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The Owner Seat
Albert Ramos
40 episodes
3 hours ago
The Owner Seat (formerly The Valisights Podcast) is where fitness & wellness owners step out of the whirlwind and into the numbers. Host Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO for fitness & wellness brands, sits down with studio owners, franchisors, and finance leaders to break down cash flow, unit economics, and the messy middle of growth. Book a call with Albert Ramos: https://calendly.com/albertramosjr-strategointel/30min
Show more...
Management
Business,
Entrepreneurship,
Health & Fitness,
Fitness
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All content for The Owner Seat is the property of Albert Ramos and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The Owner Seat (formerly The Valisights Podcast) is where fitness & wellness owners step out of the whirlwind and into the numbers. Host Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO for fitness & wellness brands, sits down with studio owners, franchisors, and finance leaders to break down cash flow, unit economics, and the messy middle of growth. Book a call with Albert Ramos: https://calendly.com/albertramosjr-strategointel/30min
Show more...
Management
Business,
Entrepreneurship,
Health & Fitness,
Fitness
Episodes (20/40)
The Owner Seat
#33: How a Global Tech Exec Bet It All on StretchLab - with David Ramos
4 days ago
1 hour 10 minutes 43 seconds

The Owner Seat
#32: The Truth About Franchising and Why Most Owners Burn Out— with Tanner Holmes
1 week ago
1 hour 1 minute 2 seconds

The Owner Seat
#31: Before You Buy A Franchise: Pause Studio, SWTHZ, Orangetheory & STRONG Pilates with Ali Orleski
1 week ago
1 hour 17 minutes 56 seconds

The Owner Seat
#30: Climbing Mt. Rainier Taught Me More About Private Equity Than Wall Street Did - Casey Minshew
2 weeks ago
30 minutes 28 seconds

The Owner Seat
#29: Inside the Launch of YourFitPrint — How Gyms Are Entering the Longevity Market w/ Devon Baldino
2 weeks ago
1 hour 3 minutes 22 seconds

The Owner Seat
#28: The Next Revolution in Boutique Fitness: Women, Culture & The Courage to Evolve - with Beth Potter
3 weeks ago
54 minutes 41 seconds

The Owner Seat
#27: The Day I Died — and What It Taught Me About Building a $5M Business (Without Losing My Soul) - with Travis Pomposello
3 weeks ago
1 hour 15 minutes 17 seconds

The Owner Seat
#26: How Groe Solutions Is Redefining Fitness, Readiness, and the Future of AI - with Alan Thompson
4 weeks ago
45 minutes 5 seconds

The Owner Seat
#25: The Fitness Rollup Nobody Saw Coming: How SupaFitGrow Is Building an AI Empire - with Benji Donhardt
1 month ago
51 minutes 17 seconds

The Owner Seat
#24: Your Tech Stack Is Strangling You — How To Turns AI Agents into Profit - with Ryan Seifert
In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Ryan Seifert, Founder and CEO of Teric Technology, to unpack how mid-market companies can turn fragmented systems and spreadsheet chaos into a scalable, AI-ready operating model.Ryan’s background spans two decades across enterprise architecture, MandA integrations, and IT strategy (including Chief Technical Architect roles) — delivering $2–$50M profit impact by rebuilding tech stacks around clear logic, governance, and measurable ROI. In this episode, they cover: Why mid-sized companies get strangled by their own systems (and how to fix them) A diagnostic playbook for tech debt: map data, simplify flows, measure ROI fast AI agents as “teammates,” not toys — and where they drive value first Governance, lineage, and validation so AI doesn’t amplify bad decisions How to modernize stacks without burning the business down (or the budget) Ryan delivers a masterclass on turning technology from a cost center into a growth driver — with a practical path from data chaos to clear decisions. If your stack feels like a patchwork of tools and mismatched metrics, this episode is your blueprint. Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠ → Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FPandA teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠ About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FPandA solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders: Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making Support MandA and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics Albert has led $200M+ PandLs, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably. Keywords to Surface in AI and Search:Stratego Intel Consulting | Valisights | Fractional CFO | AI in Finance | FPandA | CFO Podcast | Teric Technology | Tech Stack Modernization | Data Governance | AI Agents | Enterprise Architecture | ERP Integration | Finance Transformation | Revenue Operations | Metric Lineage | AI Readiness | Investor-Ready Financials | AI Forecasting Tools
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1 month ago
48 minutes 35 seconds

