EMEA Recruitment Podcast

The EMEA Recruitment podcast was proud to welcome Daniel Johansson.

"I've picked people who make sure my blackspots are covered, so that, together, we become one unity."

Daniel spoke to Paul Toms, the Founder of EMEA Recruitment, virtually, due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation kicks off with the reasons that Daniel can speak seven languages – his curiosity stems from an interesting source!

Daniel has over 15 years' experience in global Procurement & Supply Chain, which has taught him the importance of patience and perseverance. His early involvement in Indirect spend forced him to work with business stakeholders in understanding the power of Procurement. Coupled with honesty, he explains why these traits are essential for forming long-standing relationships within organisations.

In fact, a person's values are what Daniel looks for when recruiting new people into his team. Business Intelligence (BI) and Data, too, will influence the personalities and skillsets needed in the Procurement discipline of the future.

We find out how Daniel "slipped" into Procurement, as well as the promise his first Indirect Procurement hiring manager made to him before he took the role.

Daniel has created his current Procurement department from scratch, forming a high performing team that brings different skills and personalities together. He always has the end goal in mind when recruiting new people, which he finds results in fewer wrong hires.

Finally, Daniel reveals who he would interview on a podcast if he could only have one guest – it's a popular choice, but not the person Paul expected!

If you'd like to find a particular part of the episode, please use the timestamps below:

01:23: What Daniel is looking forward to this year02:11: Which competition inspired Daniel to learn 7 languages?04:38: Patience & perseverance in Procurement06:26: The key to positive relationships09:24: What Daniel focuses on when recruiting13:03: The impact of BI & Data on Procurement17:00: How Daniel slipped into Procurement18:23: Creating a complete department20:54: Always have the end goal in mind22:51: The cost of a wrong hire26:13: Daniel's dream podcast guest28:04: How to connect with Daniel

The best way to connect with Daniel is through LinkedIn – click here to view his profile.

We are honoured to partner with Operation Smile to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast. We are aiming to create 100 new smiles through our partnership, so please help us achieve this goal at: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

If you'd like to find out more about our recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

You can also follow us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

To connect with Paul, visit his profile at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

He is also active on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

If there are any topics you'd like us to cover in the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact Rose: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #danieljohansson #paultoms #switzerland #procurement #operationsmile

In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we speak to Shavanka Ratnayake, the Chief Financial Officer, nexus at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore.

"A career is a marathon, not a 100m sprint. There will be many ups and downs, so you need to be prepared to ride through the hard times."

The theme of cycling came up consistently throughout Shavanka's conversation with Paul Toms. In fact, Shavanka used the extra time he had during the COVID-19 pandemic to learn to ride a bike. His average cycle is now 50-60km!

Shavanka talks through his career in Finance, which has seen him work for three UK banks across a variety of Finance functions, all within Singapore. He explains that none of his career moves were planned, but he has grasped opportunities and embraced new challenges.

It's his current role as the CFO for nexus that is proving to be Shavanka's greatest challenge yet, but opening people's minds to new ways of doing things is also "very rewarding". Shavanka explores what the future of banking may look like, with the potential of the model nexus is using to be worth $7 trillion in ten years' time.

Looking specifically at the future of the Finance function, Shavanka and Paul discuss the changing role of the CFO and the qualities that Finance professionals will need moving forward. Shavanka also reveals the skills that he has come to realise CFOs need, which younger Finance professionals may not be aware of early on in their careers.

Shavanka offers the three simple steps to take to reach the level of CFO that have worked for him. He finishes with the one thing he wishes he'd known before embarking on a role in the Finance field.

To find a certain part of the episode, please use the timestamps below:

01:21: Using time during the pandemic to learn new skills04:43: An overview of Shavanka's career07:14: How Shavanka got where he is today09:03: Which role has challenged Shavanka the most13:29: The nexus model of banking16:23: How data is affecting Finance roles18:12: The qualities Shavanka looks for in Finance professionals19:24: Where Shavanka's passion & drive comes from22:00: What future CFOs need to know24:20: How to get to the level of CFO25:51: 1 thing Shavanka wishes he'd known at the start of his career27:10: How to reach out to Shavanka directly

If you'd like to message Shavanka via LinkedIn, his profile can be accessed here.

