Financial transformation has emerged as a critical imperative for organizations in 2024, driven by the need to adapt to rapidly changing economic conditions, technological advancements, and evolving business landscapes.

Coming into 2025, as CFOs face pressure to do more with less while driving growth and maintaining compliance, they are turning to digital solutions and holistic approaches to reshape and modernize financial processes. This transformation goes beyond simply adopting new technologies; it requires a fundamental rethinking of how finance functions operate and contribute to overall business success.

In this PodChats for FutureCFO, we are joined by Ms Giselle Arellano-Geronimo, vice president- head of finance, accounting and procurement for Shearwater Health, as she walks us through what it takes to become a transformative finance leader in 2025.

1. What is a transformative leader? Do you consider yourself one?

2. In your view, can one be a transactional leader and be an equally transformational leader?

a. Who is your one role model for a transformational leader?

3. What metric should one use to gauge whether we have what it takes to be a transformative leader?

a. List must have and nice to have qualities.

4. In building the next generation of leaders, what do you look for as qualities/traits worth building upon?

5. How do you nurture people to become transformative leaders (even if they are not aware and may not necessarily have the initial desires to be one)?

a. How would you address resistance to become one?

6. Speaking of opportunity, do you agree that everyone, at all levels of an organization, can be transformational leaders for their teams/colleagues?

7. In closing, what is your advice for others listening to this PodChats on the topic of becoming a transformative finance leader in 2025?