14 networking
‘Aspire Networking’ – empowering future business leaders
Aspiring leaders of tomorrow took a peak into the worlds, lives and minds of three influential financial professionals at the recent Aspire networking event held at the Reading Pentahotel
Organised by Grant Thornton in partnership with EtonBridge Partners and Pitmans LLP, the event was designed to connect tomorrow’s business leaders in a conducive and relaxed environment and enable them to network with peers, develop ‘soft’ skills and build professional relationships.
Growing a secure customer base is the lifeblood of any business but to successfully achieve this organisations need managers with real vision as well as financial understanding. Equally, sharing knowledge, insight and experience is just as important, which is why Grant Thornton created the Aspire networking initiative and is rolling it out through its national network of 25 UK offices to support tomorrow’s business leaders.
At the first Reading event, over 80 of the regions brightest and most forward thinking individuals involved in financial and business management, including financial controllers, M&A managers, second- generation business managers, commercial and operational managers and younger directors, gathered to hear from three inspirational and enthralling executives who concluded: “it’s not just about counting beans,“ and answered such questions as: “What are the best and worst bits of your job?“
The distinguished panel, which was skilfully chaired by Mark Craddock, partner at Eton Bridge Partners, one of the evenings sponsors, comprised: Patrick Deller, finance director at
broadbandchoices.co.uk; Fiona Tee, CFO at Intelligent Environments; and Hamish Floyd, divisional finance director at British Gas. Each has successfully made the transition from implementers – to influencers – to decision makers and are now sharing their secrets to success and helping mentor the next generation of management. During the lively debate, the panel members gave a frank and often amusing insight to their world, their roles and lives as CFO’s or FD’s.
Chairman Mark Craddock certainly kept the three on their toes throughout the Q&A, with such questions as: “Did the panel always think or plan that they would become an FD?” to which Tee replied: “I didn’t plan this to happen in my career. I think I always knew I would traffic upwards.
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That is not an arrogant statement; I always thought that’s how my career would go and I am now seeing the same of my female peers.”
The underlying thread of the debate was: “What makes a good FD and how has the role changed?“ Deller aired his strong views saying: “The FD role has certainly changed. It’s not just an accounting role any more, as I spend much of my time on people management including weekly one-to-ones and monthly team meetings. I try to interact with as many people as I can, getting out from behind the desk and going into the field. The FD is often seen as the bad cop and the man that says "no" more than "yes" when budgets dictate. That is however a small part of the job. I really love the business strategy, the day-to-day nitty gritty and driving the business forward.”
In conclusion, the panel agreed that the soft skills of the role are now outweighing what were perceived as the core skills. Tee stated: “The role of the modern FD is changing, with the softer skills such as deploying leadership, communications, networking and people skills taking precedent over the more traditional nuts and bolts that are required to do the job well. Personally I love looking for value, the wins and driving the business forward.”
Jana Madden, business development manager from Grant Thornton’s Reading office, concluded by saying: “The Aspire events are an ideal way in which to make new connections, maintain existing relationships and meet peers. It was fantastic that so many young executives from large listed organisations through to SMEs plus those in the both the public and Not for Profit sectors wanted to be part of our innovative event, and the three panellists certainly managed to energise everybody in the room.”
Any executive looking to step up in their career can obtain more information about joining the Aspire network and future business and networking events in the Reading area or further afield by contacting Faye Boruvka, the events executive at Grant Thornton.
From left: Mark Craddock, Eton Bridge Partners, Fiona Tee, Intelligence Environments, Hamish Floyd, British Gas and Patrick Deller, Broadband Choices
To the same question Floyd replied: “Driving growth, adding value and having knowledge of all parts of the business are crucial requirements for today’s modern FD. I was offered my first FD role at the age of 27 and personally had to learn a huge amount about all aspects of the business extremely quickly. That is the key to success in this role. This is the thing I most enjoy, having a view on other parts of the business.”
Details: Faye Boruvka
faye.boruvka-@
uk.gt.com www.grant-thornton.co.uk
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JULY/AUGUST 2014
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