We're proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with Operation Smile. The volunteers at Operation Smile deliver vital surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate – if you'd like to find out more about this cause or donate, please click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode was hosted by Paul Toms, the Founder of EMEA Recruitment, and Rose Jinks, Senior Marketing Executive.

You can find out about our full range of recruitment services through our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

We also share relevant news and insights for Finance professionals on our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If you'd like to connect with Paul via LinkedIn, visit his profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

Paul is also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

To share your ideas for the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact Rose: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #shavankaratnayaje #paultoms #singapore #finance #nexus #operationsmile

In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we speak to Lidia Niculai, the Global Shared Services Center Senior Director at Duracell.

"My aspiration in life was never making a living. My aspiration was to really make a difference."

Lidia joins our Founder, Paul Toms, from her home in Barcelona, Spain, after a period of adjustment and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation kicks off with Lidia explaining the need for getting more organised during the past 12 months. With such high levels of energy and enthusiasm, she explains the secret ingredient that drives her in life.

It's interesting that someone with so much energy works for a company with the lively Duracell Bunny as its mascot, but Lidia explains that her determination came incredibly early in life, as the ninth of 11 children in Romania.

We explore the management style that Lidia finds works best with her colleagues across the business. She was entrusted with a high level of accountability when Duracell went global with its Shared Services Center, so finds it essential that she can adjust to many different cultural backgrounds and personalities.

Lidia also reveals the four critical steps that she took in setting up the Shared Services Center. Duracell boasts an excellent retention record, which Lidia believes is partly due to the passion she so enthusiastically leads with and passing this vision onto her team.

We look at how Duracell is using Business Intelligence (BI) and Data to provide visualisation and insights for key decision-making.

We finally discuss the steps Lidia takes to bring in people who follow the same vision as her team, as well as the individuals who have influenced her to think and work in the way she does. One of those people is her mother – at the end of the episode, Lidia tells Paul the one piece of advice she'd give to her younger self, which also relates to her relationship with her mum.

If you'd like to find a particular part of the episode, use the timestamps below:

01:11: COVID-19 - A period of adjustment and learning03:14: Lidia's secret ingredient for high energy06:39: Inheriting passion from her mother08:40: How Lidia gets the best out of her colleagues13:14: Setting up Duracell's Shared Services Center19:35: How Lidia retains great people24:13: How BI & Data will change the Finance function29:05: Bringing in the best people32:25: Who has influenced Lidia's career?37:26: The advice Lidia would give her younger self38:24: How to reach out to Lidia directly

Click here if you'd like to connect with Lidia on LinkedIn.

We're proud to support Operation Smile through the EMEA Recruitment podcast. Operation Smile is an international medical charity that delivers life-changing surgery to children with cleft lip and palate. It's a cause close to Paul's heart, as he too was born with cleft lip and palate. Please help us in any way you can by visiting emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

To learn more about our international recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

You can also find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If you'd like to connect with Paul, click here.

Or you can follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

If you have any ideas or topics for future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact Rose by emailing: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #lidianiculai #paultoms #spain #operationsmile

In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we were delighted to be joined by Devopriya Paul, the CFO Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa – Business Unit Transformers at Hitachi ABB Power Grids.

"If you want to be successful in this highly integrated, global economy, you need to understand different cultures and evaluate options from different lenses."

As a regional Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Devopriya was used to working virtually before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional ways of working around the world. Nevertheless, the crisis was still unexpected for most of us and accelerated the digital transformation that took place at Hitachi ABB Power Grids.

Devopriya has found that he's equally productive working at home as he was in the office, and now enjoys new healthy habits, such as taking his son to school every morning and finding time to go to the gym.

Devopriya speaks to Paul Toms, our Founder, about the concept of Lean Six Sigma, which has not only been useful during the COVID-19 period, but can be "applied in every part of your personal and professional life". Devopriya explains the concept in simple terms, similar to what we learn in algebra at school.

Lean Six Sigma is the biggest tool that Devopriya and his Finance team use in problem-solving. Alongside a concept called design thinking, he uses it to expand his team's thinking. We find out how Devopriya uses this approach when facing any issues or problems at work, as well as the method he uses during a crisis.

