a relationship, you can have those conversations. Go have a beer and be okay, or go have a meal and be okay.”
2. Believe in the company’s mission and know you can drive impact
Erik isn’t just interested in financials—he wants to help execute strategy with better processes, systems, and KPIs. He positions himself not as a “CFNo,” but a “CFGo.”
“What is the problem we're solving, and can I, as a CFO, help execute that better? With better people, better process, and better systems… not just be a numbers guy, but a CF Grow.”
3. Join a company with a healthy, collaborative culture
Before joining any team, Erik insists on sharing a meal with the execs. His litmus test? Watch how they treat the waitstaff.
“If they treat the servers with respect, they’re going to treat people within the organization with respect.”
These pillars aren’t just personal preferences—they’re a roadmap for any CFO aiming to lead effectively in today’s business landscape.
How EQ Shapes the Modern CFO
Forget the old stereotype of the back-office finance leader. Today’s CFO needs more than technical chops—they need emotional intelligence to navigate complex organizational dynamics, deliver hard truths with empathy, and inspire trust across departments.
High-EQ hires create strong cultures
Erik prioritizes EQ even over IQ in hiring.
“If you have high EQ and low IQ, we can train the IQ up. It’s harder to train the EQ… If you want to build a company, build it with high EQ people. The IQ will come.”
It’s not just what you say—it’s how you say it
Whether speaking to a CMO or a board member, Erik adapts his message to the listener.
“Let’s go over it. What story are we trying to tell? And I change it from ‘story’—I say ‘fact pattern’ because stories seem fictitious. What’s the fact pattern we’re trying to tell? What’s the data that supports it?”
Strong cultures drive retention and performance
Erik sees culture not as a “nice to have,” but a strategic lever.
“People say to me, ‘You're really unique, Erik, in that you're a CFO that talks about culture.’ And I think it's so important because having the wrong culture can be very costly.”
The CFO as Coach, Communicator, and Culture Builder
One of the most compelling insights from this episode is Erik’s belief that CFOs need to be coaches—not just managers.
Having coached his own children in basketball and baseball for over a decade, Erik draws direct parallels between leading on the field and in the boardroom.
“In practice, I told my kids to go so hard they make mistakes—so when the game comes, everything slows down. Same thing in the work environment.”
This coaching mindset shows up in how he leads teams:
He builds confidence
Erik credits a turning point in his career to a mentor who pushed him into business development—helping him discover not just his voice, but his value.
“I was still very humble, but that forced me to do that… and I was like, ‘Oh. It’s working. I’m kind of halfway decent at this.’”
He creates psychological safety
Team members are encouraged to challenge the status quo, ask questions, and grow from failure.
“If you’re perfect at what you’re doing, we should put you in a different role to challenge you more. So you can learn and grow if you have high EQ and a growth mindset.”
He mentors generously
Erik actively mentors early-stage CFOs and up-and-coming leaders. For him, legacy isn’t a title—it’s the impact you leave behind.
“Coaching and mentoring is something that… it fills my cup, to be honest. I enjoy doing it… because I want to pay it forward and give it back.”
Chief Financial Officer—or Chief Feelings Officer?
It may sound like a punchline, but Erik proudly wears both titles. He believes finance leaders can—and should—bring humanity into the numbers. From walking the floor (or scheduling Donut chats on Slack) to embodying the values he wants to see, he models what an empathetic, growth-minded CFO looks like.
“CFO does not stand for Chief Financial Officer. It stands for Chief Feelings Officer. Sometimes it’s Chief Fun Officer… Let’s create an environment where we enjoy it.”
And his bottom line?
“You can have all the models and metrics in the world, but if you don’t have trust, clarity, and relationships—you don’t have anything.”
Full Episode
Whether you’re a founder hiring your first CFO, a finance leader stepping into a bigger role, or just someone curious about how EQ transforms leadership—this episode is essential listening.
With practical advice, hard-earned wisdom, and a dose of humility, Erik Nakamura shows what it truly means to be a CFO in today’s world.
Listen (and subscribe) on Spotify