Brenda Hodo-Iddris didn’t set out to be a CFO. She worked at big companies where a CFO title seemed impossible. But one day, a mentor told her she was ready—and that simple nudge led to bold career moves and a reputation as a financial fixer.
In this episode of The Diary of a CFO, Brenda shares her story and the lessons she learned along the way.
Table of Contents
People on This Episode
Brenda Hodo-Iddris - Guest
Brenda Hodo Iddris is a CFO with over 20 years finance and accounting and operations experience. She has worked in public trading for profit organizations and also nonprofit. From large to small organizations including private for profit, which span across several industries. She decided to focus on craft versus industry so that she always has a transferable skill set and knowledge that she can share regarding financial strategy and financial operations, and be able to apply that knowledge in any organization within any industry.
Social Links: LinkedIn
Wassia Kamon - Host
Wassia Kamon is the Chief Financial Officer of ACE, keynote speaker, and guest faculty at Wharton Online. With over 15 years of experience in corporate accounting and FP&A, she shares her leadership insights to help others succeed in finance and beyond. Featured in The Wall Street Journal and Accounting Today, Wassia’s mission is to inspire others with the lessons she has learned throughout her career journey.
Key Topics
The Power of Mentorship: How a mentor’s belief changed her career path.
Stepping Beyond Finance: Why strategic influence means getting involved beyond the numbers.
Building Trust Fast: Strategies to influence peers and teams without formal authority.
Transcript
Wassia Kamon:Welcome back to The Diary of a CFO podcast—the space where you’ll find real-world insights to become a better leader and be better at life. I'm your host, Wassia Kamon, and today I’m delighted to have with me a very special guest:
Brenda Hodo-Iddris.
Brenda is a CFO with over 20 years of experience in finance, accounting, and operations. She has worked in public, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations, spanning industries and company sizes. Brenda, welcome to the podcast!
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Thank you, Wassia. Thank you for having me!
Wassia Kamon:Your background is so impressive. Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming a CFO?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Sure! Honestly, I never saw myself becoming a CFO. I started my career in large, publicly traded companies—places with over 100,000 employees. I worked for Bank of America and a major real estate developer, and I was focused on being the best financial business partner in my region or division.
It wasn’t until I was recruited to work for a smaller, publicly traded bank that things changed. A recruiter approached me about a nonprofit opportunity, which I never expected to consider. But the CFO there, who had 30-40 years of experience, really needed my help.
Wassia Kamon:What happened next?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:I took the leap, thinking I’d stay for a couple of years. I ended up working in nonprofit for 10 years! During that time, my CFO mentor told me over coffee, “You have everything it takes to be a CFO.” I hadn’t thought about it before, but that simple statement changed everything for me.
Wassia Kamon:I love that story. What did you do after hearing those words?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:That’s when I started setting my sights on the CFO role. I joined leadership groups and put myself in positions that aligned with that path. I became intentional about gaining experiences that would get me there.
Wassia Kamon:You mentioned that moving from nonprofit to for-profit was part of your strategy. How did that experience shape your approach?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Nonprofits often have broken financial strategies and operations. I carved out a niche as the “fixer,” helping repair operations, implement financial structures, and negotiate debt deals. This experience was incredibly transferable when I returned to the for-profit world three years ago.
Wassia Kamon:You also spoke about the importance of strategy in a CFO role. How did you sharpen those strategic skills?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Lesson number one: You can’t be a strategic influencer and stay behind your desk. You have to be in the meetings, in the conversations with your business partners. You need to understand what’s happening and marry that insight with financial strategy.
Wassia Kamon:You talk about bold moves and being seen and heard. How do you build that visibility?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Go beyond the financials. Show up to lunches, company events, and participate in discussions. Let people see your personality. When you build trust and relationships, people are more likely to come to you for solutions.
Wassia Kamon:And what about building trust quickly when you’re new to a role?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Start by finding allies—not just peers, but middle managers and frontline staff. Talk to them, ask about their needs, and create an “opportunity list” instead of a “problems list.” It helps you identify what to tackle first.
Wassia Kamon:I love that—an opportunity list! How do you stay organized with so much on your plate?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:I use Gantt charts, shared agendas on SharePoint, and prioritize tasks based on strategic goals. It’s all about balancing tactical and strategic initiatives.
Wassia Kamon:You also emphasize the importance of high-performing teams. How do you build one?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Assess the team’s skills, provide the right tools and training, and support them in their goals. When your team knows you have their back, they’ll perform at a higher level.
Wassia Kamon:What advice would you give to aspiring CFOs, especially women and people of color?
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Know your stuff. Get the education, the certifications, and the experience. Then own your expertise. Don’t let anyone make you doubt what you know. Also, build a strong community around you—mentors, executive coaches, and professional groups.
Wassia Kamon:Brenda, this has been incredible. Thank you for sharing your journey and wisdom with us!
Brenda Hodo-Iddris:Thank you, Wassia. It’s been a pleasure!