Ep 37. Emma Seymour’s CFO Journey at Deputy—How Rebalancing Led to Profitability and Unicorn Status

Calling Operator with Laura Nicol

Today, I'm connecting with Emma Seymour, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Deputy. Emma is no stranger to navigating big transitions—whether steering a company through acquisitions, adapting through CEO leadership changes, driving profitable growth in uncertain post-pandemic times, or achieving unicorn status. Known for her "throw the ball to me" mindset, I hope Emma's story reminds all of our female-identifying listeners of the power of stepping up before you feel ready.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

• Her CFO leadership journey: From public practice to JobAdder to Deputy, where she became the youngest female CFO of an Australian tech unicorn
• Emma’s reflections on becoming a first-time mum while managing a "big job"
• Deputy's rise to profitability and unicorn status (for market context, Deputy is the 15th Australian-founded tech company to achieve this milestone)
• How Deputy’s 80% female leadership team drives business outcomes, enriches company culture, and brings them closer to the customer
• Clocking in every day to help customers build a better world for shift workers
• Why you should always "throw the ball to me"
• Alternative strategies for raising capital at different stages of growth
• What’s next for the future of the CFO role in tech.

Find Emma Seymour:

• LinkedIn
• Deputy
• Emma Seymour is just short of her third successful year as CFO of Deputy (read more)

Emma Seymour’s Northstars and Frameworks:

• Goal setting: Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)

ANZ Operators—Ones to Watch:

• Mel Perkins (CEO and Co-founder at Canva)

Other Folks Mentioned in the Episode:

• Silvija Martincevic (CEO at Deputy)

Guest ideas?

Do you have an operator on speed dial who could be perfect for the show? Please share your suggestions with me via LinkedIn.

A note from your host, Laura:

My goal for Calling Operator is to open-source stories from startup operators across various functional areas and learn how they excel at building and scaling companies. As a Chief of Staff, I often find myself in (virtual) rooms with people facing similar challenges and reinventing the wheel. I want this podcast to open a line for operators across Australia and New Zealand to learn from fellow operators. Each episode shares personal stories, the execution behind big ideas, career-defining moments, successes, failures, and lessons.

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