In an age where volatility is not the exception but the norm, CFOs are being called upon to lead with strategic clarity and operational resilience. At a recent India CFO Forum session in Delhi, two seasoned leaders – Dev Tripathy, CFO of Philips (Indian Subcontinent) and Amit Agarwal, Executive Director and Group CFO of DCM Shriram – unpacked the practical imperatives of risk readiness. Their message was unequivocal: the CFO’s role must expand beyond compliance and control to one of co-piloting the business through systemic uncertainty, technological upheaval and regulatory flux. With the right frameworks, mindset and agility, today’s Finance leaders can not only mitigate risks but turn them into levers of sustainable growth.

The attached podcast summarises these discussions, but in brief:

• In a world marked by systemic volatility, deglobalisation and shifting consumer dynamics, the CFO’s role is evolving rapidly 
• A risk-ready CFO is no longer just a financial gatekeeper but a co-pilot tasked withsafeguarding value, enabling agility and building stakeholder confidence.
• Leading CFOs are deploying structured yet flexible mechanisms to absorb shocks and enable sustained growth.
• As financial and non-financial risks converge, CFOs must reorient toward business-first risk framing, particularly in innovation, reputational exposure and global supply chains.
• AI and digital tools are enhancing visibility and foresight, but CFOs must balance technological optimism with operational realism.
• In an era where the speed of change outpaces strategy, the modern CFO’s mandate is to respond with structured responsiveness and resilient design.