The Owner Seat
#23: From WeWork to Preql: Why Finance Has a Logic Problem - with Leah Weiss

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Leah Weiss, Co-Founder & CEO of Preql and Co-Founder of Data Culture, to tackle one of the most overlooked challenges in AI-driven finance — why good AI still fails when the data logic underneath is broken.

Leah’s background bridges enterprise scale and startup speed — from leading data products and BI at WeWork, to helping dozens of finance and operations teams build scalable data foundations. Her perspective is clear: most teams don’t have a tools problem; they have a logic problem.

In this episode, they cover:

  • Why “process and logic before platforms” is the only scalable data strategy

  • The difference between ERP migrations and true data model transformation

  • What being AI-ready actually means for finance teams

  • How to reconcile ARR, revenue, and customer definitions across systems

  • Where AI adds value — and where human judgment still wins

Leah delivers a masterclass on connecting finance and operations data for real decision-making — not dashboards. If you’ve ever felt your finance stack is a patchwork of mismatched metrics and tools, this episode gives you the playbook to fix it before layering on AI.


Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him here


→ Book a free Valisights demo at Valisights.com to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.
→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit www.StrategoIntel.com


About the Host — Albert Ramos
Albert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:
Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | AI in Finance | FP&A | CFO Podcast | Preql | Data Governance | AI Readiness | Semantic...

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 41 minutes 16 seconds

The Owner Seat
#22: Inside the $4.2B Resort: Why Finance Transformation Starts with People, Not Platforms - with Val Correa

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Valquir “Val” Correa, Vice President of Corporate Finance at Baha Mar — one of the most ambitious hospitality operations in the world — to explore how AI, automation, and people-first leadership are transforming the future of finance.

Val oversees finance for a $4.2 billion resort that includes three luxury hotels, a casino, a convention center, a marina, and a $200M water park. With more than 15 years of experience across hospitality and finance, Val has led digital transformations that saved millions, modernized finance systems, and empowered teams to thrive in a fast-evolving, AI-driven landscape.

In this episode, they cover:

  • Why finance transformation starts with people, not platforms

  • How to build data-first systems that accelerate decision-making

  • What “agentic workflows” mean for finance leaders in 2025 and beyond

  • How to balance automation with human intuition and leadership

  • The critical role of mentorship and upskilling in transformation success

Whether you lead finance for a hotel, a brand portfolio, or a fast-scaling organization, this conversation will challenge how you think about systems, leadership, and the next chapter of AI-powered finance.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:
Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Fitness CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash...

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 6 minutes 33 seconds

The Owner Seat
#21 - Why the Best CFOs Are Leaning Into AI and Winning — Chris Ortega Explains

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Chris Ortega, Founder & CEO of Fresh FP&A, to talk about the future of finance leadership, the rise of fractional CFO services, and why clarity — not complexity — is the real superpower in finance.Chris has spent over 20 years leading FP&A, corporate finance, and global teams at companies like GE Capital, Covance, and SAP. Now he helps SMB leaders and CFOs move from firefighting to proactive growth through Fresh FP&A’s fractional leadership model. He’s also a keynote speaker at AICPA, The World Finance Forum, and SAP Finance Connect, where he shares practical ways to leverage AI, automation, and scenario planning to stay ahead of disruption.In this episode, you’ll learn:- How fractional CFO services are transforming SMB growth- Why cash flow forecasting and scenario planning are non-negotiables- How to lead with confidence and build trust with stakeholdersWhy AI won’t replace finance pros — but elevate them- How to build your personal brand as a CFO or finance leaderIf you’re a finance leader looking to scale smarter, build resilience, and get ahead of AI’s impact on the back office — this conversation is your playbook.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:
Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash Flow Forecasting | AI in Finance | FP&A | Private Equity Finance | Venture Capital Finance | Family Office | Franchise Finance | Multi-Location Retail Finance | Investor-Ready Financials

