Headline:

Speak CFO: How Sustainability Experts Can Build Trust With Finance Teams

Subheadline:

A bold post from Patrick Obeid reframes sustainability communication—offering a strategy rooted in impact, numbers, and the ability to speak CFO fluently.

Introduction (Lede Paragraph):

“If I were a Chief Sustainability Officer, here’s how I’d talk to the CFO.”

That opening line from Patrick Obeid’s post wasn’t just provocative—it was a challenge to rethink how sustainability leaders speak CFO. Instead of metrics buried in ESG frameworks, Obeid argued for a hard reset: talk in impact, not intention. And start with systems, not slogans.

Background & Context:

Patrick Obeid, a Director at Clarity AI, is a leading voice in sustainability data traceability. With a background at the intersection of fintech, environmental performance, and enterprise transformation, Obeid understands the frustration of watching great sustainability ideas die in the boardroom—not for lack of value, but for lack of relevance to finance.

His post landed at a time when many sustainability teams are being asked to do more with less: justify budgets, prove impact, and integrate ESG into financial narratives. But Obeid’s message was clear—“Lose the targets. Lead with systems. Show how switching cuts cost.” In other words, speak CFO.

In a sector often bogged down by jargon, this was a wake-up call for anyone who hasn’t yet learned how to speak CFO with clarity, credibility, and commercial fluency.

Main Takeaways / Observations:

Impact First, Then Targets

Obeid flips the usual sequence. Before presenting goals, he would map how non-financial performance links to business risk, cost, and resilience. CFOs don’t want idealism—they want material impact. And to earn their attention, sustainability leaders must speak CFO from the outset.

Build the System Before You Sell the Strategy

“You can’t make the case if the data doesn’t hold up,” he writes. Traceability, repeatability, and systematized inputs are the foundation. Only then does the sustainability narrative become decision-ready—and credible to those who speak CFO every day.

Speak the CFO’s Language: Dollars and Data

CFOs think in forecasts, risks, and balance sheets—not carbon intensity. So Obeid’s pitch is to make every assumption traceable and every number defensible. “Show that sustainability is not a report—it’s a lever.” In other words: if you want to be heard, speak CFO.

Frameworks Don’t Win Budgets—Numbers Do

The most resonant insight? “It’s with numbers that we drive the business.” Sustainability reports may win awards, but sustainability systems win CFO buy-in—because they speak CFO in ways frameworks alone never can.

Community Reaction:

The post struck a chord.

Nicholas Mazzei commented, “I speak with the CFO every day. It’s the father with children argument that closes the case.”

Robert Ribtol noted, “Build a comprehensive, traceable, and financially strong system—then message it. That’s how you speak CFO.”

Cailida Malagon added, “This post reads like a roadmap. It’s not easy to make the mindset shift—but essential if you want to speak CFO with authority.”

The comment section quickly became a forum of agreement, reflection, and amplification—with many sustainability professionals echoing that they’d struggled to make this case until they adopted similar strategies to speak CFO effectively.

Our Perspective / Analysis:

From a legal and contract strategy point of view, Obeid’s framework resonates deeply. In ESG-related contracting—whether in climate clauses, supplier audits, or impact-linked financing—what holds up in negotiation is what can be traced, priced, and defended.

We’ve seen sustainability proposals fail because they were heavy on intent but light on systems. Obeid’s advice is clear: Don’t just write a clause—build a dashboard. Prove it. Then speak CFO—because that’s where decisions are made.

Call to Reflection or Action:

If your next sustainability pitch is based on goals and frameworks—ask yourself this:

Would it survive a CFO’s audit?

If not, it may be time to rebuild from the ground up, with traceability at the center and speak CFO as your guiding principle. Because in the language of finance, speak CFO isn’t just a strategy—it’s a skillset.