In this episode, Alice speaks with Seán Allen, Deputy Head of Finance at Coller Capital. Sean joined Coller 13 years ago as a financial analyst and now leads a 60-strong finance function across London and Luxembourg. His career has spanned Coller’s evolution from a single-strategy secondaries house to a diversified platform with credit and private wealth capabilities. 

This conversation delves into what it takes to rise through the ranks inside a modern private markets finance function. Seán shares candid reflections on leadership, influence, internal networks, navigating the shift from peer to manager and the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. The episode is especially relevant for next-generation finance professionals thinking about their own progression. 

Key discussion points 

• Why staying put can sometimes be the power move: how luck, timing and Coller’s growth shaped Seán’s career 
• Leadership loneliness: why senior roles feel isolating and the role of “running mates” in staying sane 
• The jump from peer to manager: awkward transitions, first-time feedback mistakes and building confidence
• How authority is earned: relationships, problem-solving and letting go of technical one-upmanship 
• The modern finance remit: moving beyond operations to influencing strategy, risk and product design 
• Internal and external networks: why visibility across the business is a core part of the job 
• Culture, accountability and feedback: the behavioural traits Coller values when assessing rising talent 
• Proactivity, curiosity and problem-solving: what genuinely moves the needle for promotion 
• A practical piece of advice for juniors: capture the things you want to learn and carve out time to follow through 
• Why the CFO role is far more than “just the numbers” 

Who this episode is for 

Operational leaders, rising finance professionals, and anyone curious about what modern fund finance leadership looks like inside a global secondaries house.