In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we were pleased to welcome Andrea Masnata, the Finance Director at OLX Group, which operates the world’s fastest-growing network of trading platforms. “Financial success doesn’t happen without mastery of your operations.” Andrea is well travelled, but has been settled in the “fantastic city” of Berlin for the past three years. From his home in Germany’s cultural capital, Andrea spoke to our Founder, Paul Toms, about the changing role of Finance in business and how he stays up to date with new technologies. Andrea explains how he’s seen the corporate world change before his eyes. When he started working, business still heavily relied on faxes. He’s witnessed the introduction of email, smart phones, online retailing, and now the development of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It’s a topic that Andrea loves talking about, as he’s “eager to learn something new every day”. He offers Paul some of his favourite reading material, as well as revealing which guests he’d like to listen to on a podcast – this is where Andrea shows his sensitive side. We also questioned Andrea about changes in the Finance department and how this is being affected by BI & Data. Alongside being key buzzwords nowadays, Andrea explains how Finance business partners are deeply important now. Not just focused on number crunching, Finance professionals today need to have a knowledge of how the business works and a full picture of success drivers, he says. Andrea uses Amazon as a great example of why money is just one side of the story. He tells Paul how Amazon was not significantly profitable in its first 15 years, but had a vision that was built into the strong foundations of the business. Now, we all know how profitable Amazon has been. In addition, Andrea is optimistic about emerging technologies. He describes the way that new technologies worry people and industries before they’re introduced, until we look back and see how the economy and societies have benefitted from them.  However, from a recruitment perspective, Andrea notes that technological skills can be taught, but it is hard to change someone’s behaviour and character. He’s insistent that strong values are the glue that keep people and organisations together – it’s an important note for those in the Financial recruitment field! We hope that you enjoy this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast and share it with anyone in your network that you think would benefit from the advice. Please use the timestamps below to help you find the section you’re looking for: 02:00 – How the world has changed and its impact on Finance06:02 – Andrea’s curiosity as a child07:10 – What Andrea reads every day09:03 – Andrea’s optimism over the COVID-19 pandemic10:22 – How Finance professionals should forecast14:22 – How to measure the success of a Finance department18:28 – What it means to be a Finance business partner23:08 – Emerging technologies and their impact on business32:19 – What Andrea finds important when recruiting37:12 – Who to connect with on LinkedIn40:55 – The book that has most inspired Andrea43:00 – Andrea’s ideal podcast guests45:57 – How to reach out to Andrea    If you’d like to reach out to Andrea, connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masnata We are proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with international medical charity Operation Smile. We hope that you can support this cause, by raising awareness or donating through this link: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by our Founder, Paul Toms, and Jenny Callum, Executive Recruiter and Senior Consultant.  You can find out more about us here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ And follow us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ To connect with Paul, follow this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea   If there are any questions or topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes, please get in touch through LinkedIn and we will look to help.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #andreamasnata #finance #berlin #operationsmile

