It's not all about the numbers! By GENCFO

What separates a manager from a leader?In this episode of It's Not All About the Numbers, Chris Argent and Mike Rose are joined by Dr Veronika von Heise-Rotenburg, CFO and Managing Director at Everphone, to explore why leadership is a skill that must be learned, not simply inherited through promotion.The conversation covers everything from mentoring and developing future leaders to the evolution of the CFO role, the impact of AI on finance and why tomorrow's finance leaders will spend less time administering the business and more time enabling it.

Everyone seems to have a podcast these days.But why?In this episode of So What...?, Chris Argent, Mike Rose and Joel Johansen turn the microphones on themselves to explore why podcasting has exploded, what keeps them coming back after almost 150 episodes, and whether the world really needs another show.The conversation goes beyond content creation, exploring trust, learning, community and why podcasts have become the modern equivalent of pub conversations. They also debate whether we've reached peak podcast, or whether the best conversations are still to come.

From sorting mail and changing light bulbs to becoming Global CFO of Interbrand, Ben Castle's career definitely didn't follow the traditional finance playbook.In this episode of It's Not All About the Numbers, Chris Argent and Mike Rose talk to Ben about curiosity, continuous learning and why some of the best finance careers aren't planned at all.They explore how the finance function is changing, why Ben hired a data analyst with no finance background into his team, the skills tomorrow's finance leaders will need, and why empathy might be one of the most underrated qualities in a CFO.

Every organisation reaches the same crossroads. A major transformation is on the horizon, deadlines are slipping, and someone inevitably says: "Let's bring in the consultants."But are consultancies really solving business problems, or have they become the default answer to every challenge?In this episode of So What...?, Chris Argent, Mike Rose and Joel Johansen explore the consultancy model, from junior project teams and off-the-shelf methodologies to commercial incentives, repeat business and the growing reliance on external expertise.

What if your biggest competitor could actually make you a better leader?In this episode of It's Not All About the Numbers, Chris Argent and Mike Rose are joined by Koula Achillea, Finance Director at Marella Cruises (TUI), to explore the leadership lessons that emerge from crisis, collaboration and community.From navigating the hospitality industry during COVID to building trusted networks with industry "frenemies", Koula shares why humour, trust and authentic relationships are some of the most underrated leadership tools. The conversation also explores the evolving role of finance leaders and why influence now matters just as much as technical expertise.

Executive coaching has become a multi-billion-pound industry. But is it solving leadership challenges, or simply filling the gap left by poor management?In this episode of So What...?, Chris Argent, Mike Rose and Joel Johansen unpack the difference between coaching and mentoring, question why coaching has become such a dominant part of corporate life, and explore whether organisations have lost the ability to develop people from within.From sports coaching to executive coaching, they debate when coaching genuinely adds value, when mentoring is the better option, and why businesses may be treating symptoms instead of solving leadership problems.

What does real leadership look like?In this episode of It's Not All About the Numbers, Chris Argent and Mike Rose are joined by LaToya Lacey, VP Enterprise Risk Management & Insurance at The Estée Lauder Companies.From growing up as the youngest of six siblings to leading enterprise risk for one of the world's biggest brands, Latoya shares the experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy.The conversation explores empowerment, diversity, enterprise risk, psychological safety and why the best leaders don't control people, they give them confidence to succeed.

When should you bring in an external expert, and when are you just paying for a logo?In this episode of So What...?, Chris Argent, Mike Rose and Joel Johansen debate the role of consultants, contractors and independent advisors in modern business. They explore why experience matters, where big consultancies fall short, and why trusted independent experts can often deliver more value than larger firms. Along the way, they discuss relationships, culture and what organisations should really be paying for when they bring in outside support.

In this episode of It's Not All About The Numbers, Chris Argent and Mike Rose are joined by sustainability expert and board advisor Navin Rauniar to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing business today. They explore the cost of the green transition, regulation, ESG, climate resilience and why sustainability must make commercial sense if organisations are going to embrace it. The conversation also examines leadership, independent thinking and the role finance leaders play in balancing profit, purpose and long-term growth.