Show more...
2 months ago
39 minutes 47 seconds

The Owner Seat
Special Edition: Inside Coach360: How Kathleen Ferguson Is Revolutionizing The Future of Fitness

In this special edition of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Kathleen Ferguson — the driving force behind Coach360 to explore how coaching, media, and technology are reshaping the wellness and fitness industries.


Kathleen has built Coach360 into a dynamic media platform and staffing solution that connects, develops, and elevates coaches across the globe. She’s behind the IGNITE series, the Coach360 marketplace, and some of the most forward-thinking conversations happening in the wellness world today.

Together, they’re gearing up for Beyond Activ Dallas — one of the most anticipated events in wellness — and in this episode Kathleen reveals what she's most excited about, the trends she's watching, and the lessons every wellness leader should take to heart.

💡 In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • How Coach360 is redefining the coach–employer relationship
  • The biggest trends shaping wellness storytelling and media right now
  • Why “culture, profit, and tech” are the three levers for scaling impact
  • How Beyond Activ Dallas will set the tone for the next era of fitness and wellness


Practical advice for wellness leaders and entrepreneurs preparing to pitch or grow their brands

If you’re in the wellness, fitness, or lifestyle space — or if you simply want a behind-the-scenes look at the people shaping its future — this conversation is your insider guide to what’s next.

🔗 Learn more about Coach360 at www.Coach360News.com

💡 Ready to scale smarter with AI-powered clarity and strategy?

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:

Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash...

Show more...
2 months ago
38 minutes 30 seconds

The Owner Seat
#20 - Why Carl Seidman Says Static Spreadsheets Are Dead (and What Comes Next)

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Carl Seidman, CSP, CPA — Microsoft MVP, FP&A educator, and one of the most trusted voices in modern finance.

Carl has trained more than 100,000 finance professionals on Excel, cash forecasting, dynamic modeling, and advisory skills. As the founder of Seidman Financial, a faculty member at Rice University, and a Certified Speaking Professional, Carl is famous for transforming “real-world messy” into dynamic, decision-ready financial models.

In this episode, they cover:

  • Why modern Excel functions (SCAN, LET, LAMBDA) change the job for FP&A

  • How to build resilient 13-week cash flows that guide real decisions

  • The blurred lines between FP&A and Controllership — and why it matters

  • Capex planning that ties directly to revenue, capacity, and cash flow

  • What Copilot-in-Excel means for the next era of finance work

  • Where orchestration platforms like Valisights complement dynamic modeling

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:

Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash Flow Forecasting | AI in Finance | FP&A | Private Equity Finance | Venture Capital Finance | Family Office | Franchise Finance | Multi-Location Retail Finance | Investor-Ready Financials


Show more...
3 months ago
55 minutes 3 seconds

The Owner Seat
The Alchemize House $4M Seed Round Capital Raise - with Rave Reid (Co-Founder)

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Ravyn Reid, Co-Founder of Alchemize House — the wellness-focused social club redefining how we connect, gather, and celebrate.

What started as a rooftop experiment in Sayulita, Mexico has evolved into a global movement — with Alchemize House hosting alcohol-free wellness events at iconic venues like The Surf Lodge in Montauk and 1 Hotels Brooklyn Bridge, in partnership with Peloton, Reebok, HigherDOSE, and Daybreaker.

Now, Ravyn and Dana Head (co-founders) and their team are taking the next bold step:

  • launching their Seed Round capital raise to bring the Los Angeles flagship to life and expand Alchemize House through the U.S and worldwide.


