In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Chris Ortega, Founder & CEO of Fresh FP&A, to talk about the future of finance leadership, the rise of fractional CFO services, and why clarity — not complexity — is the real superpower in finance.Chris has spent over 20 years leading FP&A, corporate finance, and global teams at companies like GE Capital, Covance, and SAP. Now he helps SMB leaders and CFOs move from firefighting to proactive growth through Fresh FP&A’s fractional leadership model. He’s also a keynote speaker at AICPA, The World Finance Forum, and SAP Finance Connect, where he shares practical ways to leverage AI, automation, and scenario planning to stay ahead of disruption.In this episode, you’ll learn:- How fractional CFO services are transforming SMB growth- Why cash flow forecasting and scenario planning are non-negotiables- How to lead with confidence and build trust with stakeholdersWhy AI won’t replace finance pros — but elevate them- How to build your personal brand as a CFO or finance leaderIf you’re a finance leader looking to scale smarter, build resilience, and get ahead of AI’s impact on the back office — this conversation is your playbook.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠

→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠

About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

• Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

• Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

• Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

• Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

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Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash Flow Forecasting | AI in Finance | FP&A | Private Equity Finance | Venture Capital Finance | Family Office | Franchise Finance | Multi-Location Retail Finance | Investor-Ready Financials