Alison Barie, CFO of Ulteig

If you could try a different job for a day, what would you choose?

I think I’d honestly love to work as an Imagineer at The Walt Disney Company for a day. What fascinates me is how they combine creativity, operational excellence, customer experience, and process design at massive scale.

I’m naturally very drawn to understanding systems and processes and figuring out how to make them better.  I’ve carried that same mindset into my CFO role by finding new ways to solve problems, improve experiences, and help organizations scale effectively.

What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

I’d tell them to learn the business, not just the numbers. The best finance leaders understand operations, people, and strategy.

I’d also encourage them to stay curious about processes and how work actually gets done. I’ve always had a passion for understanding systems and finding ways to improve them because good processes lead to good results.

And finally, build trust early. Reliability, integrity, and follow-through compound over time, and those qualities will open more doors than technical skills alone.

What is your mantra?

I’d say my mantra is: ‘Bring structure to chaos and momentum to change.’

I genuinely enjoy transformation work – understanding how organizations operate today and helping create a stronger future state through process improvement, strategic thinking, and empowering people. Lean and continuous improvement principles have shaped a lot of my leadership philosophy because good processes create good results.

How do you get yourself out of a slump?

Running is probably my biggest reset. It clears my head and helps me process things strategically instead of emotionally.

I also have a really strong support system. My husband is honestly part of my internal board of directors. He pushes me to think more strategically, challenges my mindset, and reminds me to lead with empathy. Having people around you who can both support and challenge you is incredibly valuable.

What companies or leaders do you admire?

I really admire The Walt Disney Company because they’ve built such a strong culture around customer experience, creativity, and operational consistency.

What I find especially impressive is that behind the creativity is actually incredible process discipline. Every detail is intentional. As a CFO, I’ve tried to apply some of that same thinking by creating scalable processes while still encouraging innovation and different ways of solving problems.

What has been the biggest shift you’ve noticed in your industry in the last decade?

The CFO role has become much more transformational and strategic. It’s no longer just about reporting historical results. Today, finance leaders are expected to help drive technology transformation, operational improvement, analytics, organizational alignment, and long-term strategy.

I also think there’s been a major shift toward cross-functional leadership. The most effective finance leaders today understand how to bring people together, improve processes, and help organizations scale in sustainable ways.

Who has been most instrumental in your career?

I’ve learned from a lot of different leaders throughout my career both positive examples and challenging experiences.

But honestly, one of the most influential people has been my husband. He’s become part of my personal board of directors. He challenges me to think bigger strategically, helps me see situations from different perspectives, and pushes me to lead with empathy and balance.

Professionally, I’ve also learned a lot from teams going through transformation and growth. Those experiences teach you resilience, adaptability, and the importance of clear leadership.

What is your go-to celebration meal, drink or tradition?

My husband and I have season tickets to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and after a show we’ll usually go to The St. Paul Grill for dinner.  It’s become one of those traditions that helps us slow down and really enjoy the moment.