The Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) successfully organized the highly anticipated CFO Conference 2023 on a theme of Resilient CFO – Balancing the Agenda for Tomorrow at a local hotel Karachi.
Mr. M. Ali Latif, President ICAP in his address highlighted the crucial role that Chief Financial Officers play in guiding organizations through challenging times while effectively managing their long-term strategic priorities. He said that this conference underscores the significance of possessing essential qualities such as visionary thinking, agility, innovation, and digital expertise in order to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Moreover, this year’s CFO Conference holds special significance as it coincides with the prestigious Professional Excellence Awards (PEA) ceremony, honouring exceptional ICAP members in the business and industry for their outstanding contributions, exemplary performance & leadership, and remarkable value addition within their respective organizations.
Mr. Amir Paracha, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Pakistan delivered a keynote speech on Leadership through Empathy and Excellence. He emphasized the significance of empathy in fostering a performance-driven culture and achieving collective goals as a team, regardless of generational differences. He strongly emphasized the paramount importance of emotional banking, whereby achieving success not only elevates the individuals directly involved but also benefits the collective as a whole.
He shared insights regarding two distinct approaches: the shotgun and rifle approach.
shotgun approach involves targeting a broad audience, while the rifle approach emphasizes a more focused and targeted strategy. He further provided detailed elaboration on the three fundamental belief systems (psychological safety, radical transparency and idea atrocity). These belief systems were identified as critical elements for fostering stronger relationships among staff members and nurturing an environment conducive to collaboration and growth.
The conference’s inaugural panel discussion on “Skill-sets for Tomorrow” featured esteemed industry leaders including Mr. Rayomond Kotwal, CFO, Habib Bank Ltd., Mr. Amin Rajput, Group Managing Director & CFO, SSGCL, Ms. Naila Kassim, Group Director HR, House of Habib and Mr. Muhammad Rizwan Dalia, Chief People Officer, K-Electric. The panelists placed a strong emphasis on the paramount importance of operational efficiency, delving further into exploring alternative methodologies for effectively representing data. They highlighted the essential role of CAs in contributing their expertise to the public sector and comprehend the importance of continuous upskilling to stay abreast of evolving industry demands. They further stressed that CFOs must stay updated with current trends, embrace technology, and build collaborative relationships.
During the 80/20 Dialogue session, experts delved into the intricacies of finding a delicate balance between optimization efforts and crucial business priorities. The panelists for the session included Ms. Farheen Salman, President of BSAPN Lipton Teas & Infusions, Syed Amir Ali, President & CEO of Bankislami, and Mr. Muhammad Humair, Head of Special Projects at Dawood Hercules Group.
