<p>In this episode of the London Fintech Podcast, Tony Clark sits down with Susanne Chishti to explore the growing pressure on CFOs operating in today’s increasingly complex financial environment, from geopolitical shocks to shrinking margins and fragmented data systems.</p><p>This conversation is created in collaboration with Pleo, and highlights their work in modernising the CFO’s office through real-time visibility, automated treasury workflows, and embedded finance capabilities that unify spend across the business.</p><p>Tony and Susanne dive deep into findings from Pleo’s Decision-Making Report 2025, including:</p><p>💡 Over 50% of UK decision-makers experience “decision freeze” due to a lack of real-time data</p><p>💡 Finance teams spend 26+ hours per week on manual treasury tasks</p><p>💡 Many organisations still make decisions based on “feeling” rather than evidence</p><p>💡 Fragmented systems slow down business agility and innovation</p><p>They also unpack how tools such as Pleo Embedded (their new embedded finance solution) and the Cash Management Suite are helping CFOs automate treasury operations, consolidate financial data, and accelerate decision-making with greater clarity and control.</p><p>Whether you&#39;re a CFO, operator, finance leader, or founder, this episode offers practical insights into the future of financial decision-making — and why integrated tooling is now essential rather than optional.</p><p>🔗 Learn More:</p><p>Tony Clark: <a href="linkedin.com/in/tclark100" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">linkedin.com/in/tclark100</a></p><p>The London Fintech Podcast: <a href="https://londonfintechpodcast.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://londonfintechpodcast.com</a></p><p>Pleo: <a href="https://www.pleo.io/en" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.pleo.io/en</a></p><p>Susanne Chishti: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannechishti/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannechishti/</a></p><p>Pleo Decision-Making Report 2025: <a href="https://content.pleo.io/en/decisions-report-2025" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://content.pleo.io/en/decisions-report-2025</a></p><p>Explore Pleo Embedded Finance: <a href="https://embedded.pleo.io/news/pleo-embedded-official-launch" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://embedded.pleo.io/news/pleo-embedded-official-launch</a></p><p>Pleo Cash Management Suite: <a href="https://www.pleo.io/en/cash-management" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.pleo.io/en/cash-management</a></p><p>NextWave Consulting: <a href="https://www.nxwave.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.nxwave.com/</a></p><p>Go Beyond The Podcast: <a href="https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&s=null" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://resources.nxwave.com/hub/london-fintech-podcast?c=cG9zdDo5OTI5NzY%3D&amp;nav=aHViX3BhZ2U6MTA%3D&amp;s=null</a></p><p>&quot;From Good to Great&quot; by Jim Collins: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Great-Companies-published-HarperBusiness/dp/B00E327SVA/ref=asc_df_B00E327SVA?mcid=ff85ddadb41e3021bd513644d3a153d5&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=781457465012&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6936681774339943281&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045984&hvtargid=pla-2444989498790&psc=1&hvocijid=6936681774339943281-B00E327SVA-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Great-Companies-published-HarperBusiness/dp/B00E327SVA/ref=asc_df_B00E327SVA?mcid=ff85ddadb41e3021bd513644d3a153d5&amp;tag=googshopuk-21&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=781457465012&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=6936681774339943281&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9045984&amp;hvtargid=pla-2444989498790&amp;psc=1&amp;hvocijid=6936681774339943281-B00E327SVA-&amp;hvexpln=0&amp;gad_source=1</a></p>