Finance Bootcamp for Non-Finance Leaders
Finance is the language of business. It must take the needs/wants from other functions and translate those to what it means for the Company. Top performing companies will see Finance “cross-pollinate” across various functions to learn and disseminate new thinking. Because of this, many firms have Finance run the Strategy process and be one of the few external faces of the Company.
Finance is more than saying "no" to investment requests, doing “data analysis” or just providing reports. Being good at Finance helps you become a better/faster decision maker, act as true business partner, drive action to results, and operate with an ownership mentality!
We believe that finance should be a cross-functional skill, and our program reflects this philosophy. We'll help you learn how to apply financial analysis and decision-making techniques to your work, no matter what your role is in the organization.
What participants are saying:
The curriculum was tailored to the students present, drawing from their individual experiences, questions and real-world examples. We were able to get specific and we learned from each other. As a result, the insights I gained were relevant and immediately applicable to my work.
Program Details
Program Dates
June 24-25, 2025
Registration Deadline
June 10, 2025
Delivery Method
Two full days, on campus
Cost
$1,950 per participant
Promotions and Available Discounts
- Register by May 26, 2025 and use code EARLYBIRD25FIN to save $100.
- Discounts are available for Ohio State University employees, OSUWMC employees, Veterans, employees from non-profit organizations and organizations who send three or more employees. For more information about discounts please contact Meredith Conder at conder.11@osu.edu.
Prospective Participant Profile
This program is valuable for...
- This program is valuable for anyone who needs to better understand the role of finance and how they can work with them to improve their organization and overall Company results.
- Professionals and executives in operations, sales, marketing, IT, facilities, HR or administration.
- Mid-level or senior managers from any functional area with budget or operational decision-making responsibility line.
Course Takeaways
In this program, we will broaden your perspective so you can use financial concepts/principles to proactively lead and be more agile as business conditions change.
Questions covered in this program:
- How does Finance create and track value?
- How to understand the 3 financial statements (and key accounts) from a managerial point of view?
- How to use an objective financial framework (i.e., NPV) for better decision making?
- What is the importance of capital budgeting/forecasting?
- How estimate the cost of capital for a firm/division. What does this number tell a manager about the importance of interest rates? How does finance create and track value?
What You Will Earn
Once you successfully complete the program, you will be eligible to receive a certificate of completion from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. You may proudly display this certificate in your office or home to showcase your accomplishment. You may also add this certificate to the licenses and certifications section of your LinkedIn profile. This will allow you to showcase your newly acquired experience to your network and stand out in your field.
We also value your commitment to learning, and as a token of appreciation, we offer a 10% discount on future topic-based programs you wish to pursue through Executive Education at Fisher College of Business. We believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and we are proud to be a part of yours.
-
Gain practical knowledge to analyze company data and discuss the financial implications of operations, marketing, sales, product development, research & development, etc. with key decision-makers in your organization
-
Gain clear insight into ways your decisions can influence company performance and value, using Microsoft Excel to model different financial and investment scenarios
-
Review an organization’s annual reports and statements found online to assess a firm's future prospects and value to determine risk
-
Feel more confident understanding financial statements and leveraging your knowledge for your own investments
-
Learn how to apply forecasting and simulation techniques to solve financial problems (example: Monte Carlo Simulation)
-
Your leaders will understand the language around cash flow and value as well as how to analyze corporate financial statements to manage your organization’s financial health
-
Your leaders will better understand and know how to calculate financial risks tied to their decision-making
-
Your leaders will understand a firm’s financing options (equity, loans, and short-term credit) and what these options mean for the value of the firm
-
Your leaders will learn how to assess division-level revenues, expenses and profitability over a period of time for to support project selection or elimination
Our Faculty
Chad Zipfel is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Finance. He joined Fisher in 2018 with more than a decade of progressive finance leadership experience in the Corporate space. Prior to his appointment at Ohio State, Chad led the turnaround of The Oneida Group out of bankruptcy: rebuilding a new Finance organization, reducing inventory, enacting price increases, and refinancing the Company’s capital structure. Prior to that, Chad delivered top-rated results at L Brands and Procter & Gamble in diverse capacities and locations: ranging from FP&A, Corporate Finance, M&A, Innovation, Sales, and Supply Chain.
At OSU, Chad is a STEP Faculty Mentor and is actively engaged with Fisher’s Executive Education as an Academic Director. Chad also serves on various committees and is faculty sponsor for various Student Orgs.
Outside of OSU, Chad stays engaged in the business world through a variety of means. Since 2018, he is the active owner of F.A.S.T. Consulting LLC: specializing in Finance and Strategy transformations as a fractional CFO for small/mid-cap companies. He sits on the Board of a VC-backed start-up while continuing to be active in the non-profit space with numerous Board positions.
Chad received his BSBA in Finance with Honors, graduating summa cum laude from Fisher. He resides in Sunbury, OH with his wife and two boys.
Karen Wruck is Dean’s Distinguished Professor and Professor of Finance at the Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University. Prior to her appointment at Ohio State, Wruck served on the faculty of the Harvard Business School. Her research and teaching are in the fields of financial and organizational economics, with special emphasis on corporate finance, restructuring, financial distress, governance, and management compensation. She has published numerous articles in leading academic journals and developed highly successful courses for delivery to MBAs and executives. In addition, her work and opinions have been highlighted in business periodicals. Professor Wruck has served as an associate editor of the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Corporate Finance, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Financial Research and European Financial Management and an ad hoc referee for many other academic journals. She has served as an academic director of the Financial Management Association and the Turnaround Management Association, a consultant to major corporations and has worked on a number of high-profile corporate litigation projects as a subject matter expert.
During her time at Ohio State, Professor Wruck has served in senior leadership positions at the Fisher College of Business, including Associate Dean and Senior Associate Dean with responsibility for all Fisher’s degree granting academic programs and major operating units within the College. In addition, as a senior leader of the College, she worked on significant issues including strategy, centers of excellence, AACSB reaccreditation, curriculum design, semester conversion, new minors and degree granting programs, budget, faculty appointments, compensation, workload and a variety of special projects and initiatives. In recognition of her leadership and service, Professor Wruck received Ohio State’s Mary Ann Williams Award, which recognizes a woman exhibiting extraordinary leadership, and Fisher’s Bostick-Georges Pacesetter Service Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership and service to the College of Business. In addition, Professor Wruck has on multiple occasions been selected as outstanding professor by Ohio State’s full-time and executive MBA programs.
Professor Wruck holds an A.B. from Davidson College, Phi Beta Kappa, in Economics, and both an M.S. in Applied Economics and a Ph.D. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Rochester.
Cancellation and Transfer Policy
All cancellations and transfers must be received in writing. Submit your request via email to Jennie McAndrew at mcandrew.28@osu.edu with the name of the program, followed by “cancellation” or “transfer” in the subject line.
- Cancellations must be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the first day of the program in order to be eligible for a full refund.
- Cancellations must be made at least fourteen (14) days prior to the first day of the program in order to be eligible for a 50% refund.
- Any cancellations made less than fourteen (14) days prior to the first day of the program will forfeit the registration fee.
- If you for any reason are unable to attend the program, please consider sending someone in your place. Participants can transfer their registration to someone else within their organization at no charge up to 24 hours before the first day of the program.
