Our latest HerFinance Circle event brought together female finance leaders from across Yorkshire for an evening of networking and discussion focused on the realities of modern CFO leadership.
Hosted at Banyan in Leeds, the event featured a live panel discussion centred around the theme: “Overcoming the challenges of being a female CFO and how to build a high-performing team around you.”
The panel brought together three experienced CFOs from different sectors and business environments; Amy Lewis, CFO at Walker Morris LLP, Kate Cooper, CFO at The Institute of Directors and Melanie Ross, CFO at pubX.
Together, they shared honest reflections on leadership, decision-making, confidence, resilience and the evolving nature of the CFO role.
Modern CFOs Are Leading Far Beyond Finance
One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was how significantly the modern CFO role has evolved over the last decade.
While technical finance expertise remains essential, all three panellists agreed that today’s CFO is expected to contribute far beyond traditional finance responsibilities.
Amy Lewis spoke about the importance of understanding the wider business and the role finance plays in shaping strategic decisions. As her role has evolved, she has become increasingly involved in legal operations, people initiatives, technology and wider business strategy.
Kate Cooper highlighted how the skills required to succeed as a CFO are often very different from those needed to become a Head of Finance. Today’s finance leaders need to combine technical expertise with commercial thinking, board-level influence and the ability to work across every area of the organisation.
The discussion reinforced the idea that modern CFOs are often at the centre of an organisation, connecting different functions and helping to drive performance across the business.
Melanie Ross reflected on the importance of balancing strategic oversight with operational understanding, describing the CFO’s role as creating the space for entrepreneurial leaders to drive the business forward while ensuring the organisation has the structure and discipline to deliver against its objectives.
As all of the panellists highlighted, finance is often only a small part of what a CFO spends their time doing.
Why High-Performing Teams Start With Trust
Building and leading strong teams was another major topic of conversation.
Amy shared three principles she believes are fundamental to building high-performing teams: trust, vision and helping people understand the “why” behind what they do.
The panel discussed the challenge many finance leaders face when moving into senior leadership positions – transitioning from being the person who does the work to the person who enables others to succeed.
Delegation, trust and empowerment were recurring themes throughout the evening. While letting go can be difficult, particularly for people who have built successful careers through attention to detail, the panel agreed that creating space for others to grow is essential for both team and organisational success.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of recruiting people with different strengths, experiences and perspectives, creating teams that balance technical expertise with commercial thinking.
The Importance Of Making Decisions
One of the most memorable points of the evening came from Kate Cooper, who reflected on the importance of decisive leadership.
As she explained, one of the hardest things to do in business is make decisions, but often the worst thing a leader can do is make no decision at all.
The panel spoke openly about mistakes, uncertainty and the reality that leadership often requires decisions to be made with imperfect information.
Rather than striving for perfection, attendees were encouraged to focus on progress, learn from setbacks and avoid becoming paralysed by fear of getting things wrong.
Confidence, Resilience And Support Networks
The conversation also explored some of the personal challenges that come with operating at CFO level.
The panellists spoke candidly about confidence, self-doubt, resilience and the pressures of balancing demanding leadership roles with responsibilities outside of work.
Melanie spoke openly about the importance of resilience throughout a finance leadership career, acknowledging that leadership can sometimes feel lonely and that CFOs often find themselves as the lone voice around the table. Her advice was to remain true to your values, become comfortable with discomfort and recognise that nobody succeeds without support from others.
A common theme was the importance of recognising that nobody succeeds alone. Whether through trusted colleagues, mentors, partners or peer networks, having the right support around you can make a significant difference during difficult periods.
The discussion also highlighted the value of communities such as HerFinance Circle, where finance leaders can openly share experiences, learn from one another and realise that many of the challenges they face are shared by others.
Looking Ahead
Thank you to Amy Lewis, Kate Cooper and Melanie Ross for sharing their experiences so openly, and to everyone who attended and contributed to another valuable evening of discussion and networking.
Our next HerFinance Circle event will take place on Wednesday 30th September, 8.30am – 11.30am at Box in Leeds.
We look forward to welcoming you there.
