The Modern CFO: Partnering with the Board, CEO & Stakeholders
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
This masterclass supports CFOs in operating as strategic partners to the CEO, Board and wider stakeholder group. In today’s environment, the CFO is not only responsible for financial stewardship, but for shaping strategy, driving performance and enabling long-term value creation. The session explores how to strengthen board relationships, provide clear decision-ready insight, and increase the influence and impact of the finance function. Topics include:
• CEO expectations and the CFO’s evolving strategic role
• Building trusted relationships with the Chair, NEDs and C-Suite
• Structuring impactful financial input at board level
• Communicating risk and opportunity to non-financial stakeholders
• Aligning financial strategy with enterprise priorities
Designed for CFOs seeking to deepen their influence at the centre of organisational decision-making.
This is for Global CFO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Sandy Markwick (sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Patrick Butcher, Non Executive Director, Endava | Francisco Urzua, Professor of Finance, Bayes Business School
“The Skills Gap”: Bridging the Divide Between Education and Industry
The UK faces a growing misalignment between the skills graduates leave university with and the capabilities businesses urgently need. With automation, AI, and demographic shifts reshaping entry-level roles, organisations are struggling to source talent equipped with both technical expertise and the human skills of resilience, empathy, and curiosity.
CHAIR
Alastair Procter, SVP, Strategic Human Resource Operations, The Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG)
SPEAKERS
Phil Beach CBE, Chairman, Energy & Utility Skills | Ruchika Karakoti, Founder and Principal Consultant, Karakoti Consulting Limited | Steve Saville, VP, People, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Managing The Unspoken C-Suite Conflict – For a CEO, the greatest asset isn’t just a talented team—it’s one that pulls in the same direction. When an undercurrent of hesitation replaces honest conversation, or when leaders challenge each other but fail to truly listen, progress stalls. These dynamics can breed quiet resentment and “circular” arguments, slowing down decision-making and business output.
In this session, Claire Foy from Flying Iguana draws on her deep expertise in team dynamics to help you move your board or senior exec team beyond “polite” dysfunction or ego-driven debate. Claire reveals how to bring tricky subjects to the surface calmly, turning hidden friction into renewed energy.
You’ll leave with a sensible guide for building a high-trust culture where leaders feel safe to be honest and open to being influenced. Join us to find out how Claire’s work can get your leaders back on the same page, boosting output and giving you the confidence to lead your company to its next big win.
Organisations are navigating a sustained period of disruption. M&A transactions now sit alongside restructures, regulatory shifts, technology modernisation, cost pressures, and geopolitical volatility. The cumulative effect is often underestimated: ‘organisational fatigue’ that undermines execution, decision-making, and long-term value creation.
SPEAKERS
Andy Radford, Associate General Counsel & M&A Lead, Smith & Nephew
From Vanity Metrics to Value Metrics — Reframing What ‘Success’ Means
In a climate marked by intense scrutiny on marketing investments and rapid AI integration, CMOs are under unprecedented pressure to move beyond surface-level metrics. This session offers a clear roadmap to quantify and articulate your true P&L impact. The discussion will focus on shifting from ‘vanity metrics’ like impressions and engagement to value metrics directly tied to pipeline, closed deals, and tangible business revenue.
SPEAKERS
Juliet Machan, Director, Global Audience & Measurement, EY
This Masterclass is part of the Global CIO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with the UCL School of Management, London.
Attracting, retaining, and growing digital talent is critical in an era of skills shortages and transformation fatigue. This masterclass equips CIOs with strategies to build resilient, innovative teams through a blend of talent analytics, culture development, and adaptive leadership. You’ll learn how to compete in a high-demand market, nurture key capabilities, and create attractive non-linear career paths.
Building High-Performance Digital Organisations
• Inspire, coach, and empower digital leaders around the world.
• Shape a cohesive global digital culture that drives transformation.
• Identify and develop next-generation technology and business leaders.
• Build truly multi-disciplinary teams that blur traditional organisational boundaries.
• Embed collaboration, innovation, and accountability at every level.
This is for Global CIO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Joshua Brown (joshua.brown@winmarkglobal.com)
TRAINERS
Philippe Mazas, Chief Information Officer, Mundipharma | Caroline Serfass, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Canon Europe
As AI agents and humanoid robotics move from science fiction to the boardroom, the traditional boundaries of HR and IT are beginning to blur. Stuart Evans, Director of Future of Work & Digital Employee Experience at Rolls-Royce, suggests we are witnessing a collision course that may eventually merge the CIO and CHRO into a single, unified role: The Chief Work Officer.
SPEAKERS
Stuart Evans, Director – Future of Work & Digital Employee Experience, Rolls-Royce
Join this high-impact masterclass led by Paul R Smith, creator of the SOSTAC® planning framework and author of SOSTAC® Guide to Your Perfect Digital Marketing Plan. Ideal for directors and CEOs seeking a powerful, proven framework for marketing success.
You’ll gain a structured, practical approach to digital strategy—perfect for leaders who want to plan, execute, and optimise digital marketing that delivers real results.
Don’t miss this opportunity – reserve your place today!
TRAINERS
Paul Smith, TEDx Talker, international speaker and author, SOSTAC® Plans, PR Smith Marketing
Influence and negotiation are vital for achieving results, whether leading a team or driving change. In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to use your natural style to influence authentically and negotiate with confidence—even in challenging situations.
Led by Vik Kumar, a leadership development expert with over two decades of experience, this session will help you to: Strengthen your influence; elevate your negotiation skills; and lead with purpose.