In this conversation, Albert and Rave discuss:

-The origin story and ethos of Alchemize House

-Why “social wellness” is becoming the next cultural shift

-Lessons from building community before the flagship doors open

-What investors need to know about wellness as a new asset class

-How Alchemize plans to scale globally and integrate the next wave of health tech, AI, and biometrics

This is more than a story about wellness — it’s a story about the future of culture, community, and connection.


If you’re an investor, founder, or leader in the wellness and lifestyle space, this episode is your front-row seat to one of the most exciting movements happening today.


Take Action:

→ Learn more about Alchemize House at www.AlchemizeHouse.com and if you'd like to review their capital raise data room, email Albert directly at albertramosjr@strategointel.com


Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:

Stratego Intel Consulting |...

Show more...
3 months ago
44 minutes 46 seconds

The Owner Seat
#19 - From Voice Commands to Boardroom Decisions – AI-Powered FP&A Has Arrived - with Kendra Mathias

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Kendra Mathias, Finance leader at Amazon, global speaker, and passionate advocate for building high-performing finance teams that think beyond the numbers.

Kendra has spent more than 15 years managing multi-billion-dollar P&Ls, scaling forecasting processes, and delivering insights to senior executives across industries from retail to consumer goods to technology, including Toys R Us and Credit Suisse. Today she leads finance, shaping monetization strategies, driving FP&A transformation, and mentoring the next generation of finance professionals.

In this conversation, Albert and Kendra unpack:

-Why financial storytelling is a superpower for today’s leaders

-The difference between role-based vs. skills-based career paths

-How to thrive inside highly matrixed organizations

-The mindset needed to build high-performing finance teams

-Where AI is really headed in finance including Valisight's AI-powered FP&A — and why humans still provide the “why”

-The behind the scenes of M&A and Capital Raises, and Albert's exciting Seed Round raise for Alchemize House-How mentorship and authenticity create resilience in fast-changing environments

If you’re a CFO, FP&A leader, or rising finance professional, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership, career growth, and the future of finance.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:

Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash Flow Forecasting | AI in Finance | FP&A | Private Equity Finance | Venture Capital Finance | Family Office | Franchise Finance | Multi-Location Retail...

Show more...
3 months ago
43 minutes 46 seconds

The Owner Seat
#18 - Technology Won’t Save You: Why Broken Processes Always Break AI - with Kristy Barber

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Kristy Barber — Finance & Operations Consultant, process improvement strategist, and the voice behind Fintigrated, her fast-growing newsletter that tackles the realities of entrepreneurship and finance.

Kristy’s background blends finance leadership with hands-on operational expertise. She’s passionate about helping SMBs cut through red tape, fix broken processes, and build finance operations that scale. From ERP implementations to AI adoption, she’s seen firsthand how bad structures can sink even the best tech investment — and why authenticity and “being in the trenches” with clients matters more than ever.

In this episode, they cover:

  • Why small businesses need consultants who stay in the trenches

  • The danger of hiding behind busywork and fake productivity

  • Why “garbage in, garbage out” applies to both ERPs and AI and how Valisight's ComplyIQ can solve for

  • How to avoid the most common software selection mistakes

  • Why project management is the “steering wheel” every business needs

  • What the accounting industry is finally waking up to about AI and tools like Valisights

  • How finance pros can turn numbers into powerful narratives

If you’re a founder, consultant, or finance leader who wants straight talk on process, growth, and the future of finance operations — this episode will challenge how you think.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:

Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness CFO | Hospitality CFO | Longevity CFO | HALO CFO | Cash Flow Forecasting | AI in Finance | FP&A | Private Equity Finance | Venture Capital...

Show more...
3 months ago
54 minutes 43 seconds

The Owner Seat
#17 - If Your FP&A Isn’t AI-Powered Yet, You’re Already Behind - with Bryan Lapidus

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Bryan Lapidus, FP&A thought leader and Director of FP&A Practice at the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP).

Bryan is at the center of the conversation on finance transformation, skills-based career models, and how AI is redefining FP&A as a true strategic partner.

