There’s a quiet kind of stress many high-achieving women carry as their businesses grow.

Revenue is coming in. The brand looks strong. The team is expanding.
And yet, beneath the surface, there’s a persistent unease—Am I actually okay financially?

Not because you’re irresponsible. Not because you’re failing.
But because no one ever taught you how to truly lead with numbers.

In this episode of Build & Scale Boldly, Dr. Leti Alto sits down with fractional CFO Diana Miret to unpack why financial clarity—not hustle, revenue, or even profit—is the foundation for sustainable growth, peace of mind, and real power as a founder. Together, they dismantle shame around money, explain why profit doesn’t equal cash, and show women exactly how to stop “flying blind” as they scale.


 

Financial Leadership Starts With Seeing Clearly

One of the most dangerous myths in entrepreneurship is that numbers are “someone else’s job.”

Diana explains that most founders technically have financial support—a bookkeeper and a CPA—but still lack what Keith Cunningham calls optics.

“The owner doesn’t have anyone to give them what the numbers actually mean.” – Diana Miret

Bookkeeping tells you what happened. Tax prep keeps you compliant.
But neither helps you answer the questions that actually matter when you’re scaling:

• Can I afford to hire now?
• How much can I safely pay myself?
• Why does my business look profitable—but feel tight?

That gap is where stress, second-guessing, and poor decisions creep in. And it’s exactly where CFO-level thinking becomes essential—whether you hire one or learn to think like one.

Profit Is Not Cash (And Why That Misunderstanding Breaks Businesses)

One of the most eye-opening moments in the episode comes when Diana names a pattern she sees even in seven- and eight-figure companies.

“The profit and loss lies to you about your cash.” – Diana Miret

Founders look at a profitable P&L and assume that money exists in the bank. But loan payments, owner distributions, and timing differences quietly drain cash without ever showing up on that report.

The result?

• Owners overpay themselves
• Businesses get unintentionally starved
• Financial chaos gets blamed on “growth”

Diana explains that this is why bank-balance accounting is so dangerous—and why cash forecasting, not just profit tracking, is the real safety net as you scale.

Why 90-Day Forecasting Changes Everything

Instead of reacting to surprises after the fact, Diana helps founders operate with a rolling 90-day view of the future.

“Ninety days is as good a crystal ball as any of us are going to have.” – Diana Miret

This forward-looking clarity allows founders to:

• See hiring decisions before they become risky
• Understand the real impact of investments
• Decide from data instead of fear

Leti reinforces why this matters so deeply for women founders:

“If you can sit down and look at the numbers, you can relax—because you actually know what’s going on.” – Dr. Leti Alto

Clarity doesn’t create restriction.
It creates relief.

Dashboards, Tripwires, and Leading Indicators: The Numbers That Matter Most

A major theme of the episode is the difference between looking backward and leading forward.

Diana introduces the idea of tripwires—early warning indicators that signal trouble before it hits your cash.

“Let’s not find out on December 10th that November was a bad month. What could we have known in October?” – Diana Miret

These aren’t always financial metrics. Often, they’re operational drivers:

• Leads
• Sales calls
• Conversion activity
• Capacity indicators

When tracked consistently, they give founders time to pivot, adjust, and protect the business—without panic.

As Leti puts it, “Your finances just reflect what’s already happening upstream.”

diana-leti

The Hidden Mindset Block That Keeps Women From Mastering Money

Perhaps the most powerful part of the conversation isn’t tactical—it’s emotional.

Both Leti and Diana name the silent belief that keeps smart, capable women disconnected from their numbers:

“I should already know this.”

Diana sees it across generations.

“People don’t like to feel like they don’t know something—so they avoid it.” – Diana Miret

Leti reframes the discomfort as part of leadership growth:

“Knowing your numbers eventually becomes the place you go to feel calm instead of afraid.” – Dr. Leti Alto

Financial mastery isn’t innate.
It’s learned.
And it’s non-negotiable for women who want to scale without burning out or crashing into a wall.

Scaling Boldly Means Managing Your Numbers—Before They Manage You

Diana delivers a line every founder should sit with:

“If you don’t manage your numbers, your numbers will manage you.” – Diana Miret

And by the time they do, it’s often too late.

This episode is a call to lead earlier, cleaner, and more intentionally—whether you’re building toward multi-six figures or already scaling past seven.

Ready to Build With Clarity, Not Chaos?

If this conversation resonated, it’s not accidental. It’s a signal that your next level isn’t about working harder—it’s about leading smarter.

👉 Request a Strategy Call for The Wing, Beyara’s high-level container for women scaling with structure, clarity, and strategic support.
👉 Or join The Flight Plan newsletter for grounded, real-world insights on leadership, finance, and building a business that supports your life—not consumes it.

Financial clarity isn’t about spreadsheets.
It’s about freedom.