From Jazz Guitarist to CFO: Kevin Drost on Risk, Marketplaces, & Growth-Minded Finance, The Growth-Minded CFO Podcast

In a recent episode of The Growth-Minded CFO, hosts Alex Louisy and Lauren Pearl speak with Kevin Drost, CFO of New Era ADR, about his unconventional path into finance and how it shapes his approach to leadership.

Kevin began his career outside of finance, founding and operating a record label before formally moving into financial roles. Through that experience, he developed an operator’s perspective on finance, learning to manage cash flow, make trade-offs, and navigate uncertainty in real time. He later brought that mindset into leadership roles, including serving as CFO of Reverb, a global online marketplace for musical instruments.

In the conversation, Kevin explains how that background influences his view of the CFO role today. He emphasizes that finance leaders must stay closely connected to the business, including its customers and products, and play an active role in decision-making and growth strategy. He also discusses the importance of taking calculated risks, building judgment through experience, and stepping into unfamiliar roles to accelerate learning.

 His perspective reflects a broader theme at New Era, where the leadership team brings together experience across legal, financial, and operational disciplines. This diversity of backgrounds informs the company’s approach to designing dispute resolution systems that align with how businesses actually operate, enabling more efficient and practical outcomes for a wide range of clients.

Catch the full episode here or on your favorite podcast platform.