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Katrina
Montgomery
CFO
Austin Independent School District
Katrina Montgomery is an accomplished finance and accounting leader with more than 30 years of experience and over a decade serving in controller roles. She has led financial operations for major institutions, including Huston-Tillotson University, where she has supported sustainable growth while strengthening financial oversight and operational performance. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Katrina focuses on building high-performing teams rooted in trust, transparency, and shared success. She combines deep accounting expertise with a strong commitment to mentorship, culture-building, and creating opportunities for others to grow and succeed. Beyond her professional work, Katrina is actively involved in community and nonprofit initiatives, including serving on the board of Communities In Schools of Central Texas, where she supports programs that help students bridge the gap between high school and higher education or employment. Through both finance and education, she is dedicated to creating lasting, positive impact in the communities she serves.
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24 June 2026 12:15 - 13:00
Panel: Board-level finance - How CFOs influence strategy (not just validate it)
Many CFOs are still pulled in at the “validation stage.” The highest-impact CFOs are shaping decisions before strategy is locked, influencing capital prioritisation, M&A timing, operating model shifts, and long-range bets. This panel focuses on the mechanics of real board influence: how CFOs frame decisions, challenge assumptions without creating friction, and translate financial reality into strategic choices boards can act on. The session will also explore how CFOs balance being a strategic partner to the CEO while remaining an independent voice of risk and discipline. Key takeaways: - How CFOs insert finance perspective earlier into strategic decision cycles - Framing data and scenarios so boards make faster, higher-quality decisions - Navigating CEO, board, and investor dynamics without losing credibility - Moving from “numbers owner” to “enterprise decision partner” in practice