In this issue
FEISV Chapter Newsletter | January 20. 2026 
FEI Silicon Valley Events
01/20 - Debt, Deals, and Disruption: The Credit Market Outlook for 2026 | Reed Smith
01/27 - Getting a Paid Board Seat | Wells Fargo
02/06 - Financial Officers Forum (FOF) (Virtual)
02/18 - FEISV Happy Hour | Wells Fargo
03/04 - Winning and Retaining Finance and Tech Talent | JPMorgan Chase
03/31 - Cybersecurity – Why Protecting Company Data is the #1 Issue of CFOs in 2026 - Save the Date! | JPMorgan Chase
Partners & Other Chapter Events
01/21 - Financial Executives Priorities 2026 (Virtual) | FEI
01/29 - Lowering the Personal and Professional Risks of Online Data Exposure: Strategies to Protect Your Personnel (Virtual) | FEI
01/29 - Modernizing Your Approach to HR in 2026: Workforce Trends and Strategic Priorities (Virtual) | BPM
02/03 - Agentic AI: Use Cases & Best Practices for Leveraging AI Agents in F&A (Virtual) | FEI
02/10 - Prepare Your Nonprofit for 2026: The Trends That Will Impact Your Mission and How to Navigate Them (Virtual) | BPM
02/18 - Private Company Priorities Conference (Virtual) | FEI
02/24 - 02/26 - HR Leaders Compliance Summit (Virtual) | Acrisure
03/11 - Q1 2026 Quarterly Accounting Webcast (Virtual) | PwC
05/17 - 05/19 - 2026 Financial Leaders Forum (San Antonio) | FEI
Latest Trends in FEI
Join us for an evening of insight, connection, and career-defining conversation at the Wells Fargo Innovation Center. This exclusive Happy Hour and Fireside Chat brings together three accomplished CFOs—Kelly Bodnar Battles, Prat Bhatt, and Ken Goldman—who have each successfully transitioned to paid board positions.
Moderated by Jan Robertson, Co-Founder of SiVal Advisors and host of The Strategic CFO podcast, the discussion will dive into what it truly takes to make the leap from the C-suite to the boardroom. Hear directly from leaders who’ve navigated this path. Learn what to do, what to avoid, and the practical steps that make the difference between aspiration and achievement.
This event offers the chance to connect with peers and build relationships that support your own leadership journey. You’ll gain actionable guidance on shaping your board bio, evaluating recruiter relationships, managing potential conflicts, and balancing board responsibilities with executive demands.
Whether you’re positioning yourself for your first board seat or expanding your strategic influence, this engaging program promises honest insights, meaningful networking, and an evening that sets the stage for your next career milestone.
Getting a Paid Board Seat will be held at the Wells Fargo Innovation Center on Tuesday, January 27th, from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific.
FEISV Members & Partners: Free | Other FEI Chapters & Non-Members: $135 | Registration: Here
New FEIconnect - Now Live!
FEI’s Member community now has a refreshed design and enhanced functionality – making it easier than ever to connect with peers, follow important conversations, and stay engaged.
What to explore first:
- My Communities and Followed Content, now just one click away on your homepage
- The Career Center, with relevant opportunities integrated into your experience
- Your new activity feed, showing real-time updates from the communities you belong to
- Like, follow, and track discussions directly from your feed
The updated FEIconnect is built to support the way financial executives share insights and solve challenges – powered by a modern Higher Logic community experience used by leading professional organizations.
FEISV Happy Hour - Next Month
We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming FEI Silicon Valley (FEISV) Happy Hour at the Wells Fargo Innovation Center. This evening is dedicated to building meaningful connections within our community. While our professional development programs and fireside chats spark great ideas, moments like these foster the relationships that truly strengthen our network.
Join fellow Members and Partners for relaxed conversations, new introductions, and the chance to reconnect outside of a formal setting. This Happy Hour is a perfect opportunity to exchange experiences, share advice, and enjoy good company in an inspiring space. We look forward to seeing you there!
FEISV Happy Hour will be held at the Wells Fargo Innovation Center on Wednesday, February 18th, from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Pacific.
FEISV Members & Partners: Free | Registration: Here
Join New FEI SV Networking Group
FEI Silicon Valley (FEI SV) launched a networking group in September 2025. We have approximately fourteen CFO members and partner sponsors in the networking group. The participants have found the networking group helpful, especially with the use of “troikas,” which are groups of three who get together to find out more about each of their businesses and how they may be able to help each other through referrals. If you aren’t familiar with networking groups, the following is some information that explains how they work.
