What led you to finance?
I love numbers. I love that they are black and white, and there is an absolute answer. Having said that, I am also a storyteller, and I enjoy dissecting results and telling why something happened and then, most importantly, what will happen in the future. Considering all variables, what will the outcome be? How can we influence results by modeling different inputs?
What is your favorite thing about being in finance at a startup?
The variety! Every day is a new adventure and the one constant is change and evolution.
What is one thing that would surprise people about your field of work in agriculture/data?
Oh, there is very little field of work in agriculture! But, I did live on a hobby farm in high school and have driven a tractor. In terms of data, I am a solid spreadsheet jockey.
What kinds of things do you think we should be doing to encourage more people to pursue a career in science?
More elementary school exposure to science would be a good place to start.
Have you won any awards?
I won the annual “Passion to Serve” award at A’viands Food Service in 2015.
What brought you to CIBO?
I was looking for a mission-driven, fast-growing company. CIBO was a perfect opportunity to work hard and make the world a better place.
What are your primary responsibilities at CIBO?
All things finance and accounting. From paying bills to invoicing customers. Budgeting, financial audits, bank relationships and variance analysis. I describe my job as being the “scorekeeper” from a financial perspective. How is the company doing financially – and how can we impact that result.
What do you find the most rewarding about your work here?
So far, the people! What a great group of folks….smart, friendly, and passionate about the work.
About Barb Severson
Barb Severson is the VP of Finance at CIBO, a science-driven software startup. Prior to CIBO, she worked in finance at GrandPad, Global Aviation Services, and A’viands. She holds a Bachelors in Finance and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.