Drew Dannels is the Vice President FP&A at Impinj. He has approximately 28 years of experience in the finance industry and has worked with brands such as Quantum, IBM, and Merrill Lynch. His expertise lies in cross-functional team leadership, process improvement, business development, solution selling, competitive analysis, strategic partnerships, product management, go-to-market strategy, and enterprise software. He was part of the Duke CFO Program 2024-25 cohort and has shared his experience of the program.
Why did you choose to do this program?
I wanted to be a part of a program where I could take a step above and then look at all the things that finance leaders would touch beyond finance; whether it be accounting or anything else and you get a hundred thousand foot view. So, the content of the program, surrounding myself with an impressive cohort, and then becoming up-to-date with all the challenges, are the primary reasons I chose the program.
Why did you choose Duke Executive Education?
I live in Cary, North Carolina, so I had the opportunity to drive up and talk to representatives of the program. I wanted to understand, “Ultimately is this worth my time?”, “Is this worth my money?”, and without a doubt I walked away going, “Yeah, this would be amazing.”
So why Duke? It ultimately came down to a couple of things, but the best in class or best in the world faculty and their commitment to the program absolutely stood out.
How was your overall learning experience?
What really stood out was the faculty. We’re talking about the best in the industry. So these aren’t just professors; these are business consultants and industry leaders. And then the cohort has stood out to me from just the strength of the cohort and the camaraderie of the cohort in our regular interactions.
How was your experience with the Duke faculty?
My experience interacting with the faculty at Duke was awesome. The sessions were very interactive, and felt very two-way. I was impressed about how curious they were about the participants’ perspectives. The faculty was not only the smartest person in the room but they were likely one of the top people in the industry in what they do and that has really stood out.
How did the global peer group impact your learning experience?
The peer group was incredible. The most amazing thing was that I was in a cohort of very strong financial senior leaders and people that are probably the best in their company at what they do.
To be surrounded by so many smart and driven people in my field was awesome. And at a professional networking level, it’s been enriching conversations, understanding diverse perspectives, and how people approach their day-to-day jobs. And then on a personal level, I have met some of the nicest, collegial people who go beyond just professional networks. Friendships were definitely established and I know they will last well beyond the life of the program.
Was there something that really stood out to you during the program?
Something that really stood out to me was the design, intentionality, and thoughtfulness of the program specifically targeting us and our group. One of the sessions on campus was on Web 3.0 and my mind was blown. I mean, my head was spinning and I was explaining that to one of the faculty members and he said, “We have this plan for you all week, it’s not just this session”.