Imagine building a house with nothing but a hammer and a stack of raw materials. Now, imagine having power tools, blueprints, and a team of experts at your side. That’s the evolution of enterprise software—what once took weeks of manual effort can now be done in minutes with the right tools.

In the latest episode of the Black Diamond Advisory Podcast, we sit down with Jon Rambeau, whose career mirrors this evolution. From his early days programming on IBM mainframes in the 1980s to leading innovation at OneStream, Jon has seen (and shaped) the transformation of financial and enterprise software firsthand.

A Career Built on Adaptation

Jon didn’t start out planning to be a tech leader—he was an engineer who, ironically, disliked computers. But as fate would have it, his first corporate finance job required him to write programs for a massive, bullpen-style office. This trial by fire introduced him to the power of automation, eliminating the need for painstakingly flipping through green bar reports (if you know, you know).

As he moved forward in his career, Jon encountered pivotal moments, including his introduction to Arbor Software and the game-changing world of S-Base. What started as a product evaluation for his company turned into a career-defining shift—he left his corporate finance role to help shape the future of enterprise performance management software.

The Merger That Changed Everything

Arbor Software’s eventual merger with Hyperion was a defining moment in Jon’s career. While it may have been labeled a “merger,” in reality, it was Arbor’s valuation and momentum that drove the acquisition. What followed was a turbulent period of transition, leadership shifts, and cultural adaptation. But as Jon shares in the podcast, the experience taught him invaluable lessons about resilience, innovation, and the power of customer focus.

OneStream: A New Chapter in Innovation

Fast-forward to today, and Jon plays a key role at OneStream, helping drive the company’s Solution Network, an innovation engine designed to bring new solutions to market. Just as an architect rethinks how buildings are designed for efficiency, Jon’s work at OneStream reimagines how financial software evolves to meet modern business needs.

One of his proudest contributions? Helping develop a third-party marketplace that allows partners to expand OneStream’s capabilities. Think of it like the App Store for financial solutions—giving customers access to powerful tools tailored to their needs.

Lessons from the Battlefield… and the Boardroom

Beyond software, Jon’s passion for teamwork extends beyond the boardroom. He co-developed a training program alongside former Special Forces members, aimed at fostering leadership and camaraderie. His takeaway? The strongest teams aren’t built on individual brilliance alone—they thrive on trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to success.