Stepping into a leadership role today isn’t just a step up—it’s a shift into constant visibility, where expectations arrive immediately and the margin for error narrows. As organizations flatten structures and demand faster decisions, newly promoted leaders are expected to deliver impact from the outset, often without the space to fully adjust. According to leadership development research, 60% of new managers fail within their first two years, largely due to the gap between prior performance and the new demands of leadership. The stakes are clear: this transition can either accelerate long-term career growth or quietly derail it before momentum has a chance to build.
What, then, does it really take to succeed after getting promoted—when the shift isn’t just in title, but in mindset, expectations, and the way decisions are made under pressure?
Welcome to Beyond the Ledger, hosted by Troy Ashby. In the latest episode, Ashby sits down with Derek Alonzo, Controller at Valor Companies, to unpack the realities of rapid career progression. The conversation explores Derek’s journey from public accounting to a controller seat, and the mindset shifts, mentorship strategies, and leadership principles that shaped his path.
What You’ll Learn…
00:00 – From Public Accounting to Controller
02:30 – The Role Mentorship Played in Career Decisions
06:00 – Lessons from Public Accounting
09:15 – Failing as a First-Time Senior
12:30 – Transitioning to Koch Industries
16:00 – Understanding Principle-Based Management (PBM)
20:10 – Taking a Leap into a High-Growth Company
24:00 – The Learning Curve of Becoming a Controller
27:30 – Why Slowing Down Matters in Leadership
30:00 – System Implementation & Scaling Challenges
33:30 – Turning Failures into “Tuition Payments”
36:00 – Advice for Future Controllers & Leaders
Derek Alonzo is the Controller at Valor Companies LLC, where he focuses on building scalable financial processes that support long-term growth. He began his career in public accounting, developing a strong foundation in financial analysis, controls, and compliance before transitioning into industry to take on a more strategic role.
A key part of Derek’s approach comes from his time at Koch Industries, where he was introduced to principle-based management, shaping how he thinks about leadership, incentives, and long-term value creation. Today, he partners closely with operations and leadership teams to deliver insights, improve clarity, and help drive better decision-making across the business.
Derek is passionate about building strong teams and believes finance should be an enabler, not just a reporting function. He’s especially focused on developing people, fostering collaboration, and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to ask questions, grow, and contribute.
