Heather Cole, Executive Coach and Business Analytics Advisor at Lodestar Solutions, Inc., interviews Patti Humble, former Chief Accounting Officer at UPS, Institute of Management Accountants board member, and Golden Seeds investor.

Patti reframes careers as “jungle gyms, not ladders,” sharing the pivotal moment when she walked into her leader’s office and asked for a promotion—only to learn she wasn’t even being considered. That courageous ask set off a chain reaction that ultimately led her to the C-suite.

Together, Heather and Patti explore:

Why “don’t ask, don’t get” is a leadership strategy, not a slogan

How finance leaders earn influence by shifting from black-and-white answers to business-shaping questions

What real transformation leadership requires: hearts, minds, and momentum—not just project plans

The power of building an external network to accelerate decisions and reduce friction

Patti’s next chapter as a board-ready leader and angel investor supporting women-led startups through Golden Seeds

If you’ve ever assumed that hard work alone would get you noticed, this conversation offers a better playbook—because excellence is impressive, but advocacy is what changes your zip code.

Learn more about FEI's 2026 ICONS: Leaders in Finance at: https://www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026

Special Guest: Patti Humble.

In this special ICONS: Leaders in Finance edition of the FEI Podcast, Heather Cole – Executive Coach and Business Analytics Advisor at Lodestar Solutions – interviews Amber Kinney, Chief Financial Officer of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Amber’s career path is anything but traditional. From a background in the performing arts to executive leadership in nonprofit organizations with life-saving missions — including Mothers Against Drunk Driving — Amber shares how conscious career choices, grit, and faith shaped her leadership journey.

In this conversation, Amber and Heather dive into:

• Taking bold career leaps even when you feel “in over your head”
• Reframing imposter syndrome as a growth signal
• The power of networking, mentoring, and asking for help
• Leading with purpose in nonprofit and healthcare organizations
• Silencing negative voices and protecting your confidence
• The importance of balance, self-care, and resilience in high-impact roles

This episode kicks off a series spotlighting past speakers from Financial Executives International’s ICONS: Leaders in Finance event, designed to inspire finance leaders and build momentum toward ICONS 2026, taking place on March 25, 2026 at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA and virtually on April 22, 2026.

Learn more at www.financialexecutives.org/icons2026.

Special Guest: Amber Kinney.