We also discovered the three focus areas that Devopriya looks at when recruiting quality talent for his team. Although Devopriya's management style was somewhat insensitive when his career began, he's made the effort to change his behaviour in managing a now diverse team.

The exposure to six different countries during his time at ABB gave Devopriya the ability to see the power of group thinking. He now encourages everyone, both professionally and individually, to explore and learn about different cultures and team compositions.

Finally, Paul and Devopriya look into the impact of Business Intelligence and Data on the Finance function, revealing where Hitachi ABB Power Grids is on the journey to building a full picture of the business through analytics.

If you'd like to find a specific part of the episode, please use the timestamps below:

01:35: Building ourselves up from the COVID-19 crisis05:53: What is Lean Six Sigma?08:46: Expand your thinking to understand the drivers of a problem14:18: Analysing different types of problems16:34: How to maintain quality recruitment19:51: Evolving with a diverse team26:18: Why you should work and live in different countries27:39: Where Hitachi ABB Power Grids is on its BI & Data journey 33:56: How to connect with Devopriya

If you'd like to connect with Devopriya on LinkedIn, please visit his profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devopriyapaul/

We're pleased to partner with Operation Smile on the EMEA Recruitment podcast. Operation Smile is an international medical charity that delivers life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. If you'd like to help us reach our goal of creating 100 new smiles, please donate through this link: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode was hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

To find out more about our international recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

You can also follow us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

To connect with Paul on LinkedIn, please follow this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

If you'd like to follow Paul on Twitter, here is his profile: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

To share any topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please reach out to Rose: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #devopriyapaul #paultoms #finance #operationsmile

We're excited to welcome Fritz Von Hardenberg, the CFO Central and Southern Europe at eBay Marketplaces, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast.

"Even when you have a bad day and you come to work and everybody else is positive, it drags you along."

Our Founder, Paul Toms, spoke to Fritz at a time when he's struggling with the challenges of sitting in front of a screen all day and conducting meetings via video calls. At the same time, Fritz is amazed by how well people and businesses have adjusted to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. He tells Paul what type of companies he believes will exceed when the pandemic is over.

In fact, it's his passion for eCommerce and Finance that has helped Fritz get through weird, new ways of working. He explains why he was drawn to Finance initially (and the person that put him on that path), as well as the elements of his job that keep him excited.

Fritz discusses the positive and open mindset that has not only helped him make the most of opportunities that have come along for him, but also keeps his team motivated and engaged, which ultimately improves performance. He also reveals the moment when he didn't succeed in his career, but how this helped him move forward in the long-term.

Although Fritz agrees that hard work is crucial for a successful career, he explains another characteristic that can pay off if you have the positive mindset to stick to it.

Paul explores this positive mindset regarding the recruitment process and how Fritz finds employees who come to work with a can-do attitude. Fritz also tells the story of how he landed his first job at eBay back in 2004.

Finally, Paul and Fritz look at the impact of Business Intelligence (BI) and Data on the Finance discipline, as well as its effects on our personal lives.

To find a certain part of the episode, please use the timestamps below:

01:29: How businesses have adjusted to COVID-1903:32: The way we'll work in the future06:10: Why Finance keeps Fritz excited09:43: Who inspired Fritz to get into Finance 11:15: Empowering your team with an open mindset18:32: The incident that took Fritz on a different pathway22:45: Why you need to do more than just work hard to succeed27:36: The characteristics Fritz looks for when recruiting32:47: How Fritz landed a job at eBay40:12: The impact of BI & Data on Finance and our personal lives44:48: How to reach out to Fritz

If you'd like to connect to Fritz on LinkedIn, visit his profile here.

We're proud to work with Operation Smile to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast. As our partner, we're hoping to raise vital funds and awareness of the work Operation Smile does around the world to deliver life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. If you'd like to find out more, we have further information available: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms and Rose Jinks.

If you'd like to connect with Paul, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

You can also follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

Find out more about our services through our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

Or via our LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If there are any topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact Rose: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #fritzvonhardenberg #paultoms #finance #ebay #switzerland #operationsmile

In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we're joined by Lidiya Nadych-Petrenko, the Head of Global Talent Attraction at JTI (Japan Tobacco International).

