1st Coffee Chat

Plan:

Introduction: 5 min with Cozy chit chat

Content: 20 mins

Prepared Question: from a Finance manager in the financial service industry to a Director of Financial Control in Top ASX listed company, what are the key skills/experience that you feel contributed most to this success?

Conclusion: 5mins and follow up with a thank-you email.

Actual:

Introduction each other, starting with a discussion on current working-from-home status. Then, I introduced myself with working experience, my current role, and what I look for in the next move.

Mentor shared her previous experience and every move in the career path.

The following is key takeaways:

1. Expand networking internally and externally by influencing others and build stakeholder relationship.
2. Understand self boundaries/availabilities/skills to deliver commitment and build up the self reputation.
3. While to work in the financial service industry, be aware of the following areas.

a. To check the company with due diligence, especially on the what is its strategic plan or if it has a clear path in the next 2 years.

b. Do they have big pictures, how do they see the opportunity in the market?

c. as head of finance, being conservative in the company, we should have a long term view in growing, by

• investing in Finance functions/team to support the change and growth in the company, especially when doubling the size of the growth.
• to check if the senior management team is flexible enough to support the growth of the team.
• to find out what is the importance in the view of the senior management team.

learning from the coffee chat.

• Great insight in another industry with a senior-level view.
• Opportunity to practise “ Tell me about yourself”.
• Be prepared for each time with 1–2 questions and a clear objective in what to learn/know/understand in the session.