In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst (aka The FP&A Guy) sits down with Ritu Saxena, a chartered accountant, career coach, and founder of Project Upgrade Her. Ritu shares insights on transitioning into business partnering, building a strong personal brand, and empowering women to elevate their careers with confidence.

Ritu is an accomplished finance professional and career coach with over 13 years of experience spanning investment banking, Big Four consulting, and commercial finance in India and New Zealand. She is the founder of Project Upgrade Her, a platform dedicated to helping women increase their career confidence and earning potential. Ritu has also been recognized as one of the Top 20 Chartered Accountants to Watch in Australia and New Zealand.

Expect to Learn:

• Going beyond budgeting and forecasting to provide strategic insights.
• How to transition into business partnering and key skills required.
• Why it’s essential for career growth to build a strong personal brand.
• The power of networking and how it can open unexpected doors in your career.
• Strategies for advocating for yourself and stepping into leadership roles.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “Meeting people where they are and speaking their language is what makes a great business partner.”
• “The ability to be concise and communicate the ‘why’ behind the numbers is an underrated but essential skill.”
• “Trust is built when you consistently deliver value, flag risks proactively, and help stakeholders make better decisions.”

Ritu shared invaluable advice on transitioning into business partnering, building a strong personal brand, and taking control of your career growth. She highlights the importance of advocating for yourself and never letting your job title define your potential.

The AFP FP&A Forum:

The Association for Financial Professionals FP&A Forum, March 17–19 in Austin, is the must-attend event for finance professionals seeking sales-free, expert-led insights on AI, process efficiency and strategic planning. With 18+ actionable sessions and a community of peers, this forum is all about real learning, no fluff—join us and take your finance game to the next level.

Explore the agenda: https://bit.ly/40W1eCh

Use the code FPAGuy2025 for $200 off: https://bit.ly/40Cts3B

Follow FP&A Tomorrow:

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Follow Ritu:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritusaxena1/

Company - https://www.projectupgradeher.com/

Follow Paul: 

Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Planning in BI Showcase:

Gone are the days of juggling multiple platforms. Now, with business intelligence tools you can integrate planning directly into your BI system. Join Paul on March 20th for the Planning in BI Showcase, where industry leaders will demonstrate how top BI tools are reshaping strategic planning. See firsthand how modern FP&A solutions can drive real value across your enterprise. Don’t miss out!

Register today for free at https://bit.ly/4aLzEe0

Earn Your CPE Credit

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[02:25] - Introduction to Ritu Saxena

[04:04] - What Makes Great FP&A?

[07:06] - Ritu’s Unconventional Career Path

[11:51] - Project Upgrade Her: A Mission to Empower Women

[16:51] - Breaking Into Business Partnering

[24:52] - The Three Key Skills for Business Partnering Success

[33:28] - Personal Branding for Career Growth

[45:36] - Must-Have FP&A Skills

[48:40] - Fun Segment: Getting to Know Ritu

[52:31] - Final Advice from Ritu