We recently had the pleasure of bringing together a room of senior finance leaders for an evening of discussion, insight and networking hosted by the Address Beach Resort.
Joining us on the panel were Amanda Gravitis, CEO Smart Salem, Mustafa Koita CEO and Founder Koita Milk and Ewan Davenport President CKE Restaurants, expertly chaired by Louise Vine, Managing Director Inspire Selection.
What stood out throughout the evening was the openness and honesty from the panel. The conversation covered the realities of running and growing businesses in uncertain and fast-moving markets.
A few themes consistently came through during the discussion.
The CEO–CFO relationship has never been more important
One of the strongest messages from the evening was just how critical the relationship between CEO and CFO has become.
The panel spoke candidly about the pressure businesses have faced in recent months and the speed at which decisions have needed to be made. During periods of uncertainty, CFOs become far more than finance leaders. They become strategic partners, sounding boards and often the calmest voice in the room.
There was a shared view that the best CEO–CFO relationships are built on trust, transparency and having each other’s back. As one panellist put it, they “go into battle together”.
It was also interesting to hear how much CEOs rely on their CFOs not only during difficult periods, but equally when looking ahead at growth opportunities, investment decisions and future planning.
Great leaders balance instinct with data
We discussed, how much information do leaders really need before making a big decision? What happens when instinct and data do not fully align? And how do businesses move quickly without making reactive decisions?
The panel agreed that experience changes how leaders make decisions. Earlier-stage businesses often rely more heavily on instinct and agility, while larger organisations naturally require more data and structure. However, the strongest leaders learn to blend both.
One point that resonated with many in the room was the importance of composure. Leaders do not always need to make decisions immediately. Sometimes creating space to think clearly is the most valuable thing they can do.
Agility matters more than ever
The discussion also explored what strong leadership looks like in practice today.
The CEOs spoke about the importance of understanding a company’s point of difference, staying close to customers and remaining agile enough to adapt quickly when circumstances change.
There was an honest conversation around plans that had been paused, forecasts that had needed rewriting and the reality that even successful businesses are constantly reassessing priorities and adjusting course.
What came through clearly was that pressure often drives innovation and sharper decision-making. As the discussion unfolded, there was a real sense of how much businesses can achieve when leadership teams are aligned and focused.
Is CFO becoming the natural route to CEO?
The final topic of the evening focused on the evolving career path from CFO to CEO.
All three panellists agreed that finance leaders are increasingly well positioned to step into CEO roles because of their commercial understanding of the business. However, technical finance expertise alone is not enough.
The conversation highlighted the importance of broadening beyond finance, developing confidence in decision-making, understanding wider business functions and being willing to step outside of comfort zones.
There was also a very honest discussion around imposter syndrome and the need for senior leaders to sometimes put themselves forward before they feel fully ready.
Bringing senior leaders together
For us at Inspire Selection, what made the evening particularly valuable was seeing such open and thoughtful discussion between senior leaders from across the region.
These are the conversations that matter right now, conversations around leadership, growth, uncertainty, hiring and how businesses continue moving forward in changing markets.
We are incredibly grateful to our panel for sharing their experiences so openly, and to everyone who joined us for contributing to such an engaging evening.
