How finance leaders manage competing time horizons while steering through forces beyond their control

The finance function is evolving faster than ever, as automation is reshaping workflows, AI is redefining analytical capabilities, and teams are being asked to do more with less. Yet amid this transformation, one truth remains: people are still the greatest source of competitive advantage.

This session explores how women in senior finance roles are leading this evolution, not through quotas or policy statements, but by redefining what effective leadership looks like in an era of continuous change. From developing talent when traditional pathways are disappearing to creating inclusive, high-performance cultures where diverse perspectives thrive, we’ll examine the new human capital playbook for finance leaders.

Key Discussion Points:

• Human capital in the AI era: How finance leaders build skills, confidence, and purpose when automation removes traditional training grounds.

• Future leadership capabilities: Which mindsets, behaviours, and emotional intelligence traits define successful leaders in the next decade.

• Inclusive leadership in action: How diversity of thought drives better decision-making and resilience during transformation.

• Talent and capability development: Building advancement pathways in leaner, flatter finance organisations.

• Culture as a growth driver: Creating psychologically safe, performance-driven environments that attract and retain the best talent.

• Personal leadership evolution: How senior women are navigating influence, visibility, and impact at the board level.

This discussion moves beyond representation to explore how finance leaders - particularly women - are redefining leadership, human capital, and culture for a new era of transformation.