Jack McCullough on Inspiring Change Through Community
In this powerful episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we sit down with financial leadership expert Jack McCullough, founder of the CFO Leadership Council. Are you a leader battling imposter syndrome, navigating personal setbacks, or trying to build a career that goes beyond the numbers? Jack’s story is a masterclass in turning personal challenges into empathetic leadership. From being a wimpy kid (his words!) to leading a global network of thousands, he reveals how his journey forged a deep commitment to community, mentorship, and building a safe space for others.
Jack McCullough is a recognized financial leadership expert and the founder of the CFO Leadership Council, a global network of over 2,500 senior financial executives. A former CFO for multiple organizations, he has played a key role in helping CFOs expand their influence beyond finance to become strategic business leaders. Jack has published three books, including MBA for Lunch earlier this year, and serves a senior contributor to the Forbes CFO Network, and host of the Secrets of Rockstar CFOs podcast. His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, and he has appeared on Fox Business Network and Your World with Neil Cavuto. Jack earned his MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
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Key Takeaways:
The Scars That Build Empathy: Jack shares how being a bullied, socially awkward kid gave him a lifelong mission to stand up for others and taught him that niceness is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Learn how Jack, despite his achievements, felt like an admissions error at MIT Sloan. He discovered that his unique background was a valuable asset that his classmates respected and sought advice from.
From Personal Pain to Purpose: Hear how the defining challenge of his life—raising two autistic sons—made him a more patient, kinder, and empathetic leader, inspiring him to mentor others going through similar struggles.
Building a Community from Rejection: Discover the origin story of the CFO Leadership Council, which was born after Jack was rejected by another professional group. He created the network he needed, fostering a judgment-free community of operators.
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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)
From Awkward Kid to Rockstar CFO: How to Build an Empathetic Network
Have you ever felt like a fraud, even when you've achieved great things? Do you have a past that makes you feel different from everyone else? Many of us believe that a strong leader is someone who is tough, perfect, and has all the answers. But what if the opposite is true? What if your biggest weaknesses and personal challenges are actually the keys to becoming a powerful, empathetic leader? In an interview on the "No Boxes: Just Verses" podcast, finance expert Jack McCullough shared his inspiring story of how he went from a scrawny, awkward kid to the founder of a global network of financial leaders. This article will show you how to embrace your story and build a community that supports you and helps you grow.
Prerequisites to Building Your Network
This article is for you if you're a professional who sometimes feels like an outsider or an imposter. If you're a parent navigating a difficult situation or a leader who wants to connect with your team on a deeper level, these lessons will help. You don't need a perfect background or a fancy degree. All you need is an open mind, a willingness to be vulnerable, and a desire to build a community that lifts everyone up.
Step 1: Turn Your Scars into Your Superpower
We often believe that our painful experiences, especially from childhood, should be hidden. A common mistake is to think that showing vulnerability is a sign of weakness. But our guest’s story shows us the opposite. He shared how he was a socially awkward, scrawny kid who was often picked on. Instead of letting this make him bitter, he used these experiences to become a better, more empathetic person. He realized that being nice isn't being weak; it's a sign of real strength. This lesson became the foundation of his leadership style and his work in championing diversity and helping others.
This step teaches us to reframe our past struggles. What you might see as a weakness can actually be the source of your greatest strengths, like empathy and compassion.
Conclusion:
Your personal history, with all its struggles, can give you the empathy and strength you need to be a great leader.
Reframe your past pain into a source of strength, not bitterness.
Realize that being a kind and compassionate person is a sign of strength.
Use your past experiences to stand up for others and fight against injustice.
Remember that the "strongest" person is often the one who is the most empathetic.
Step 2: Push Through Imposter Syndrome to Find Your Community
Even after you've achieved success, the feeling of not belonging can still follow you. A common mistake is to let imposter syndrome paralyze you and make you believe you're an "admissions error." Our guest shared how he felt exactly this way when he got into MIT Sloan, a school he never thought he could attend. He was surrounded by classmates from Ivy League schools, and he felt like he was the dumbest person in the room. But something powerful happened: his classmates began to seek his advice on finance and accounting. He realized that his unique background was a valuable asset that others needed, and he actually did belong there.
This step shows us that the way to overcome imposter syndrome is not to hide, but to lean into your unique skills and use them to help others. This is how you find your place and build a community of people who value you.
Conclusion:
The way to beat imposter syndrome is to use your unique skills to serve others.
Lean into your unique background and see it as an asset, not a weakness.
Look for opportunities to help others with the skills you have.
Remember that imposter syndrome is a common feeling, even for highly successful people.
Realize that you belong in the room because you have a valuable perspective to share.
Step 3: Turn Personal Pain into a Powerful Purpose
Life will throw you curveballs, and sometimes they can feel devastating. Many of us believe that our personal problems should be kept separate from our professional lives. But our guest’s story shows us how a defining personal challenge can actually make you a better leader. He shared his deeply personal story of parenting two autistic sons. He admits that it was a huge struggle, and he often felt angry and helpless. But he learned to use this experience to become a more patient, kinder, and empathetic leader. His personal pain gave him a powerful purpose: to support other fathers going through similar struggles.
This step teaches us that a leader's journey is not just about professional achievements, but also about personal growth. When you use your own pain to help others, you create a deeper sense of purpose and a more meaningful legacy.
Conclusion:
Using your personal struggles to help others gives you a powerful sense of purpose and makes you a more empathetic leader.
Allow yourself to feel the difficult emotions that come with personal setbacks.
Use your personal experiences to find a new purpose in mentoring others.
Realize that your personal growth can be the key to becoming a better leader.
Be a leader who supports your team members as whole people, not just employees.
Step 4: Build a Community That Lifts Everyone Up
No one can do it all alone, and a common mistake is trying to be a one-person army. Our guest shared how his biggest network was born out of a personal need. When another professional group turned him down, he didn't give up. Instead, he decided to create his own group: the CFO Leadership Council. He started with a handful of people and intentionally built a community that was judgment-free and focused on helping each other. This community has become a global network where financial leaders share their experiences and get honest advice. The network is now so strong that subgroups of women leaders have created their own personal advisory boards to support each other.
This step shows us that building a community is a powerful act of leadership. When you create a space where people can be vulnerable and support each other, you not only help yourself but you help everyone around you.
Conclusion:
Building a community is a powerful act of leadership that creates a network of support for everyone involved.
If you can't find the community you need, build it yourself.
Be intentional about creating a space where people can be vulnerable without judgment.
Focus on helping others become better leaders, not just better at their jobs.
Understand that a strong community is a win for everyone, not just for you.
Conclusion: Your Unboxed Journey to Authentic Leadership
You've learned that a life of purpose and leadership isn't about following a straight line. It's a journey of transforming your personal struggles into sources of strength, using your unique background as an asset, and building a community that lifts everyone up. The big idea is that your experiences, both good and bad, are what make you a relatable and effective leader.
Now, it’s your turn to apply these lessons to your own life. Start by asking yourself:
Final Steps to Take:
What are the "scars" from your past that you can reframe as a source of strength?
How can you use your unique skills to help others and overcome imposter syndrome?
What personal challenge are you facing that could become your next great purpose?
Who are the people you need in your community, and how can you start building that network today?