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Shahaf Akavia
CFO | Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis Expert | Driving Growth & Efficiency in SaaS
Shahaf Akavia is a financial professional currently serving as the CFO of the Hybrid SaaS Business Unit at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.1 With over a decade of experience in various industries including Software, Telecom, Online, and Fintech, Akavia has established himself as a strategic financial planning and analysis expert.
Professional Background
Akavia's career highlights include:
- Current Role: CFO, Hybrid SaaS Business Unit at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Expertise: Strategic financial planning and analysis, driving growth and efficiency in SaaS companies3
- Industries: Software, Telecom, Online, and Fintech
Education and Achievements
- MBA: Graduated with honors from Ruppin Academic Center in 20151
- Awards:
- Employee of the Year, Economics Department award in 2007
- Brigade Commander's award in 20011
Professional Insights
Akavia frequently shares his thoughts on professional matters through LinkedIn posts. Some of his recent insights include:
- Discussing the impact of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts on startup fundraising2
- Addressing the challenges of managing a high volume of cold emails as a senior leader4
Shahaf Akavia's LinkedIn profile (username: shahafakavia) serves as a platform for him to share his expertise in financial strategy and leadership in the tech industry.
Highlights
Can Finance and Sales Be Friends?🥊
In many organizations, the relationship between Finance and Sales can feel like a classic rivalry. Sales wants to drive revenue growth, often pushing boundaries to close deals, while Finance is focused on profitability, risk management, and ensuring that the numbers add up. So, can these two functions really be friends?
The answer is not only yes but also essential for sustainable business success!
Some key points to focus on:
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Both Finance and Sales aim to contribute to the company's success. When both teams align on the overarching business objectives, they can complement each other's strengths and mitigate each other's weaknesses.
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Regular and transparent communication is key. This can lead to more strategic decisions, better pricing models, and ultimately, more profitable growth.
𝗠𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: Understanding and respecting each other's roles is crucial. Recognizing each side's pain points, challenges, and goals can help both teams work together to achieve the same objective.
𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲: Disagreements are inevitable, given the different focuses and pressures. However, these differences can be productive if handled respectfully. Agreeing to disagree on certain points can actually lead to more creative solutions and a stronger overall strategy.
So in summary, not only is this possible, but it should also be your ultimate goal! *and yes , same goes for marketing... 😋
🔍 Is GoPro the "New Kodak"?
Just 2 days ago, GoPro announced a 15% workforce reduction—a indicator of the ongoing challenges facing this once-iconic brand. In the mid-2010s, GoPro was synonymous with adventure and innovation, commanding a remarkable 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 $𝟭𝟮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻. Today, that valuation has 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 $𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Is GoPro becoming the "new Kodak"?
Much like Kodak, GoPro pioneered its niche—action cameras—but struggled with diversification and expanding its ecosystem. Relying heavily on a single market, the company's growth stagnated, and its inability to innovate and explore new revenue streams became evident. With competition catching up and the market maturing, GoPro's stock has taken a hit.
What's striking is the revenue-to-market-value ratio. Despite ~$1 billion in sales, GoPro's market value is just around $200 million—resulting in a 𝗣/𝗦 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼 𝗼𝗳 $𝟬.𝟮. P/S ratio highlights how little investors are willing to pay for each dollar of revenue, signaling potential concerns about profitability, growth prospects, or inherent risks.
In contrast, companies like Garmin and DJI exhibit P/S ratios 4 to 5 times healthier.
Can GoPro reinvent itself, or has it become the Kodak of our time?
