What’s next? Placing a bet on yourself
Sohil Tiwari, entrepreneur and former Asia Pacific Chief Financial Officer (live via video from New York)
Leslie Hsu, psychotherapist and former Group Chief Financial Officer
Marcus Leong, VP Finance - FP&A & Transformation, Zuellig Pharmaceuticals, and Founder, Strategic Seeds
Brian Hayes KC, lawyer, international trade representative and movie producer
Is there life after corporate? Can you re-invent yourself at any stage of your life and career? The evidence would suggest that there is, and you can. As more senior executives begin to think about life beyond the corporate environment, the question is no longer whether there is a second act, but how to approach it in a considered and practical way. The Global CFO Network is taking a close look at how leaders can move on from structured corporate roles into something different, while still maintaining a sense of purpose, challenge and personal relevance. For this slightly different type of discussion, we are pleased to be joined by senior leaders who’ve made that transition. Sohil Tiwari has over two decades of experience across payments and financial services, including in his last corporate role as Chief Financial Officer Asia Pacific at Mastercard. His career has spanned multiple markets, countries, continents and leadership roles, giving him a clear view of how senior executives can adapt their skills and experience as their careers evolve. Leslie Hsu has lived and worked as a Finance leader in the US, Taiwan, China, Switzerland and Singapore. She was last Group Chief Financial Officer for a PE-backed multinational company, and Asia and China regional CFO for some of the largest Fortune 500 healthcare companies. In 2020 she left corporate life and started a second career as an Integrative Psychotherapist and Life and Executive Coach. Marcus Leong remains in the corporate world, leading FP&A and Transformation for Zuellig Pharmaceuticals, while also being Founder of his own investment advisory business, Strategic Seeds. Marcus, whose prior experience includes regional Finance leadership roles at Google and Johnson & Johnson, has leveraged his corporate background to build his own business, while remaining in employment . They’ll be joined by Brian Hayes, still practicing law full-time at the age of 82. Brian has undertaken multiple career re-inventions, having worked in the UK, Australia, India, Russia and Laos in his career as a barrister, advisor, trade representative, and most recently movie producer, with credits including Hotel Mumbai (2018) and The Last Grind (2023). Drawing on their own experience, Sohil, Leslie, Marcus and Brian will share a straightforward perspective on how to prepare for life after a corporate role. The discussion will cover practical considerations such as timing, financial readiness and how to shape the next phase of a career in a way that remains both engaging and sustainable.
Making shared services work for you
Jens Fey, CFO ASEAN, ANZ, Japan & Korea, Bayer
It’s a common complaint of CFOs that shared services, while cost-effective, tends to operate as a discrete silo, detached from the needs and concerns of the business. But Bayer has taken a different approach in this region, and sought to integrated its shared service centre into the core of the organisation. Jen Fey, Bayer’s regional CFO, will lead us through the work he and his team have undertaken to get shared services working for them. Jens has integrated his 300 person share service centre with country Finance teams by creating in-country ‘squads’ to connect with the SSCs and get them thinking as part of the whole business. In addition to extensive Finance experience, Jens has also held general management roles in Bayer, and has worked both in Asia Pacific and Europe.
What should we expect in 2027?
Suan Teck Kin, Chief Economist, UOB
In this session, we will explore how monetary policy shifts, and structural changes in trade and supply chains are influencing economic resilience and business confidence in the Asia Pacific region. UOB Chief Economist Suan Teck Kin will provide an assessment of the key risks and opportunities facing multinationals, helping Finance leaders distinguish between short-term volatility and longer-term structural trends that will matter most for strategic planning and investment decisions. This discussion will focus on the practical implications of the economic outlook for corporate decision-making. Teck Kin is responsible for macroeconomic and foreign exchange research with a primary focus on China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and secondary coverage for the ASEAN region. Prior to UOB, he held senior positions in equity and credit analysis in other financial institutions in Singapore, Canada and Taiwan.
Additional session to be advised.
Members may attend with a member of their Finance team. Luncheon and light refreshments will be served.