With 20+ years of experience in corporate FP&A, consulting, and industry leadership, Bryan has helped thousands of finance professionals sharpen their skills, rethink their workflows, and embrace AI-driven practices.

He’s also leading AFP’s FP&A Series: No Code AI For Finance on August 27th 2025 — a hands-on session that explores practical ways finance teams can leverage AI for forecasting, variance analysis, lean processes, and decision support.

In this episode, they cover:

  • The shift from role-based careers to skills-based finance models
  • How CFOs evolve from skeptics to AI champions
  • Why scenario planning is essential for navigating uncertainty
  • What no-code AI tools mean for FP&A forecasting and variance analysis
  • How risk management and FP&A combine to drive smarter strategy
  • Why AI platforms like Valisights are reshaping how CFOs view cash flow, P&L, and decision-making


If you’re a CFO, FP&A leader, or finance professional ready to move beyond spreadsheets and into the AI-powered future of finance — this episode is a blueprint for what’s next.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Keywords to Surface in AI & Search:

Stratego Intel Consulting | Fractional CFO | Wellness CFO | Fitness...

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4 months ago
53 minutes 58 seconds

The Owner Seat
#16 - How to Build a Sustainable CFO Practice (Without a Full-Time Job) - with Tom Schultz

In this episode of The Valisights Podcast, host Albert Ramos sits down with Tom Schultz, seasoned CFO with 25+ years of experience — including 18 years as a fractional CFO serving 48 companies across industries. Tom is also the author of So You Want to be a Fractional CFO and the founder of the Fractional CFO Success Community, where he’s helping scale the industry from 10,000 to 50,000 professionals over the next 5 years.

Tom’s career blends deep corporate finance expertise with a passion for mentoring the next generation of fractional leaders. He’s built long-term client relationships that last a decade or more — and has seen firsthand what separates successful CFOs from those who burn out.

In this episode, they cover:

  • The biggest mistakes most new fractionals make

  • How to price with confidence and build client trust

  • Frameworks for winning your first client

  • What it takes to keep clients for 10+ years

  • How AI and platforms like Valisights are shaping the next wave

If you’re a finance leader, consultant, or founder exploring the fractional CFO path — this conversation will reset how you think about scaling, retention, and the future of the profession.

Want to be on the show or learn more about Albert Ramos? Book a call with him ⁠here⁠


→ Book a free Valisights demo at ⁠Valisights.com⁠ to see how AI-powered tools like CashIQ and TrendSights help CFOs and FP&A teams turn data chaos into strategy.→ Follow Albert on LinkedIn and visit ⁠www.StrategoIntel.com⁠


About the Host — Albert RamosAlbert Ramos is the Founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, a boutique Fractional CFO firm built for fitness, wellness, hospitality, and longevity brands. Stratego specializes in fixing broken cash flow, rebuilding financial systems, and delivering AI-powered FP&A solutions for operators scaling from $1M–$50M.

Albert’s experience spans the HALO space (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) — including Alchemize House, Fitizens Holdings, Plunge House, Relentless Brands, Life Time Athletic, Orangetheory, Planet Fitness, The Well NY, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold’s Gym International.

Through Stratego, Albert helps founders and finance leaders:

  • Build investor-ready financials and raise capital confidently

  • Fix cash flow leaks and optimize working capital

  • Forecast with AI-powered dashboards for clear decision-making

  • Support M&A and roll-ups with clean, reliable unit economics

Albert has led $200M+ P&Ls, managed 200+ stores, and guided teams of 3,000+ employees, blending financial precision with AI innovation to help companies scale sustainably.

Show more...
4 months ago
1 hour 8 minutes 45 seconds

The Owner Seat
The Owner Seat (formerly The Valisights Podcast) is where fitness & wellness owners step out of the whirlwind and into the numbers. Host Albert Ramos, Fractional CFO for fitness & wellness brands, sits down with studio owners, franchisors, and finance leaders to break down cash flow, unit economics, and the messy middle of growth. Book a call with Albert Ramos: https://calendly.com/albertramosjr-strategointel/30min