INTHEBLACK September 2021 - Magazine - Page 61
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Above: Kala Kularajah,
Egon Zehnder
THINK
SIDEWAYS
TO REACH
THE TOP
Traditionally, these workers have been perceived as not
knowing what they want from their careers, but Kularajah
sees this changing.
“I think there will be a reverse of that belief, as
companies really value these workers for what they are –
people who are brave and able to take risks, as well as being
committed and responsible,” she says.
Kularajah has also noticed quite a few professionals
considering early retirement.
“They are not so much interested in retiring to play golf
and drink coffee, but to go and do something else entirely,”
she says.
“Employees are also wanting to try a completely different
field or industry – they are taking huge risks, such as
launching a start-up. It’s interesting times.”
Johns certainly fits the role of this new breed of highly
versatile, curious and flexible worker. While she still runs
her change management consultancy under her brand
Larsen C, she has found that her business “naturally
evolved” during the pandemic, and she now offers
leadership coaching for women entrepreneurs.
Johns credits her former career as an accountant for
giving her the courage as well as an edge in her new
businesses. “It gave me a niche, because clients loved that
I was a change management specialist with an accounting
background,” she says.
“It also helped me go out on my own, because when it
came to running the numbers in a business, I thought to
myself, ‘I know how to do this!’.”
Finance professionals who want
to be in demand and at the top
of their game should make
strategic sideways moves into
marketing, sales and
operations, says Malaysia-based
consultant Kala Kularajah.
“Clients are no longer
interested if the CFO has only
grown their career in the
finance track,” Kularajah says.
“The most sought-after CFOs
are those who have done some
sideways move, either into
marketing, or operations or any
other part of the organisation.”
However, these moves must
be made mid-career, when
employees are more senior and
capable of developing a unique
perspective about the business.
“Employers want a business
CFO rather than a finance CFO,
and by that I mean somebody
who has a wider perspective
outside of the financial in the
way they approach making
business decisions,”
Kularajah says.
Up is Not the
Only Way from the
CPA Library
Her personal preference is
for CFOs with a marketing
background. “Marketing skills
have become really critical,
because it’s so competitive
these days,” she says. “You
constantly have to understand
who your customers are and
what your business model is.”
The more cross-industry
experience you have, the more
versatile you become. “For
example, if you are in FMCG
[fast-moving consumer goods],
then you should also start to
look at other finance roles in
other types of industries, such
as technology, healthcare or
banking,” Kularajah says.
However, it’s important that
versatility and breadth of
experience do not come at
the cost of depth.
“You have got to try and
build both, because that is what
employers are really looking for
these days,” she says.
Employers want someone
who is able to dive deep and
look at an issue at a very
granular level, as well as being
able to telescope out and take
a more strategic view.
“People who are high
performers are able to do
both,” she says.
intheblack.com September 2021 61