She also shares insights on preparing finance organizations for AI, building influence across the business, and developing the next generation of financial leadership.

This episode is part of FEI’s special series featuring speakers from the upcoming ICONS: Leaders in Finance event on March 25, 2026, at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.

Special Guest: Teri Reinseth.

In this compelling episode, Heather Cole, Executive Coach and Business Analytics Advisor at Lodestar Solutions, interviews Judy Wright, CFO of BTM Global Consulting, LLC, FEI Board Member, and incoming 2026 President of FEI Twin Cities.

Judy’s journey is anything but conventional. Early in her career, she quit her job to test her resilience—borrowing inventory from her father and becoming a street vendor in China. Carrying merchandise by bus, negotiating for market space, and building a wholesale network from scratch, she proved to herself that she could survive—and thrive—under pressure.

Today, she brings that same entrepreneurial instinct and composure to the CFO role at a global IT consulting firm.

In this episode, Judy shares:

• Why being an “Icon” means paying it forward and mentoring the next generation of financial leaders
• The real ROI of networking—and why waiting until you need a job is too late
• Why finance professionals must develop emotional intelligence to lead effectively
• How to stay calm when everyone else is panicking (“If finance loses its cool, everyone does.”)
• The foundational skills future finance professionals must build in an AI-driven world
• The power of slowing down, finding purpose, and leading with intention

Judy speaks openly about mentorship, faith, service, and the importance of personal development beyond the day job. Her message is clear: careers are built not just on technical skill, but on resilience, relationships, and the courage to lead with heart.

This conversation is a must-listen for financial leaders who want to elevate their impact—professionally and personally.

Special Guest: Judy Wright.

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.