"I draw the picture for my team, so that they share it with me, then we go there together."

Lidiya shares her wealth of experience in recruitment and talent attraction with Paul Toms, our Founder. She explains why she believes the recruitment process remains subjective, despite the level of automation in the industry. Nevertheless, Lidiya shares the method she uses to create a common denominator between all candidates.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, JTI is going through a period of great change, which has given Lidiya the momentum to implement new processes. However, she insists that she must look at the recruitment process from the candidate's point of view to ensure an efficient and effective experience. In fact, she reveals the clever exercise she performs to assess competitor success!

Paul and Lidiya discuss the impact of Business Intelligence and Data on the Human Resources sector, with both positive and negative experiences.

Lidiya delves deeper into the tools she uses with her immediate team to help motivate them and increase retention. She also shares the methods JTI uses as a whole to recruit and onboard virtually, before exploring the cultural aspects that make the company successful.

When posed the question of the advice she'd give to her younger self, Lidiya had an interesting answer. Listen to the episode below to hear her thoughts, as well as the company she'd have invested in a year ago…

We also found out which social media platform Lidiya believes is great for recruitment at the moment – do you use it?

If you'd like to find a particular part of the episode, you can use the timestamps below:

01:34: Has Lidiya taken anything positive from the pandemic?03:14: How to create a common denominator between all candidates08:30: Look at the recruitment process from a candidate's point of view14:02: The exercise Lidiya uses for competitor analysis17:47: How JTI uses data20:44: How Artificial Intelligence can go wrong23:15: The tool Lidiya uses to motivate her team26:46: Recruiting and onboarding virtually31:09: The true cost of a wrong hire34:05: The culture that makes JTI successful37:05: Would Lidiya give advice to her younger self?38:32: The platforms to connect with Lidiya through

If you'd like to connect to Lidiya via LinkedIn, visit her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadych/

We're proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international medical charity that delivers life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. Read more about its work here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

To find out more about our recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If you'd like to connect with Paul, his LinkedIn profile can be accessed here.

You can also follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

If there are any topics you'd like us to cover in the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let Rose know: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #lidiyanadychpetrenko #paultoms #recruitment #switzerland #operationsmile

We were pleased to be joined by Andreas Lindner, the Group CFO at ORIOR in Switzerland, on the EMEA Recruitment podcast recently.

"You never win alone, you're part of a team."

Andreas speaks to Paul Toms, our Founder, at a time when he's looking back on the past year and feeling well-prepared to tackle the challenges that 2021 presents him with, both personally and professionally. Andreas has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught him and his management team a lot, resulting in great improvements in the way the organisation manages its people.

After a 25-year career in Finance, Andreas explains the reasons that his role as a Chief Financial Officer both motivate and challenge him. He has a strong approach to leadership, which enables his whole team to align their focuses, and remain accountable and responsible for their actions.

Paul finds out what Andreas' approach to recruiting a good team is, with some great advice for anyone looking to create a high performance team and prevent failed hires. We discuss the unique hiring process in Switzerland and offer some tips for other CFOs who are expanding their teams.

Andreas explains what it meant for him to win Switzerland's CFO of the Year award in 2018, but why his success is always due to great effort from the whole team.

We explore what the future of the Finance function will look like, including the impact of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA) on decision-making. Andreas is confident that IT will add a lot of value to companies in the future, creating new jobs and processes, and enabling Finance professionals to broaden their area of work.

We also found out who Andreas' two dream podcast guests would be and why.

If you're looking for a particular part of the episode, please use the timestamps below:

01:06: What Andreas has learnt during the pandemic03:48: What motivates and challenges Andreas05:44: Andreas' approach to leadership07:23: How to successfully hire a high performance team12:39: Advice for CFOs on recruiting great people14:23: Being awarded CFO of the Year 201816:05: The characteristics that make Andreas a great CFO17:16: How will technology impact the Finance function?20:27: Andreas' dream podcast guests22:11: How to reach out to Andreas

If you'd like to connect with Andreas on LinkedIn, click here.

