Spicy Metrics: Homecoming
I know what you’re thinking… not another finance newsletter.
Hey, I’m Adnan.
I work in GTM finance at a $500M+ ARR SaaS company. Before that, I was at a fintech scale-up. I’ve worked across VC-backed startups, PE-backed companies, and public tech firms.
But early on?
I thought “finance” meant two things: investment banking, or boring budget spreadsheets at a consumer goods giant (and I tried the latter).
That’s all I knew. No one told me there was an entire universe—startups, operator roles, finance jobs where you work at cool companies, with really cool people, building things that actually matter.
It wasn’t until I got to INSEAD, saw what my classmates were doing, sent a few cold emails, and went down a few Google rabbit holes that I realized: there’s a whole world of work no one talks about.
And most people don’t even know it exists—let alone how to break into it.
The gap no one talks about
If you're early in your career, here’s what you probably see:
• Corporate roles that move too slow
• Startup chaos that expects you to already know what “CAC payback” means
So you nod along in meetings, Google terms at night (or ask smarter friends like I did), and quietly wonder: Does everyone else know something I don’t?
Been there.
And ironically, once I got into these roles, I noticed the flip side—non-finance teams felt just as lost.
Everyone wanted our inputs—from execs to sales reps—but few spoke the same language.
That’s a problem. Because if you want to build great products, lead teams, or make smart bets—you have to speak the language of tradeoffs.
Why I started Spicy Metrics
At its core, finance is resource allocation.
Time. Money. People. Attention.
What’s the ROI? What’s the opportunity cost?
If you’re not thinking in terms of tradeoffs, you’re not really analyzing—you’re just building prettier charts (or products, or whatever you’re doing).
And today? Finance isn’t just about tracking spend or closing books.
The new bar is:
→ Spot what’s working
→ Connect metrics to outcomes
→ Influence decisions that drive real ROI
That’s how I learned to think sharper. That’s what I want to share.
What this is
This is the resource I wish I had when I was figuring out my path.
It’s not for finance pros or spreadsheet ninjas. It’s for sharp, curious people who want to:
→ Decode startup logic, strategy, and metrics
→ Demystify roles like GTM Finance, FP&A, and BizOps
→ Think sharper about business and career moves
→ Understand what actually happens in the room—budgets, board prep, and bets
→ Ask better questions and frame problems more clearly
It’s all me. My wins. My mistakes.
Sometimes friends or guests—but mostly, notes to my younger self.
Who this is for
If you're early in your career and/or curious about how startups and scale-ups work, and want to get a faster grasp on how businesses run through the lens of finance—even if you don’t plan to work in finance—this is for you.
What’s coming up
I’ll write once or twice a week. No jargon. No “thought leadership.” Just whatever’s top of mind.
Here’s a taste of what’s next:
→ What finance actually does at a Startup vs Scale-Up vs BigCo
→ GTM, FP&A, Strategic Finance—one function, many paths
→ VC vs PE-Backed tech companies (and why it matters)
→ ARR, NRR, CAC—WTF? The 5 key metrics that matter
Welcome to Spicy Metrics.
Let’s get to work.
— Adnan
P.S. Have a question or topic in mind? Drop it in the comments.
P.P.S. If this resonated, subscribe + follow on LinkedIn for more.
Thoughtful! Thanks for sharing.