Cfo Thought Leader

In the throes of the Great Recession, Erica Gessert faced one of her first tests of leadership. As the head of Investor Relations for Virgin Mobile, she found herself navigating the collapsing financial sector. Key banks that were integral to the company's operations began to crumble, and the economic landscape was fraught with uncertainty. Keeping investor concerns top of mind, Gessert was able to help steady Virgin Mobile and bring the path leading beyond the crisis into full view.In the years ahead, Gessert’s career trajectory continued upward as she transitioned into various finance leadership roles. She spent a significant portion of her career at PayPal, where she honed her skills in analytics and strategic planning. Her ability to leverage data for decision-making allowed her to emerge as a strategy-minded finance executive capable of driving business growth and profitability.In May 2022, Gessert was named CFO of Upwork. At the time, the company was grappling with profitability challenges despite the f