The Inspiring Leaders Podcast

The Inspiring Leaders Podcast: CFOs Building a High Performing Finance Function (ft. Carol Borg, NED, Ricardo plc & Alan Bannatyne, Chair, XPS Group)

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Carol Borg, NED, Ricardo plc and Alan Bannatyne, Chair, XPS Group and Criticaleye Board Mentor to cover how the skills in finance are changing, as well as the ways in which the function itself needs to adapt to deliver the strategic insight and analysis that organisations need if they’re to retain their competitive edge.

Discussion points include: 

• What does a high-performing finance function look like today? 
• What skills that may not have been top of mind a few years ago are crucial today? 
• Are there gaps between the Group CFO and finance team due to increased complexity? 
• How is the finance function evolving? 
• Advice for first-time CFOs

Inspiring Leaders Podcast: CFOs Going Beyond the Finance Function (ft. Helen Miles, Group CFO, Severn Trent)

Episode 12 of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In our latest episode of the Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we talk to Helen Miles, Group CFO for FTSE100 company Severn Trent, one of Britain's largest water companies, about her route to the CFO role, key responsibilities and what it means to take on such a senior role at Severn Trent.

Discussion points include: 

• Becoming a Group CFO - Helen talks about her path to taking on the top finance job, what support was needed and what it means to her
• Going beyond the finance function as a CFO - key strategic and social responsibilities that come with the role
• The pivotal moments that shaped Helen's career to date and support she needed to make it to CFO
• What it means to be a female leader in the FTSE100 and how Severn Trent has pioneered women in corporate roles
• Retaining and motivating talent - taking risks, building employee engagement and supporting individuals to reach their potential

Inspiring Leaders Podcast: CEOs leading in a world of mixed signals (ft. Rachel Osborne, NED and Audit Committee Chair at Ocado Group and Fiona Ross, Chair of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE)

Episode 9 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast 

In this episode, we invite leaders to discuss the role of the CEO in the current climate, Board dynamics, and what guidance and support senior executives should be utilising.

Hosted by Marc Barber, Director of Content at Criticaleye, we were pleased to invite special guests Rachel Osborne, NED and Audit Committee Chair at Ocado Group, NED and Audit Chair at Marstons, and former CEO of Ted Baker and Fiona Ross, Chair of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE), Chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and NED at The Scottish Government, onto this episode.

Both are Board Mentors at Criticaleye. 

Discussion points include: 

• Priorities and perspectives in boardrooms
• How to be an agile CEO?
• What distinguishes the best chief executives? 
• Guidance and support for leaders
• Challenges for first-time CEOs

The Inspiring Leaders Podcast: The CFO’s role in managing risk and sustainability (ft. Priya Chowdhary, Former CFO Europe, Encyclis and Ed Jones, Non-executive Director, NOW: Pensions)

Episode 2 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast Series

Exploring what it means to be a high performing executive in today's challenging environment, this episode is part of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast. Featuring Criticaleye Host and Director of Content Marc Barber and special guests Priya Chowdhary, Former CFO Europe, Encyclis and Ed Jones, Non-executive Director, NOW: Pensions.

Discussion points include: 

• Outtakes from Criticaleye's CFO Retreat, where this episode took place. Interest rates are high and that creates unpredictability for CFOs.
• CFO's and the finance function needs to be agile in today’s current environment.
• Sustainability comes with a cost, and leadership teams need to recognise risk and make it a frequent discussion point in the boardroom. 
• Businesses can proactively implement sustainability in their business model if it is baked into the strategy.
• How can CFOs help mitigate risk? What role should they play in the Boardroom when navigating the risks an organisation is facing?
• Guidance for newly appointed CFO, and that all-important relationship with the CEO.

Leadership in Uncertain Times - Episode 5

Episode 5 of our "Leadership in Uncertain Times" Podcast Series

Following our recent Asia Leadership Retreat (held on 26 November 2020), Criticaleye’s CEO Matthew Blagg and Director of Content Marc Barber reflect on some of the key discussion points in this 26-minute podcast, including:

• What leaders will be focusing on in 2021, and how challenges of customer centricity and employee behaviour are universal
• The opportunities we are likely to see in the next 12-18 months - what areas companies are likely to focus on when it comes to leadership, purpose and the people agenda?
• The key question of purpose - why do organisations exist and how do leaders align teams behind purpose?
• What change we will see across executive teams (are we are likely to see many executives making the move to a plural career after the changes in 2020?)
• How has the pandemic changed consumer behaviour long-term?

Leadership in Uncertain Times - Episode 4

Episode 4 of our "Leadership in Uncertain Times" Podcast Series

Following our recent CFO Retreat (held on 12 November 2020), Criticaleye’s CEO Matthew Blagg and its Director of Content Marc Barber reflect in this 28-minute podcast on some of the key themes:

• How finance leaders can remain resilient, the balance between cost-cutting and investment, data, talent and digitisation, plus much more
• In a poll taken at the Retreat, 84% said they see the current economic situation as an opportunity to accelerate operating model change
• The role of the CFO, and how this plays out when operating in a complex and fast changing market
• The CFO as ‘timekeeper of the current moment’ alongside the need to play an integral role in strategy and future innovation
• What the end of 2020 will bring in terms of future planning, what opportunities there are for 2021, as well as ongoing challenges that we will see into the New Year.

Leadership in Uncertain Times - Episode 1

Episode 1 of our "Leadership in Uncertain Times" Podcast Series.

In this 37-minute podcast, we'll be hearing from Criticaleye's CEO, Matthew Blagg, about how senior leadership teams are responding to the events of 2020 and planning for the future. 

Drawing on our latest CEO Research 2020, Matthew talks about 

• Understanding the short vs long-term impact of the pandemic 
• 58% of CEOs feel isolated in their role
• How Boards can support CEOs
• Why CEOs need to keep calm and think big
• The importance of downtime for senior execs this summer 

Watch a short clip of this podcast with Matthew here.