Finance leaders face an unprecedented challenge in keeping pace with technological advancement. The traditional approach of reactive financial planning no longer works when AI models update weekly and blockchain applications expand across industries. Dave Sackett, a finance futurist and former CFO, has worked hands-on with AI, blockchain, and eCommerce through ventures like AIOne, Tadaa AI, and Hyperbots, developing strategies to help finance teams navigate this rapidly changing landscape.
When Technology Moves Faster Than Strategy
The speed of technological change has fundamentally altered how finance departments must operate. Traditional financial planning cycles simply can’t keep up with the current pace of innovation. Dave points out a critical reality that many finance leaders struggle to accept: “Technology isn’t just evolving, it’s accelerating. What used to take years now takes months.” This acceleration creates a disconnect between how finance teams traditionally plan and how technology actually develops. The implications go far beyond simple timeline adjustments. “AI models are updating weekly. Blockchain applications are expanding across industries,” Dave explains, highlighting how constant technological shifts require entirely new approaches to financial strategy. Finance leaders who continue using static planning models find themselves consistently behind the curve, making decisions based on outdated assumptions about technology capabilities and costs.
Recognize the Acceleration of Technology
Dave’s solution sounds simple but requires a complete mindset shift. Stop building static plans and start building adaptive ones. “For finance leaders, this means our strategies can’t be static. We need to design financial plans that are adaptive, modular, and ready to pivot as tech advances,” he explains. That means accepting uncertainty as the new normal and building flexibility into every financial model. This isn’t about getting better at predicting the future. It’s about admitting that prediction has become nearly impossible in some areas. Finance teams need new skills that most business schools never taught. They need to model scenarios around rapidly changing tech capabilities instead of relying on historical data that may be irrelevant within months.
Bridge the Gap Between Finance and Innovation
Here’s where most organizations get it wrong. Finance sits in one corner, innovation teams work in another, and they only talk when someone needs money approved. Dave has watched this dynamic kill good ideas and waste resources for years. “Traditionally, finance has been reactive. But today’s environment demands that we become proactive partners in innovation,” he says. The fix requires finance people to get their hands dirty with technology early in the process. “This means engaging early in digital transformation projects, understanding the value of automation tools, and helping teams model out the ROI of emerging tech,” Dave continues. Instead of waiting for innovation teams to show up with finished proposals, finance needs to be in the room when ideas first take shape.
The payoff goes beyond better project outcomes. “When finance speaks the language of innovation, we enable the business to move faster and smarter,” Dave notes. Companies that get this right make better technology bets and avoid expensive mistakes. Those that don’t keep throwing money at solutions that worked last year but fail today.
Empower Teams Through Strategic Tech Adoption
Technology strategy means nothing without people who can execute it. Dave sees too many organizations that talk about digital transformation while leaving their finance teams to work with outdated tools and processes. “The best strategies are only as good as the teams that implement them. Empowering your finance team with the right tools and training is non-negotiable,” he states bluntly. The scope of change goes well beyond basic software upgrades. Finance teams need exposure to the same technologies that are reshaping their industries. “Whether it’s automating data entry with AI or using machine learning to forecast revenue, these tools elevate finance from number-crunching to strategy-shaping,” Dave explains. This isn’t about replacing people with machines. It’s about giving people better tools so they can focus on strategy instead of manual work. Building this capability takes sustained effort and cultural change. “It’s about building a culture that embraces continuous learning and digital agility,” Dave emphasizes. Organizations that make this investment create finance teams capable of driving innovation instead of just responding to it.
Dave’s message to finance leaders comes down to one word: act. The technology landscape changes too fast for perfect information or foolproof plans. Waiting for clarity means falling further behind while competitors gain ground. “If you’re a finance leader navigating this tech-driven landscape, now’s the time to lead boldly. Align your strategy with the pace of change, bridge finance and innovation, and invest in your people,” he concludes. The transformation he describes isn’t optional anymore. Companies that figure out how to align finance strategy with rapid tech evolution will thrive. Those that stick with traditional approaches will find themselves managing the decline of increasingly irrelevant business models.
Follow Dave Sackett on LinkedIn for more insights on transforming finance through tech.
