CFO Strategies Forum MENA highlights financial innovation, digitalisation

CFO Strategies Forum Mena, organised by Naseba, in Dubai brought together leading industry experts to discuss the latest trends in the financial sector steering the region's continuous growth. The key focus of the conference was the evolving roles in the C-suite and the opportunities technology and globalisation are bringing to the corporate finance function against a backdrop of rapidly changing business environment and technological advances.
The intensive two-day programme was designed to facilitate discussion, promote innovative thinking and provide attendees with actionable strategies to fuel the development of their companies.
Some of the prominent speakers at the forum included David Allen, one of the world's most influential thinkers on productivity and author of international best-selling book on time management 'Getting Things Done'; and Ramses Gallego, professor in cybersecurity at IE Business School - Strategist & Evangelist, Symantec.
Sophie Le Ray, CEO of Naseba, said: "Current trends and global developments have made the role of CFOs far more complex and challenging with new responsibilities that demand new skills in addition to strong leadership and business acumen. Change management is a key priority in organisations and CFOs are leading the pack being the strategists and catalysts of change. This necessitates the prioritization of financial innovation and digitalisation."
The Middle East and Africa region is on the verge of a massive digital disruption. Pressure is mounting on institutions to accelerate the adoption and digitalisation of processes. The forecasted efficiency and productivity gains from the adoption of new technologies are enormous.
Nicholas Watson, managing director of Naseba said, "Digitalisation and globalisation have permanently changed the financial sector and its operating environment. Digitalisation cannot simply be an add-on feature, it needs to underpin an organisation's entire business model to achieve a new level of performance and engagement. What is critical is how businesses are responding to the rapidly changing macroeconomic environment and how CFO's can drive corporate culture, restructuring and consolidation. Businesses need to collaborate in a digital ecosystem with industry leading partnerships and innovative initiatives that help them to overcome challenges and embrace digital change."
David Allen shared some valuable techniques for greater executive creativity and strategy with the delegates. Speaking on how high performers can get more productive and the critical opportunity that exists for improvement, he stressed, "It is not time management which is the main issue. It all about space, that is, how do we get more room to think more strategically, more creatively and more innovatively? How can we be more present in the critical conversations and critical situations that we find ourselves in?" - business@khaleejtimes.com