The CFO role has shifted decisively from financial steward to strategic co-pilot of growth. Today’s finance leaders must deliver more with fewer resources, balance permanent uncertainty with long-term value creation, and lead teams through cultural and technological transformation. Drawing on perspectives from Advisory Board members, this panel explores how CFOs are building influence across the C-suite and beyond, developing the leadership skills that matter most, and preparing finance organisations for the next decade.

Discussion themes:

• CFO as co-pilot: Building trust and influence with the CEO, board, and executive peers

• Doing more with less: Leading with credibility under budget, talent, and technology constraints

• Always-on crisis mode: Balancing short-term performance with courageous long-term investments

• CFO as coach: Inspiring teams, modelling behaviours, and embedding growth mindset cultures

• Stakeholder management excellence: Leading across IT, operations, and business units

• Trust and values-driven leadership: Meeting ESG and regulatory expectations while maintaining investor and employee confidence

• Leadership development: Soft skills, resilience, and communication as differentiators for CFOs preparing for CEO-level roles

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.