Q&A with Candice
FTBC Finance Bootcamps in New Zealand and Australia
Q&A with Candice
So, what's your big mission?
My deep purpose is to use my skills to help women change the world. To do that, I’m building a finance education platform and accelerator specifically for female founders. I’ve seen too many incredible women with game changing ideas get stuck because the financial side feels intimidating.
My mission is to demystify all of it. I want to give founders the tools, community, and confidence to walk into any boardroom, own the conversation, secure the capital they deserve, and build truly amazing, sustainable businesses.
Tell me about your less-than-typical journey...
It means getting finance out of the back office! I can’t stand it when finance is this mysterious, scary thing that no one understands. It’s the heartbeat of the business! I’ve always pushed my teams to ditch the suits, get out there, and talk to people.
Talk to sales, talk to marketing, figure out what’s happening on the ground. When everyone understands how their work impacts the bottom line, you create this incredible energy and a shared sense of purpose. That’s when a company really starts to fly.
You talk a lot about "unity" in finance. What does that actually look like?
It means getting finance out of the back office! I can’t stand it when finance is this mysterious, scary thing that no one understands. It’s the heartbeat of the business! I’ve always pushed my teams to ditch the suits, get out there, and talk to people.
Talk to sales, talk to marketing, figure out what’s happening on the ground. When everyone understands how their work impacts the bottom line, you create this incredible energy and a shared sense of purpose. That’s when a company really starts to fly.
Okay, so you've got the street smarts. What about the official qualifications?
Right! To back up all that hands-on experience, I’m a CIMA Chartered Management Accountant, which is the practical, in-the-trenches business qualification. I also have a Master’s in Business from Manchester Met and a PhD in Corporate Finance from the University of Auckland.
My PhD focused on how companies can actually measure their sustainable impact. It’s not just about making money; it’s about making a difference, and I love helping founders build that into their DNA from day one.
What's the single most important lesson you've learned?
Because I’m a female blonde in finance, I’ve been underestimated my whole career. It’s taught me resilience. I’ve had jobs that were amazing and jobs that were an absolute shitshow. I’ve had to make some really tough calls. But what I learned is that you have to trust your gut and just keep going. You have to believe in your own ability to figure things out. That resilience is what turns a disaster into a learning experience, and it’s a muscle I want to help every founder build.
Why the intense focus on female founders?
Because I’m a woman who has been in the thick of it! I’ve seen the bullshit women have to deal with, but I’ve also seen their unique brilliance, their creativity, and their strength. I just realised I was done trying to operate in a world built by and for men. The conversations I have with women are just different. They’re more honest, more open, more real. I want to create a space where female founders can be themselves, ask the “stupid” questions, and get the support they need to go out and conquer the world.
So, what's your big mission?
My deep purpose is to use my skills to help women change the world. To do that, I’m building a finance education platform and accelerator specifically for female founders. I’ve seen too many incredible women with game changing ideas get stuck because the financial side feels intimidating.
My mission is to demystify all of it. I want to give founders the tools, community, and confidence to walk into any boardroom, own the conversation, secure the capital they deserve, and build truly amazing, sustainable businesses.
Tell me about your less-than-typical journey...
It all started because my family didn’t have much money. I got my first job at 13, but my first taste of income was a car wash business when I was 11. I learned pretty quickly that business is about people. From there, I did everything. I was a runner in a restaurant and worked my way up to manager. I loved it. I loved the energy, the people, the problem solving. That’s where I learned to lead.
When I fell into corporate finance, I brought that people-first attitude with me. I discovered that the real magic happens when you can connect the numbers on a spreadsheet to the people driving the business. It’s about building relationships, creating unity, and getting everyone excited about the story the numbers are telling. That’s my superpower.
You talk a lot about "unity" in finance. What does that actually look like?
It means getting finance out of the back office! I can’t stand it when finance is this mysterious, scary thing that no one understands. It’s the heartbeat of the business! I’ve always pushed my teams to ditch the suits, get out there, and talk to people.
Talk to sales, talk to marketing, figure out what’s happening on the ground. When everyone understands how their work impacts the bottom line, you create this incredible energy and a shared sense of purpose. That’s when a company really starts to fly.
Okay, so you've got the street smarts. What about the official qualifications?
Right! To back up all that hands-on experience, I’m a CIMA Chartered Management Accountant, which is the practical, in-the-trenches business qualification. I also have a Master’s in Business from Manchester Met and a PhD in Corporate Finance from the University of Auckland.
My PhD focused on how companies can actually measure their sustainable impact. It’s not just about making money; it’s about making a difference, and I love helping founders build that into their DNA from day one.
What's the single most important lesson you've learned?
Because I’m a female blonde in finance, I’ve been underestimated my whole career. It’s taught me resilience. I’ve had jobs that were amazing and jobs that were an absolute shitshow. I’ve had to make some really tough calls. But what I learned is that you have to trust your gut and just keep going. You have to believe in your own ability to figure things out. That resilience is what turns a disaster into a learning experience, and it’s a muscle I want to help every founder build.
Why the intense focus on female founders?
Because I’m a woman who has been in the thick of it! I’ve seen the bullshit women have to deal with, but I’ve also seen their unique brilliance, their creativity, and their strength. I just realised I was done trying to operate in a world built by and for men. The conversations I have with women are just different. They’re more honest, more open, more real. I want to create a space where female founders can be themselves, ask the “stupid” questions, and get the support they need to go out and conquer the world.