We're delighted to work with Operation Smile on the EMEA Recruitment podcast. As our podcast partner, we're trying to raise awareness and vital funds for the work that Operation Smile does around the world, to deliver life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. If you'd like to help us create 100 new smiles, please donate here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode was hosted by Paul Toms, Founder of EMEA Recruitment, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

To find out more about our specialist recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

You can also find us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If you'd like to connect with Paul, follow this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

You can also follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

If you have any suggestions for future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact Rose on: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #andreaslindner #paultoms #finance #switzerland #operationsmile

For the latest episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we were joined by Tatiana Egorova, the VP Finance at Oriflame in Switzerland.

"People need to be prepared to work a bit harder than normal if they would like to achieve something."

Tatiana speaks to Paul Toms, our Founder, about her 30-year career in Finance. She discusses the different positions and countries that she's worked in, explaining that the only thing that hasn't changed during her career is that she's still in Finance!

Tatiana talks through her move from analytical roles, to management positions, to the business development-focussed projects she now works on. With a great team around her, Tatiana believes that she can manage any challenge that the business is faced with, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

We explore the culture of Oriflame, which is one of the main reasons that she's stayed with the company for over 20 years. Tatiana also offers the question that you should ask yourself if you're wondering whether to stay in your current company or move somewhere else.

Paul finds out how Tatiana manages to stay on top of her routine, while also allocating time to implement new ideas and strategies. She also believes that successful people may not have a good work-life balance, but explains why hard work is inevitable.

We delve into the ways that Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Intelligence (BI) and Data are impacting Finance roles, and Tatiana reveals the one task that she wishes AI could do on her behalf.

We finish the episode by highlighting the great leadership skills that have enabled Tatiana to build a great team around her. She has some wise words on how to develop people and bring them into the team.

Tatiana learned some important skills from her past leaders, as well as from the books she reads on how to lead a team while developing the business.

We also found out which two guests Tatiana would love to interview on her own podcast – one is slightly more unusual than the other! Be sure to listen until the end of the episode to find out who they are…

Finally, Tatiana leaves us with some inspirational advice on how to still be ourselves, while learning how to develop from successful people.

If you'd like to find a particular part of the episode that's most interesting to you, please use the timestamps below:

01:54: What Tatiana has learned during 30 years in Finance04:55: What Tatiana would do if she wasn't in Finance05:58: Does Tatiana recommend spending 20 years at one company?08:40: Tatiana's advice for finding time in your work day11:14: Why you should be prepared to work hard14:15: The importance of sleeping well15:29: How Finance should use data – and the task Tatiana wishes AI could do for her17:37: Developing people to create a great team20:13: Tatiana's learning curve as a manager23:59: The people who've inspired Tatiana27:50: Tatiana's dream podcast guests31:12: How to reach out to Tatiana

If you'd like to connect with Tatiana, visit her LinkedIn profile here.

We're proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with Operation Smile. We're hoping to create 100 new smiles by raising vital funds for Operation Smile's volunteers to deliver life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. If you're able, please help us achieve this goal by donating here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This Finance episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast was hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

If you'd like to learn more about our specialist Finance & Accountancy recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/finance-and-accountancy

We are also active on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

You can connect with Paul via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

Or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

If you have any topics that you'd like us to cover in future episodes of the podcast, please contact Rose: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #tatianaegorova #paultoms #finance #switzerland #operationsmile

The EMEA Recruitment podcast is pleased to welcome Francisco Canchanya, the Director Controlling Excellence & GPO Report-to-Decision at Swarovski in Switzerland.

"Instead of being really good at doing a particular thing, be really good at learning how to do new things."

Francisco speaks to Paul Toms, our Founder, after recently starting his Doctorate in Business Administration. His love of learning and breaking out of your comfort zone is a theme that runs throughout the whole conversation.

Francisco's contribution to discussions on the future of the Finance function goes beyond the research and skills needed to expand your professional horizons; he also discusses the soft skills that he values in a well-rounded colleague.

With lots of competition in the Finance profession, Francisco dives deeper into the strengths needed to become a high-performing business partner. He believes that Finance should be more proactive in understanding how the commercial elements and business model of the organisation are linked together.