Networking groups work by bringing professionals together to build relationships, exchange knowledge, and generate opportunities like leads, partnerships, and mentorship through regular meetings, events, and shared resources, fostering a supportive environment for mutual business growth, often through structured introductions, casual mingling, and specific referral systems.
Core Mechanisms
- Relationship Building: The primary goal is to form connections based on trust and credibility, not just direct sales.
- Information Exchange: Members share industry insights, best practices, and market trends through meetings, workshops, and seminars.
- Referral Systems: Members actively refer business to each other, creating a pipeline of potential clients.
- Mutual Support: Groups provide a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and problem-solving.
- Increased Visibility: Active participation boosts members' presence and reputation in their fields.
If you think you might be interested in joining the FEI SV networking group, please reach out to Scott Taylor at [email protected].
1st Financial Officers Forum of 2026
Finance leaders today face an environment defined by rapid change, demanding clients, and constantly evolving advisory models. That’s why the first Financial Officers Forum (FOF) of 2026 is a must-attend event for CFOs, Controllers, VPs of Finance, and senior consulting advisors ready to elevate their practice, expand their peer network, and strengthen their approach to real-world challenges.
FOF follows a Vistage-style, discussion-driven format that’s fully confidential. Participants shape the agenda based on real client situations and current market trends.
Recent conversations have covered SaaS performance metrics, small business accounting systems, PEO pros and cons, and board compensation strategies. Also, AI and its impact on financial consulting remain a regular part of the dialogue.
Attendees leave with fresh insights, practical takeaways, and connections that strengthen their leadership and advisory work.
Financial Officers Forum will be held virtually on Friday, February 6th, from 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm Pacific.
FEISV Members & Partners, Other FEI Members, and Non-Members: Free | Registration: Here
Save on a Second-Chapter Membership!
Did you know FEI Silicon Valley and FEI San Fransciso Members can join the other chapter at a discounted rate? Second-chapter memberships are pro-rated, making it an affordable way to expand your network and attend additional programs.
If you’re interested, FEI National can provide the exact cost and help you add San Francisco or Silicon Valley and align renewal dates. It’s a great way to get even more value from your FEI Membership.
Those who are interested, please email [email protected].
Reimagine Internal Audit with Agentic AI to Drive Value
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how companies work, including reshaping the internal audit and compliance landscape. Middle market businesses are increasingly focused on integrating agentic AI technologies that leverage autonomous AI systems to conduct continuous monitoring, evidence collection, and risk assessments with reduced human intervention. These agentic AI internal audit strategies can provide real-time, always-on risk analysis, task automation, and fraud detection, transforming the auditor's role from execution to higher-value strategy and oversight.
In addition to considerable benefits, agentic AI internal audit strategies can face several challenges, including transparency and explainability of conclusions, as well as data security and access concerns. As agentic AI continues to revolutionize internal audit, companies must focus on implementing an effective AI strategy to set a foundational AI vision, manage related risks, and gain a competitive advantage.
To illustrate the AI challenges companies face, the 2025 RSM Middle Market AI Survey: US and Canada found that 92% of middle market executives experienced challenges with AI implementation.
Learn more. Read Reimagine Internal Audit with Agentic AI to Drive Value via our Gold Partners at RSM.
FEISV Member of the Week
Dr. Maria Bullen is an Associate Professor for the Department of Accounting and Finance at Lucas College and Graduate School of Business. She is a student-focused accounting educator committed to excellence in teaching, research, and professional service.
At San Jose State University, Dr. Bullen teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, including Intermediate, Managerial, and Forensic Accounting, as well as Financial Reporting and Analysis.
FEISV Partner of the Week
RSM is a leading provider of audit, tax, and consulting services focused on the middle market. They guide their clients through business challenges by understanding their needs and bringing together the right team to address them. RSM US LLP is the US member of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax, and consulting firms with more than 43,000 people in over 120 countries.
CONTACTS:
Adam Fauvre
Director
[email protected]
(408) 594-0876
Ahmad Ejaz
(408) 572-4473
[email protected]
Special Thanks to Our Strategic Partners
Marquee Partners
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
