In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Alyona Mysko shares her journey from a PwC auditor to a fintech founder creating FuelFinance, a no-code financial planning tool tailored for startups and small businesses. She discusses common financial modeling challenges faced by first-time founders, the complexities of the manufacturing and fashion industries, and the importance of simplifying financial models for better decision-making. Alyona emphasizes the power of effective communication and scenario planning, helping entrepreneurs and modelers make sense of numbers to drive business success.

Alyona Mysko is the Founder and CEO of FuelFinance, a fintech startup delivering no-code financial planning tools designed specifically for startups and small businesses. With a professional background starting as an auditor at PwC, Alyona transitioned into financial analysis and fractional CFO roles before launching her own company. She brings deep expertise in financial modeling and a passion for simplifying complex financial data to empower founders and entrepreneurs.

Expect to Learn

• How Alyona’s audit background influenced the creation of a finance platform for startups
• Why first-time founders struggle with financial modeling and how second-time founders differ
• The complexity behind manufacturing and fashion business models and modeling nuances
• The importance of simplified dashboards focusing on key metrics for decision-making
• Why communication and storytelling in financial modeling is essential for impact

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Finance is just like fuel for a business. If you understand your numbers, you can go fast.” - Alyona Mysko
• First-time founders don’t know what they don’t know. Second-time founders know to start with the financial model.” - Alyona Mysko
• “Communication is 50% of your success as a financial modeler.” - Alyona Mysko

Follow Alyona :

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyona-mysko/
• Website - https://fuelfinance.me/

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• Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com  
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefpandaguy

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In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Scott Powell, co-founder and board member of the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), to discuss the principles and pitfalls of financial modeling. The conversation centers around how overcomplication, legacy models, and misused functions can undermine even the most polished models, and how thoughtful planning, stakeholder consideration, and service-oriented teaching can significantly enhance modeling effectiveness.

Scott Powell brings over 25 years of global experience in corporate finance education and financial modeling. He is a founding member of the Corporate Finance Institute, where he has led the creation of impactful learning tools and courses. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Scott has worked with major financial institutions worldwide and is deeply passionate about practical finance education and the power of financial literacy to transform lives.

Expect to Learn:

• Why financial models often fail and how to avoid those pitfalls.
• The importance of balancing technical precision with stakeholder usability.
• How teaching and empathy enhance modeling skills.
• Key Excel techniques and when to avoid overengineering.
• Scott’s insights into using AI and advanced Excel tools to stay current.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• "Every time you're in Excel, try to learn just one new thing. In a year, you're going to have learned a ton." - Scott Powell
• "If you open your model three days later and can’t understand what you did, then you made it too complex." - Scott Powell
• "Don’t start building your model until you understand the end goal and the user’s needs." - Scott Powell

Scott’s thoughtful and service-driven approach makes this episode a must-listen for anyone in the world of financial modeling. His real-world stories, practical Excel strategies, and emphasis on simplicity offer powerful insights. Whether you’re building your first model or refining your 100th, Scott’s advice will help you level up. A valuable guide for modelers who want to build with purpose and clarity.

Follow Scott :

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-powell-cpa-fca-fmva-84baa71/overlay/photo/
• Website - corporatefinanceinstitute.com
• Company - learningstrategiesgroup.com

Follow Paul:

• Website - https://www.theFP&A ndaguy.com  
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/theFP&A ndaguy 
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theFP&A ndaguy

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In this episode of Financial Modeler's Corner, host Paul Barnhurst talks with Narek Grigorian, a seasoned financial modeler and investment professional with deep experience across real estate, energy, and biotech sectors. Narek shares candid stories about the worst financial model he ever worked on, one that looked polished but was fundamentally flawed, missing key components like taxes, depreciation, and tenant turnover. He explains how these mistakes can mislead decision-makers and why it’s critical to understand not just the numbers but also the assumptions behind them.

Narek Grigorian currently works at US Capital Global, a global investment banking firm focused on real estate and energy projects, particularly in the lower to middle market space. He holds degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Maryland and brings a passion for financial modeling, innovation, and teaching. Narek believes that while all models are inherently imperfect, they still provide valuable guidance, if built with thoughtful assumptions and continual refinement.

Expect to Learn:

• Why can you never fully trust a model just because it looks polished.
• The critical real estate assumptions that are often overlooked, like tenant turnover and escalating costs.
• How to approach energy modeling with real-time data inputs and complex variables.
• Why biotech models are uniquely challenging due to regulatory and clinical uncertainties.
• Tips and shortcuts Narek uses in Excel to make modeling faster and more reliable.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• ““The toughest part is you have the wardrobe of clothes but have to create the person.” - Narek Grigorian
• “Power Query and Power BI are essential tools for modern financial modelers.” - Narek Grigorian
• “Vacancy rates and market growth assumptions are the most common pitfalls in real estate models.” - Narek Grigorian

Narek’s practical and approachable style makes this episode valuable for anyone involved in financial modeling whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience. His clear advice on key assumptions, Excel techniques, and industry-specific challenges offers useful takeaways to help you create more accurate and effective models.

Follow Narek :

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/narek-grigorian-8869a7254/

Follow Paul:

• Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com  
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy 
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefpandaguy

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