Finance executives have the ability to control the fate of their organizations—no mysticism or grimoire required. They simply have to chart a course toward profitable growth. But that may require a significant mindset change.

However, that’s a lot easier said than done. To make it (let’s hope) a little simpler, CFO Brew spoke with two finance executives who’ve helped lead their organizations toward profitable growth. They said the switch in mentality from pure revenue growth to a balance of growth and profit is imperative for long-term company health, but also carries with it some distinct advantages.

“You have to invest to grow,” Larry Roseman, CFO of tech company Thumbtack, told us. “I think the key is investing profitably, in profitable growth.”

The big why. With profitable growth comes more flexibility in business decision-making, according to Ben Gammell, president and CFO at fintech Brex. For instance, an organization can more easily acquire another when it has cash to work with.

“I think what it ultimately does for a CFO is it means that we have a lot more control of our own destiny,” Gammell told us.

For more on transitioning to a profitable growth mindset, click here.—AZ

We are officially in the find out stage of Trump’s attack on climate investment.

When the Trump administration came into office, to say climate activists were concerned was putting it mildly. But many authorities tempered the dread, predicting that climate advancements and investments might slow but wouldn’t come to a complete halt.

But that optimism may have been…umm, misplaced. New research shows just how much climate advancement is being stymied within the first three months of the Trump administration. And that slowdown could have an impact for CFOs. Delayed solar, wind, and other clean energy projects could disrupt companies’ climate procurement timeline goals, prompting CFOs to reevaluate climate investments in the future.

Bottoming out. Between January and March, 16 large-scale clean energy projects along with other smaller projects, amounting to $8 billion in investment, were abandoned, according to E2, a nonprofit advocacy and research group of climate-conscious business professionals. That’s triple the amount of clean energy investment canceled in the previous three years. In February and March alone, 13 projects were canceled or downsized.

For more on the decline in climate investments, click here.—JK

The economic warning signs just keep flashing.

The International Monetary Fund recently came out with a fresh forecast for global growth. Its conclusion: After projecting global growth of 3.3% this year and next, it now expects slower growth of 2.8% this year and 3% in 2026. The new projections are also below the 20-year historical average of 3.7% annual growth.

Why the change in just a handful of months? In its report, the IMF blamed a trade war and political volatility, specifically calling out “new tariff measures by the United States and countermeasures by its trading partners.”

“The swift escalation of trade tensions and extremely high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to have a significant impact on global economic activity,” per the report.

Click here for more on the IMF’s recession prediction.—AZ