In this powerful episode of Beyond the Ledger, I sit down with Jaco van Rensburg, CFO at Airwave, whose career journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and long-term thinking.
Before moving to the United States, Jaco had already built and led successful accounting firms. But when he immigrated, he had to start over from the bottom — stepping into a staff-level role and rebuilding his career from scratch.
What followed is a story of humility, adaptability, and relentless growth — ultimately leading him back to the executive level, where he now operates as a CFO in private equity-backed environments.
If you’re navigating career uncertainty, thinking about making a big move, or wondering how to grow into leadership roles, this conversation breaks it all down with clarity, honesty, and real-world experience.
🎧 Whether you’re an accounting professional, finance leader, or someone navigating career transitions, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, opportunity, and long-term success.
👉 Topics include:
• What it really takes to rebuild your career from scratch
• The mindset shift required when starting over
• Why honesty with yourself is critical for career growth
• How to balance growth vs. complacency
• Inside the role of a CFO in private equity-backed companies
• Bridging the gap between operators and investors
• Why personality and mindset matter more than experience
• The difference between goals vs. approach in career success
🎯 Key Quote:
“Don’t change the goal — change your approach.”
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – From Partner to Starting Over
02:10 – Immigrating to the U.S. Without a Safety Net
05:00 – Rebuilding a Career at Staff Level
08:20 – The Mindset That Changed Everything
11:10 – Navigating Career Growth Honestly
14:30 – Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis
17:00 – Small vs. Large Companies: What You Learn
19:40 – Inside the CFO Role in Private Equity
23:10 – Building and Leading High-Performing Teams
25:50 – Why Personality Matters More Than Experience
27:20 – Goals vs. Approach: The Career Lesson That Sticks
Subscribe for more leadership conversations that go far beyond the numbers.
🎧 Listen now:
Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-starting-over-in-a-new-country-to-reaching-the/id1843448325?i=1000757253863
Spotify
Connect with us:
Jaco van Rensburg on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-fendley-2744a813/
Aerwave on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaquero-midstream/
Aerwave Website
http://www.aerwave.com
Troy Ashby on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyashby/
Troy Knows Talent Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/troyknowstalent/
Troy Knows Talent Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/troyknowstalent/
