Stakeholder Alignment Without Compromise
Stakeholder Alignment Without Compromise The CFO walks a tightrope. On one side, the board demands stronger financial returns. On the other, employees want better benefits. Regulators insist on compliance, while customers expect value and speed. Investors want growth, but operational teams need breathing room. This is the CFO reality: a role no longer defined
Plant to Boardroom: Why Operational Finance Experience is a Strategic Advantage
Plant to Boardroom: Why Operational Finance Experience is a Strategic Advantage In the race to become CFO, many finance professionals focus on roles that offer visibility. These often include corporate reporting, investor relations, or strategic finance. These positions bring exposure to the executive team and are closely aligned with the top end of the busin
Don’t Wait for the Storm: How Volvo’s CFO Navigates Crisis Communication with Courage and Clarity”
Don’t Wait for the Storm: How Volvo’s CFO Navigates Crisis Communication with Courage and Clarity” In business as in life, storms are inevitable. But the companies that weather them best are those that prepare long before the clouds gather. Marishka Govender, Chief Financial Officer of Volvo Cars South Africa, offered a powerful reminder of this [&hel
From Gut Feel to Real-Time, Why CFOs Must Build Finance Teams that Think in Dashboards
From Gut Feel to Real-Time, Why CFOs Must Build Finance Teams that Think in Dashboards There was a time when the finance function was purely backward-looking. Month-end meant printing reports, stacking spreadsheets, and explaining the past. But that era is gone, and frankly, good riddance. Modern CFOs are expected to know what’s happening in the […
You’re Being Watched – and Judged – Every Day
You’re Being Watched – and Judged – Every Day We tend to think of promotions as something you apply for. You submit a CV, attend the interview, and get formally offered the new role. But in the world of finance leadership, many of the most important promotions begin long before you get the title and […]
Climbing the Ladder Without Changing Ladders
Climbing the Ladder Without Changing Ladders It is easy to romanticise the modern finance career as a fast-paced journey filled with lateral moves, high-impact projects, and strategic leaps across industries. But behind many successful CFOs lies a very different story. One shaped by consistency, trust, and years of growth within a single organisation. Stayi
Built by Ghosts: How Past Leaders Still Run the Finance Office
Built by Ghosts: How Past Leaders Still Run the Finance Office No one arrives in the CFO seat without help. Somewhere along the line, someone gave you a break. Someone shared context you weren’t yet ready to see. Someone offered a challenge you didn’t yet know you could handle – and then stood back to […]
Rajesh Bux talks Leadership at the Intersection of Finance, Strategy & People
In a compelling conversation with Leana van der Merwe, Rajesh Bux, Group CFO of Link Africa and interim CEO of Bitco Telecoms, shared how his dual roles sharpen his focus from pure financial control to strategic foresight and organisational leadership. From Insight to Foresight Rajesh explained that as CFO, his role is to interpret […]
You Can’t ‘Hope’ Your Way to a Turnaround. This Isn’t Load Shedding!
You Can’t ‘Hope’ Your Way to a Turnaround. This Isn’t Load Shedding! If you are waiting for the dust to settle, you are already behind. A financial recovery is not something you manage when it is over. It is something you lead while everything is still uncertain. And as the finance lead, the responsibility lands […]
When You Say Nothing Clearly, You Say Everything Badly!
When You Say Nothing Clearly, You Say Everything Badly! Numbers alone won’t get you buy-in. You can have the cleanest spreadsheet in the world, but if no one understands the story behind it, you’ll spend more time defending your results than using them to move the business forward. Clear financial storytelling isn’t about spinning a […]