1174: How a Hard Reset Reignited Momentum Aidan Viggiano, CFO Twilio

In 2023, stepping into the CFO role at Twilio, Aidan Viggiano faced a defining reality: “the first hard call was a layoff,” she tells us. The company had surged during the pandemic as digital communications accelerated, but by mid-2022, growth slowed while profitability lagged. “We can’t be slowing in growth and not be profitable and not generating cash,” she explains, describing the moment that forced a fundamental shift in strategy. Over the next six months, Twilio reduced its workforce by about 40%, she tells us—a decision that tested not just financial discipline but leadership resolve. For Viggiano, the experience underscored a core principle: communication is as critical as the decision itself. “The importance of over communication…being transparent… and treating everybody with humanity,” she tells us, became central to how she navigated the transition. This moment reflects a broader leadership mindset shaped by aligning growth with accountability. The pivot from rapid expansion to balanced performance required not only cost action but a cultural reset—one grounded in clarity, trust, and execution. At the same time, Viggiano continues to frame Twilio’s value through its role as a communications infrastructure provider, powering interactions between businesses and consumers at scale. From authentication codes to real-time customer engagement, the company’s reach is often invisible but essential. For Viggiano, the lesson is clear: finance leadership is not only about numbers—it is about guiding organizations through inflection points with transparency, discipline, and humanity.

You can listen to 1174: How a Hard Reset Reignited Momentum Aidan Viggiano, CFO Twilio online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

1174: How a Hard Reset Reignited Momentum Aidan Viggiano, CFO Twilio is an episode from CFO Thought Leader by The Future of Finance is Listening.

This episode is 43:57 long.

This episode was published on Mar 29, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from CFO Thought Leader when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.