Altum Strategy Group

06/05/2026

Tidal Shift Thursday is here again, and today’s spotlight is on a truth we can’t ignore: AI is powerful — but only when humans stay in the loop. 🚀

As organizations race to adopt automation, the real advantage comes from pairing smart technology with even smarter people. Human judgment, creativity, and oversight are what transform AI from a tool into a strategic force.

👉 See more in my "The Helm" article this week: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-costs-more-than-workers-built-replace-here-what-means-gantner-bzffe

06/03/2026

For many companies, SOC 2 and PCI are just checkboxes. But in the live events tech space, they’re the ticket to compete.

With , this client turned compliance into a competitive edge — unlocking contracts with some of the largest entertainment venues in the U.S. 🏟️✨

👉 Ready to turn requirements into revenue? Let’s connect.

https://altumstrategy.com/portfolio-item/case-study-turning-soc-2-pci-from-checklist-to-sales-asset/

Introduction SOC 2 and PCI certifications are often pursued as obligations — requirements a company must satisfy to get past a procurement checklist or avoid an uncomfortable conversation with a prospective enterprise client. For a technology company serving the live events and entertainment indus...

06/01/2026

Automation only works when people trust it. ⚙️

A digital media company rolled out invoice automation to boost efficiency. The tech worked — but adoption didn’t. Teams kept using spreadsheets, duplicating work, and manually validating what the system already handled. 📉

The challenge wasn’t capability. It was behavior.
Old habits, ownership over accuracy, and a lack of trust in automation slowed the value the system was designed to deliver.

Altum helped shift the focus from how the tool works to why it matters.
🔹 Identifying behavioral patterns
🔹 Building trust in system outputs
🔹 Training centered on value, not just steps
🔹 Reinforcing expectations through leadership alignment

When teams understand the full process — and what they gain — adoption accelerates.

👉 Curious how to drive real adoption in your finance function? Let’s connect.

https://altumstrategy.com/portfolio-item/invoice-processing-automation-that-people-actually-adopt-driving-adoption-through-trust-clarity-change/

The Challenge A digital media and advertising company implemented invoice processing automation to improve efficiency within its finance function. On paper, the solution was working. Invoices could be processed faster. Workflows were structured. The system was capable of reducing manual effort and i...

05/29/2026

It’s Tidal Shift Thursday! 🌊 And this week’s shift is a big one. AI has officially become a baseline utility.

According to the latest McKinsey brief, AI is no longer an experiment — it’s an expectation. That reality is reshaping how organizations operate, innovate, and compete.

But here’s the real opportunity for business leaders:
✨ Clear the messiness.
✨ Simplify the process.
✨ Turn AI from overwhelming to operational.

The companies that pull ahead won’t be the ones with the most complex models — they’ll be the ones who make AI simple, usable, and embedded across the business.

Simplicity isn’t just efficiency. It’s strategy.

05/27/2026

Cyber resilience isn’t just about stronger controls — it’s about alignment. 🔐

Even well‑funded programs can fall short when people, processes, and technology aren’t working together. By 2026, most major failures won’t come from missing controls, but from mismanaged, unaddressed risks.

📊 Our new white paper, based on the Altum 2026 U.S. Cybersecurity Leaders Survey with YouGov, breaks down the risks that truly shape resilience.

👉 Explore the findings and strengthen your strategy:https://altumstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Altum-Strategy-Group-Cybersecurity-White-Paper-Final.pdf

05/25/2026

Altum Insights: The CFO role has transformed. Today, CFOs are among the top contenders for CEO roles — a sign of how deeply finance now shapes strategy, governance, and ex*****on 📈✨

During transformation, that impact is even clearer: the CEO sets the vision, but the CFO makes the numbers work. Those first 90 days are fast, high‑stakes, and often underestimated.

As Matthew Gantner, Founder & CEO of Altum Strategy Group, says:
“The CFO is the one connecting vision and ex*****on to financial reality.”

👉 Want to explore how CFOs can accelerate transformation with precision and control? Let’s connect.

https://altumstrategy.com/portfolio-item/cfos-in-the-first-90-days-of-transformation-how-to-prioritize-for-fast-wins/

The CFO role has changed. Recent data shows that CFOs are now among the top candidates for CEO positions — a reflection of how deeply the finance function has become embedded in strategy, board governance, and operational ex*****on. And nowhere is that expanded mandate more visible than during a t...

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we reflect with gratitude on those who sacrificed everything for our freedom. 💫

Sending you a thoughtful and reflective day from the team at .

05/22/2026

This week's Tidal Shift Thursday is one that every business in e-commerce or direct-to-consumer needs to pay attention to. 🛒

Google just released its Agent Payment Protocol — AP2. In plain terms, Google has given Gemini not just intelligence but a secure wallet. Gemini can now search, research, and execute payment transactions autonomously, without a human in the loop.

The consumer shopping journey, as we know it, is shifting. AI agents are beginning to do it on their behalf.

If you operate a storefront or e-commerce platform, there are three things worth acting on now. Make sure you have a merchant agent deployed that can communicate with incoming AI-initiated payment flows. Ensure your systems can log cryptographic transactions between agents and your storefront. And make sure your wallet architecture is properly air-gapped — secure, protected, and still accessible to agents.

🌊This is a Tidal Shift in how commerce works, and it is moving faster than most technology roadmaps anticipated. Watch the video for the full breakdown.

What are you doing to prepare for agent-initiated transactions? Would love to hear from you in the comments.

▶️ See Video.

05/20/2026

Cybersecurity is now central to enterprise performance. ✅

As organizations scale cloud, adopt AI, expand third‑party ecosystems, and digitize experiences, security becomes the difference between advantage and fragility.

📈 The 2026 data shows a clear shift: leaders are prioritizing sensitive data protection and faster detection/response to safeguard business continuity.

Today’s question isn’t whether risk disappears — it’s whether disruption stays within acceptable limits.

📊 Based on insights from the Altum 2026 U.S. Cybersecurity Leaders Survey with YouGov.

👉 Dive into the white paper to explore the findings:https://altumstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Altum-Strategy-Group-Cybersecurity-White-Paper-Final.pdf

05/18/2026

📊 When revenue doesn’t reconcile, the issue is rarely just the math.

A cybersecurity services company saw deferred revenue spike with no clear explanation. Manual adjustments piled up, spreadsheets replaced system processes, and the P&L looked right — but the underlying data didn’t.

The real problem?
🔹 Incomplete project data
🔹 Inconsistent processes
🔹 System workarounds that created systemic gaps

Without accurate inputs, revenue recognition simply can’t work as intended.

👉 If your team is relying on manual fixes to “make the numbers work,” it may be time to reassess your revenue foundation.

https://altumstrategy.com/portfolio-item/fixing-deferred-revenue-poc-projects-in-flight-restoring-accuracy-control-confidence-in-financial-reporting/

The Challenge A cybersecurity services company was closing the books and seeing deferred revenue balances climb without a clear explanation. The numbers didn’t add up. Financial reporting required increasing levels of manual adjustment. Leadership lacked clear visibility into what was driving the ...