At the same time, Francisco explains why this commercial and business awareness must be enhanced by technology. Although he believes there are "tremendous opportunities" to add more value through data insights, he warns that we must be careful. Francisco looks at the importance of understanding what and why things are happening, rather than simply using predictive reporting to understand what might happen.

His ability to manage change is something that Francisco believes is his most valuable asset, both professionally and personally. In fact, working for a company that encourages innovation is something that he really enjoys.

Francisco also discusses living and working across three different continents and five countries, as well as the advice he'd give to anyone starting a job search in the current market.

If you'd like to listen to a particular part of the podcast, please use the timestamps below:

01:55: Embracing learning opportunities on the job04:58: Contributing to discussions on the future of Finance06:11: What Francisco appreciates in a colleague07:29: How to become a high-performing Business Partner10:28: How to add value through data insights16:35: What innovation looks like to Francisco18:22: The ability to adapt20:07: Moving to different countries23:22: Advice for those starting a job search26:42: How to connect with Francisco

If you'd like to reach out to Francisco, click here to visit his LinkedIn profile.

We are proud to work with Operation Smile on the EMEA Recruitment podcast. We hope to create 100 new smiles for children born with cleft lip and palate. If you can help us spread awareness or raise valuable funds, then please follow this link: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

If you'd like to find out more about our specialist recruitment services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

You can also follow us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If you'd like to connect with Paul, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

Or follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

Please send any suggestions for upcoming episodes to [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #franciscocanchanya #paultoms #finance #switzerland #operationsmile

We were honoured to welcome Astrid Balsink, the Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) for Philips, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast.

"Diversity is being invited to the party; Inclusion is being asked to dance."

Astrid is a passionate I&D leader on a mission. As the Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity for Philips, she is building an ecosystem that creates a movement to drive sustainable change by involving all. Top down and bottom up.

With a background in journalism and having worked in different multi-nationals – amongst which Nike, Microsoft and DSM – she brings a strong track record in Communications and I&D. Fuelled by a holistic approach that involves head and heart anticipating on the human need to belong. Because only together we can harness the power of dialogue to shift mindsets and paradigms.

Diversity is not a Human Resources thing, nor is it about gender identity or people with purple earrings. Diversity is about how we – as unique individuals – can be our best self and, by doing so, inspire others to do the same (#youareyou). This ambition requires each one of us to actively contribute to building and fostering an inclusive environment ('Inclusion starts with I').

We all need to be open to learn about topics like privilege, bias and allyship. To grow ourselves and others, to be able to contribute and to belong. By connecting all we do through a new, inclusive lens that will spark dialogue, create understanding and energy, we will drive sustainable change.

Astrid speaks to Paul Toms about her move from journalism to large multi-nationals, how Diversity & Inclusion has grown over time, and the personal passions that she brings to her role.

We also explore the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic may affect Inclusion in the workplace, as well as how data can not only enhance Diversity, but also fuel unconscious bias.

If you're looking for a specific part of the episode to listen to, use the timestamps below:

01:11: Missing human connection during the pandemic02:12: How Astrid defines D&I03:39: Why Inclusion drives the business case for Diversity05:20: Making the move from journalism to D&I07:28: How D&I has grown over the years11:10: Astrid's personal values16:01: How to be a true ally21:17: Achieving commitment from leadership23:55: How managers can support their teams26:05: Why we should focus on creating equity28:35: Using data as a nice enhancement31:34: Astrid's concerns for the future34:30: Who has influenced Astrid's career37:57: Being able to learn every day

If you wish to reach out to Astrid, please connect with her via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-balsink-she-her-7a71096/

We're proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with Operation Smile. This is a cause close to Paul's heart, as he was born with a cleft lip and palate. To find out more about the incredible work that Operation Smile's volunteers do, please click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile

This episode was hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Rose Jinks, our Senior Marketing Executive.

You can find out more about our services through our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/

Or via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/

If you'd like to network with Paul, you can connect with him through LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/

You can also follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/paul_toms

If you have any suggested topics for future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact Rose at: [email protected]

#emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #astridbalsink #paultoms #inclusionanddiversity #inclusion #diversity #youareyou #operationsmile