Heather Herbst

Professional Summary

Professional Overview

Heather Herbst is an experienced finance and technology executive with a proven track record of driving transformative change and innovation. As the Research Director for the Worldwide CFO Tech Agenda at IDC, she leverages her deep industry expertise to provide strategic insights and thought leadership on the evolving role of technology in finance and accounting.

Experience Summary

Current Role

In her current role as Research Director at IDC, Heather is responsible for conducting in-depth research, analysis, and advisory services to help chief financial officers and other finance leaders navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape. She collaborates with global organizations to identify emerging trends, best practices, and innovative solutions that enhance financial operations, decision-making, and value creation.

Career Progression

Prior to joining IDC, Heather held several high-profile positions at Boeing, where she served as a Sub-divisional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for both the Commercial and Defense Product divisions, as well as the International Startup/Joint Venture. In these roles, she spearheaded finance transformation initiatives, streamlined processes, and implemented advanced technologies to drive operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. Heather also served as the Global Process Owner and Business Architect (Leader) for the Finance Transformation program at Boeing, leading cross-functional teams to optimize financial systems and workflows.

Academic Background

Heather holds a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Washington, where she specialized in Finance and Accounting.

Areas of Expertise

Financial planning and analysis

Digital transformation in finance

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems

Financial process optimization

Strategic business partnering

Data-driven decision-making

Change management and leadership

Professional Impact

Throughout her career, Heather has been recognized for her ability to drive measurable business impact. At Boeing, she spearheaded finance transformation initiatives that resulted in significant cost savings and improved operational efficiency. As a thought leader in the CFO tech arena, Heather's research and insights have been widely published and have informed strategic decision-making for global organizations.

Conclusion

With her deep industry expertise, strategic mindset, and innovative approach, Heather Herbst is well-positioned to continue making a significant impact on the finance and technology landscape. As the Research Director for the Worldwide CFO Tech Agenda at IDC, she is committed to guiding finance leaders in navigating the evolving technological ecosystem and driving transformative change within their organizations.