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Ep 28 - Santi Rasanayagam on allocating a +$100m acquisition war chest, leading 800 people and why CFOs need to spend more time with customers.
In this conversation, Santi Rasanayagam shares his journey from CFO to CEO of the Sahara Group, discussing the challenges and insights gained along the way. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to change, understanding client needs, and the strategic role of acquisitions in business growth. Santi reflects on the differences between his roles as CFO and CEO, highlighting the importance of mindset and the need for leaders to engage with clients and their teams.
Keywords
CFO, CEO, acquisitions, logistics, leadership, business growth, East Africa, Sahara Group, finance, strategy, business transitions, acquisition preparation, CFO role, CEO-CFO relationship, business growth strategy
Takeaways
- Santi emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing circumstances in business.
- He highlights the need for CFOs to be involved in strategy, not just financial oversight.
- Santi's journey from CFO to CEO involved significant personal sacrifices.
- Understanding client needs is crucial for business success.
- Santi believes that the right mindset is more important than industry experience.
- He discusses the challenges of managing a larger team as a CEO.
- Santi enjoyed the CFO role more due to its focus on growth and strategy.
- Acquisitions should align with the overall business strategy and goals.
- Santi stresses the importance of understanding the business being acquired.
- He shares insights on the cultural differences in business operations across regions. We let some customers go to bring in new ones.
- Acquiring businesses can leapfrog your business.
- CFOs must think about risk management.
- Preparation is key to a successful transaction.
- The CEO and CFO should be joined at the hip.
- Execution has to be flawless for business success.
- The price is an outcome of running a proper business.
- You need to have your finances in order before an acquisition.
- You can't just buy and forget about an acquisition.
- Founders should focus on solving client problems, not just getting acquired.
Titles
- From CFO to CEO: A Journey of Growth
- Navigating Leadership in Logistics
- The Art of Strategic Acquisitions
- Adapting to Change in Business
Sound Bites
"I've never been a CFO before."
"I was made the CEO in 2021."
"Being a CEO can be a bit lonely."
"We actually let some customers go."
"You can't just buy and forget about it."
"A CFO needs to think about risk."
"You need to have your finances in order."
"You have to be on the same page."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:58 Transition to CFO Role
05:55 Becoming CEO and Leadership Challenges
08:53 Acquisitions and Growth Strategy
20:43 Navigating Business Transitions
23:59 Preparing for Acquisition: Key Considerations
28:17 The Role of CFO in Growing Businesses
34:50 CEO and CFO: A Unified Vision for Success
39:31 Final Thoughts on Business Growth and Strategy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
View all episodes
By Sam MarchantIn this conversation, Santi Rasanayagam shares his journey from CFO to CEO of the Sahara Group, discussing the challenges and insights gained along the way. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to change, understanding client needs, and the strategic role of acquisitions in business growth. Santi reflects on the differences between his roles as CFO and CEO, highlighting the importance of mindset and the need for leaders to engage with clients and their teams.
Keywords
CFO, CEO, acquisitions, logistics, leadership, business growth, East Africa, Sahara Group, finance, strategy, business transitions, acquisition preparation, CFO role, CEO-CFO relationship, business growth strategy
Takeaways
- Santi emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing circumstances in business.
- He highlights the need for CFOs to be involved in strategy, not just financial oversight.
- Santi's journey from CFO to CEO involved significant personal sacrifices.
- Understanding client needs is crucial for business success.
- Santi believes that the right mindset is more important than industry experience.
- He discusses the challenges of managing a larger team as a CEO.
- Santi enjoyed the CFO role more due to its focus on growth and strategy.
- Acquisitions should align with the overall business strategy and goals.
- Santi stresses the importance of understanding the business being acquired.
- He shares insights on the cultural differences in business operations across regions. We let some customers go to bring in new ones.
- Acquiring businesses can leapfrog your business.
- CFOs must think about risk management.
- Preparation is key to a successful transaction.
- The CEO and CFO should be joined at the hip.
- Execution has to be flawless for business success.
- The price is an outcome of running a proper business.
- You need to have your finances in order before an acquisition.
- You can't just buy and forget about an acquisition.
- Founders should focus on solving client problems, not just getting acquired.
Titles
- From CFO to CEO: A Journey of Growth
- Navigating Leadership in Logistics
- The Art of Strategic Acquisitions
- Adapting to Change in Business
Sound Bites
"I've never been a CFO before."
"I was made the CEO in 2021."
"Being a CEO can be a bit lonely."
"We actually let some customers go."
"You can't just buy and forget about it."
"A CFO needs to think about risk."
"You need to have your finances in order."
"You have to be on the same page."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:58 Transition to CFO Role
05:55 Becoming CEO and Leadership Challenges
08:53 Acquisitions and Growth Strategy
20:43 Navigating Business Transitions
23:59 Preparing for Acquisition: Key Considerations
28:17 The Role of CFO in Growing Businesses
34:50 CEO and CFO: A Unified Vision for Success
39:31 Final Thoughts on Business Growth and Strategy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.