Senior finance roles demand influence, clarity and the confidence to challenge. Yet even experienced CFOs and Finance Directors can find themselves holding back, being talked over, or losing control of important conversations – particularly when the stakes are high.
Building confidence for senior finance leaders
Confident Conversations is the next HerFinance Circle event and marks an important milestone for the community. This will be the first CPD-accredited HerFinance Circle session, providing 1.5 hours of recognised CPD learning, with an official CPD certificate issued following the event from The CPD Certification Service.
The Confident Conversations topic was chosen directly by HerFinance Circle members and reflects a shared challenge faced by senior finance women across organisations and sectors.
The session will be led by Diane Coolican, Founder of RedSky Leadership Development, who has over 20 years’ experience working with senior leaders across finance, professional services, retail, manufacturing and the public sector. Diane specialises in practical behavioural change, helping leaders understand how their communication style impacts outcomes in real workplace situations – particularly during challenging or high-pressure conversations.
This is a highly practical, in-person session designed specifically for CFOs, Finance Directors and senior finance leaders.
What you’ll gain from the session
During the session, you’ll develop greater awareness of how you communicate and how that affects your impact at work. You’ll explore why certain conversations don’t land as intended and learn how to approach challenging situations with more confidence and clarity.
You’ll leave with practical techniques you can apply immediately, including how to:
- Understand your communication style, including strengths and potential blind spots
- Read situations more effectively and adapt your approach
- Challenge more confidently without escalating the conversation
- Communicate clearly when pressure and stakes are high
- Hold your ground without becoming defensive or confrontational
The session is structured around real workplace scenarios rather than theory, making it directly relevant to the day-to-day realities of senior finance roles.
As with all HerFinance Circle events, there will also be ample networking time to connect with peers, share experiences and reflect on how to apply the learning within your own organisation.
Event Details
- Date: Wednesday 18th March 2026, 8.30am – 11.30am
Note: Networking is from 8.30am, with the session starting at 9am. - Location: Box, 15 Infirmary St, Leeds LS1 2JS
- Price: £10 + VAT
- CPD: 1.5 hours CPD-accredited learning
