Ahead of this year’s Shared Services and Outsourcing Week Europe Autumn 2023, we spoke exclusively to Maria Kirillova, Regional Director of Financial Operations, EMEA, Mars, about the maturity and energy within shared services and GBS. She also highlights the challenges with improving processes and creating value through differentiation, rescaling/upskilling employees, and emerging as an influential player in the finance industry, as well as her favourite parts from SSOW Europe 2023.

What is your greatest challenge within shared services and GBS, and why?

"In general, GBS is in a very exciting state of maturity. My company is at a stage of being a powerhouse and energy driver for organisations, and I'm happy to see that many others are at a similar level."

What key area are you looking to invest in over the next 18 months, and why?

"My key focus is process. Within my company, we’re farther away than we should be. I'm looking forward to creating value where being different adds a competitive advantage."

How do you see shared services and GBS evolving in the coming years?

"I am genuinely thrilled about the upcoming chapter of GBS. We are currently in the process of redefining ourselves and our purpose within this dynamic marketplace. There is an incredible amount of energy focused on harnessing technology to its full potential. Also, I am witnessing a wealth of captivating ideas concerning the rescaling and upskilling of our employees and colleagues. I firmly believe that in just a few years, GBS will emerge as one of the most influential players in the finance industry. Being a part of this movement fills me with immense pride."

What has been your favourite part of SSOW Europe 2023 so far?

"By far the networking has been my favourite part. I love the breakout sessions where colleagues from complementary experiences came together. It was fascinating to see how different yet how similar the challenges are that we face and how much we can learn from one another."

EUROPE’S NO.1 SHARED SERVICES & GBS EVENT - THE AUTUMN EDITION

16 - 18 October 2023 | Novotel London West, London, United Kingdom

As GBS and Shared Services continue to grapple with the pace of change, industry leaders have taken great steps in refining shared services business model, nurturing key capabilities, and preserving value through efficiency, productivity and resilience. In the meantime, new questions and challenges continue to emerge: What are the other value levers can we pull to deliver value in new ways? Is the GPO model finally sticking and delivering the end-to-end transformation promise? How will ChatGPT contribute towards the efforts of building intelligent GBS and shared services? How are we adjusting our people strategies and building the workforce of the future? Will BPOs play a bigger role in delivering transformation in 2023 and 2024?

The Shared Services & Outsourcing Week Europe Autumn 2023 agenda is developed around these key focuses and looking to explore and provide answers to these pertinent questions.

As the second touch point for the European GBS and Shared Services industry following the Lisbon Event in May, featuring 60+ speakers representing the best of the best in the community, this is a not-to-miss opportunity to get together with the industry leaders and get your finger on the pulse of the key trends and most recent transformation stories from the industry.

View the 2023 agenda here!

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