Pipeline Dreams, Paperwork Nightmares, and Profit: A Guide to Gas, Governance, and Growth
Pipeline Dreams, Paperwork Nightmares, and Profit: A Guide to Gas, Governance, and Growth The scene is familiar. You are in the boardroom, coffee in hand, when the CEO announces: “We’re considering investing in a gas infrastructure project.” The room buzzes. Executives talk about energy security, sustainability, and beating load-shedding. Then silence,
From Student Loan to Boardroom Seat: How financial barriers can forge financially savvy leaders
From Student Loan to Boardroom Seat: How financial barriers can forge financially savvy leaders When we picture a Chief Financial Officer, we often think of someone who has always been good with numbers, someone who climbed the corporate ladder through careful career choices and smart strategic moves. What we often forget is that some of […]
Grit and Grace: CFO Lessons from a Resource-Constrained Beginning
Grit and Grace: CFO Lessons from a Resource-Constrained Beginning You haven’t earned the title of CFO until you’ve lied awake at night wondering how to pay salaries on Friday. You will not find that line in any corporate finance textbook, but it is something many CFOs have lived through. Not every financial leader begins their […]
The Unseen Hand That Shapes a CFO’s Career
The Unseen Hand That Shapes a CFO’s Career You’re in a packed boardroom. Voices are raised. A deal is on the line. Someone looks to you for a decision, and somehow, you know exactly what to do. Not because of a course. Not because of a checklist. But because of a conversation you once overheard, […]
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
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 […]
If You Think Honesty Is Risky, Try Hiding the Truth
If You Think Honesty Is Risky, Try Hiding the Truth Clear communication has always been important, but in today’s environment, it has become critical. Finance professionals are being asked to lead under pressure, often while navigating rapid change, tight margins, and tough trade-offs. In these moments, transparency is not just a leadership trait. It is [&h
The CFO Confessional: Bless Me, Market, For I Have Sinned
The CFO Confessional: Bless Me, Market, For I Have Sinned When a corporate scandal breaks, it sends shockwaves far beyond the headlines. Stakeholders lose faith, employees question their future, and market confidence deteriorates. The organisation is no longer assessed solely on its performance but also on its integrity. In these moments, the role of the [&he
The Budgeting Process Is Broken-Here’s How to Fix It
The Budgeting Process Is Broken-Here’s How to Fix It If you are a CFO, you have likely outgrown the old budgeting drill. Once-a-year spreadsheets. Static assumptions. Hoping nothing changes too much. That approach belongs to a world that no longer exists. Markets shift. Costs rise. Customers change direction. Disruption hits before the board even signs [&he
Reporting Rules That Make or Break Your Reputation
Reporting Rules That Make or Break Your Reputation Financial reporting is often thought of as the final step in the business process, the box to tick at the end of the quarter or financial year. But experienced CFOs know better. They understand that reporting, when done right, is not just a reflection of past performance. […]