The Treasury Talent Podcast

In this episode, Karen Kearney joins us to talk about her experience as Treasurer in one of the largest research and development universities in the world, Stanford University. We talk about her career, its highlights, best lessons, and so much more.

In this episode we discuss:

• The story of how Karen came to work in the field of Treasury.
• Karen shares highlights in her career.
• How the university works as a business.
• Her experience on her move from the UK to the US from a working perspective.
• Karen's approach to networking throughout her journey.
• The role of mentors in her career.
• Best piece of advice she has learned.
• What she looks for in hiring team members.
• Characteristics that make a successful treasurer.
• The role of the treasurer as technology changes.

Treasurer of Horizon Blue Cross Shield of New Jersey, Frank Melaccio, joins us today to talk about Treasury and what's been going on in their company during this COVID pandemic. Frank is responsible for managing their organization's investment portfolio, liquidity, insurance risk, supplier procurement, and supplier risk.

In this episode we discuss:

• Frank updates us on his role over the last 2 years.
• How his team has coped over the COVID-19 lockdowns.
• Their policies on remote working moving forward.
• His approach to networking during this time.
• Their process of hiring and onboarding remotely.
• Keys to a successful treasurer.

Tim Murphy, Head of Finance Operations, Real Estate & Treasurer at Square, joins us in this episode to talk about running treasury virtually during this pandemic and how they're approaching it at Square. Square has gone through a lot of changes during the pandemic and has flourished over that time. And today, we're going to hear updates on what's been going on with them.

In this episode we discuss:

• Tim tells us about his role at Square.
• Highlights that have happened at Square since the pandemic.
• Square starting to work offsite over the last year.
• How Treasury has changed over working remotely.
• Onboarding of new staff remotely.
• His approach to networking over the lockdown period and it will look moving forward.
• Their virtual hiring and recruitment process.
• Technology and process improvement in Square's treasury.
• Keys for a successful treasurer.

Helen Kane, Managing Director of Hedge Trackers, joins us in this interesting episode to talk about her woman-led and managed business which she uniquely set up 21 years ago.

She also gives us an update on how things have changed within her world and in treasury during this COVID pandemic.

In this episode we discuss:

• The story of how she set up her consulting firm 21 years ago and how it has been so topical in 2021.
• Changes that Hedge Trackers has gone through over the last 2 years.
• The state of Treasury during COVID.
• Her approach to networking during this pandemic.
• Advantages of flexible work options.
• The role of the treasurer and being successful amidst COVID and lockdowns.

In this episode, Michael Braude joins us to share his regular monthly forecasts for treasurers. There's a lot happening and he shares his thoughts and knowledge on the RBA, Australian dollar, bond yields, and what treasurers should keep their eyes on in the coming months.

In this episode we discuss:

• Michael's thoughts on RBA changes.
• The state of the Australian Dollar.
• Talking about the current bond yields.
• What treasurers should keep their eyes on in the coming months.

In this episode, Christianne Curran, Assistant Treasurer at Black Hills Corporation, joins me to talk about her treasury career and great advice and tips for newbies in the industry.

Christianne started her career in Treasury as a Senior Financial Analyst in 1999. After which she joined different companies in different industries such as Bell South Corp, Oncor Electric Delivery, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Lamb Weston holding various positions in Treasury and Finance. In 2017, she joined Black Hills Corporation in her current position.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Christianne came to Treasury and why she chose this career.
• Career highlights throughout her journey.
• How Treasury stands out among the different industries she's been in.
• Christianne's approach to networking and her advice around the subject.
• The role of mentors in her career.
• The best advice she wants to pass on to listeners.
• What makes a successful treasurer.
• The treasurer's role alongside technological advancement.

In this episode, I am joined by Matthew Brill, Vice President for Treasury at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield since 2020. He started his career in accounting at KPMG in the year 1995. After which, he moved to General Motors as a manager in a rotational program for 5 years. He then worked for Healthpeak for 12 years where he built his career as Treasurer of the company. Matt shares his own experience, journey, and gives advice for up and coming treasurers in the industry.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Matt came to and why he chose treasury as a career.
• The highlights of his career.
• Sharing his Treasury experience at Healthpeak for 12 years.
• Matt's thoughts on networking.
• How having mentors can help your career.
• The best advice he wants to pass on to listeners.
• Characteristics he looks for in hiring team members.
• How the role of the treasurer will change along with technological advancement.

In this episode, I am joined by Alice Xu, Treasurer at Workday. Alice 15-year treasury career started at Cisco in 1996 as Treasury Analyst. From there she moved to Mattson Technology and then AMD as treasury manager. In 2012, she joined Workday in 2012 as Sr. Treasury Manager and has since moved up to the role of Treasurer since 2018.

In this episode we discuss:

• The story of what made Alice come to treasury and choose this career.
• Top highlights in Alice's career.
• Using networking in her roles.
• Having informal mentors throughout her career.
• One piece of advice that she wants to share to listeners.
• Characteristics she looks for in the people she is recruiting people for her team.
• What makes a successful treasurer.

In this episode, I am joined by Dushyant Abhyankar, Vice President & Treasurer at the Cross River Bank. He started his professional career in accounting and came into treasury 9 years ago at Metlife, a company he previously worked for. We talk about career development, hiring, success, advice for listeners, technology's effect on treasurers, and so much more.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Dushyant came to and why he chose treasury as a career.
• Sharing his career highlights.
• Cross River Bank's experience during the COVID pandemic.
• How networking and having mentors have been a part of his career development.
• One piece of advice the wants to share to the listeners.
• Key things he looks for when hiring.
• What makes a successful treasurer.
• How the role of the treasurer will change with technology advancement.

Today I am joined on the podcast by Odette Go. She is the Vice President and Treasurer at Lam Research. We met a couple of years ago at a conference and I wanted her to come on the podcast because she's got a great background within the tech space in Silicon Valley before starting her career within the banking sector.

In this episode we discuss:

• What made Odette choose treasury as a career
• The highlights of her career
• The transition from banking to corporate treasury
• Mentors' part in her career development
• Her approach to networking
• One thing she wishes she had known back then that she knows now
• Key things she looks for when hiring
• What makes a successful treasurer in the eyes of the C-suite
• How is the role of treasury changing with the advancement of technology in her perspective