EMEA Recruitment Podcast

EMEA Recruitment Podcast Episode #64 – Andrea Masnata

We were thrilled to be joined by Bianca Eder, the Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Upfield, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast. “My best moments are when I hired somebody and a year, two years down the road, you hear from everybody: ‘Wow, this person is so great!’” Austrian-born Bianca now resides in the Netherlands, where she’s been working from home (much like the rest of us) since March. We kicked off the episode by discussing Bianca’s slightly odd fascination with zombies – it’s safe to say that she’s ready for an apocalypse!  As someone that “loves” recruitment, we find out what it is about the industry that makes Bianca tick and why it’s much more than a sales job. She also explains why it’s so important to be transparent in an in-house role. For jobseekers struggling to stand out in the current market, Bianca offered some helpful advice on getting your foot in the door.  We spoke about what still needs to be done regarding Diversity & Inclusion in recruitment, with some thought-provoking words from Bianca, who is a gay woman. Reducing bias in interviews is something that will also form the future of recruitment, Paul and Bianca agree, while they both believe that old-fashioned recruiters will stand the test of technology – listen to the episode to find out why. We learned the things that Bianca has found most difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, but how brilliant 2020 has been for her career. Her pride at working for Upfield, the world’s largest plant-based food company, is something that she’s delighted to share with Paul. As someone who loves the role she’s in, we were interested to find out what Bianca would be doing if she wasn’t working in recruitment – it’s quite a difference! You can use the timestamps below to help you find the part of the episode that most interests you: 01:25 – Where Bianca is in the world02:16 – Bianca’s fascination with zombies04:17 – Why Bianca loves recruitment07:42 – The responsibility of dealing with people’s careers09:32 – The importance of transparency11:40 – What Bianca looks for when interviewing16:14 – How to stand out through an online application25:10 – Reducing bias in the recruitment process30:53 -  Is the role of the recruiter safe?33:34 – Being away from home during the pandemic36:57 – Bianca’s new role at Upfield39:24 – Is a plant-based diet the future?41:55 – What Bianca would be doing if she wasn’t a recruiter44:05 – How to reach out to Bianca    You can connect with Bianca on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancaeder/    We’d like to thank international medical charity Operation Smile for partnering with us on the EMEA Recruitment. You can learn more about the incredible work they do here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by our Founder, Paul Toms, and Associate Director, Jenny Callum. If you’d like to read more about our services, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/  Alternatively, you can follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/  If you’d like to connect with Paul, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/  Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/    To suggest any topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please reach out to us on LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #biancaeder #paultoms #recruitment #netherlands #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #76 - How Recruitment Brings Value to People & Companies – Bianca Eder

We were delighted to be joined by Patrick Speek, an Interim CFO/COO, on the EMEA Recruitment podcast recently. “It’s okay to be uncomfortable, because you’re learning when you’re uncomfortable.” Patrick has worked for a range of different companies, across many countries and even continents. His broad experience has left him with a good idea of what makes a strong Finance business partner. He explains to our Founder, Paul Toms, the rule he has for how much time a Finance professional should spend behind their desk – it may be less than you think! For those starting out in their Finance careers, Patrick believes that you only have to do one thing to start adding value to a business and be involved in conversations – listen to the episode below to find out his key piece of advice. If you’re a Finance leader, Patrick also offers his tips on motivating the teams that you manage to get the best out of them. This is something that he learned while working at GE as European Regional Controller. The company had a culture of rotational opportunities, which sometimes pushed employees out of their comfort zones. Patrick learnt to be uncomfortable. However, he also accepts that businesses need stability in their teams, so he looks for a mix of mindsets in who he hires. We discussed the most challenging point in Patrick’s career, when he worked in the Middle East. He explains the different business culture in the region to Paul, as well as revealing why someone kissing you is the biggest compliment! Patrick is open about his “deliberate choice” to move away from large corporates to small businesses and the opportunities that this has given him. For those aspiring to become CFOs, this is a section of the episode that you should listen to. Although Paul has known Patrick for a number of years, they rarely discuss the ways in which Patrick relaxes outside of work. Towards the end of the episode, we spoke about Patrick’s charity commitments and love of cycling. If you’d like to find out more about the project he’s currently involved in, click here: https://www.givengain.com/ap/patrick-speek-raising-funds-for-qhubeka-charity-23051/ We hope you enjoy this Finance episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast. Please feel free to share the link with anyone in your network that you think would enjoy Patrick and Paul’s discussion. The timestamps below will help you find the section of the podcast you’re most interested in: 02:05 – What makes a great Finance business partner05:14 – Why curiosity is the best skill you can have08:01 – Motivating your team to see themselves in the bigger picture10:19 – The culture of learning at GE15:22 – How to get people out of their comfort zone17:49 – Working in the Middle East21:07 – Making the move to smaller companies24:51 – Patrick’s charity work in Africa28:09 – Do you really need a work-life balance?34:10 – The best way to reach out to Patrick   To drop a note to Patrick on LinkedIn, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickspeek/   We’d like to thank our podcast partner, Operation Smile, for supporting us. We’re hoping to raise vital funds and awareness for the work that Operation Smile does around the world, providing life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. If you’d like to find out more and support this cause, please click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms and our Associate Director, Jenny Callum. To find out more about us, 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, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/  Or Jenny, at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/  #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #patrickspeek #paultoms #finance #operationsmile #qhubeka 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #75 - Why Curiosity is the Most Important Skill in Finance – Patrick Speek

Our first EMEA Recruitment podcast episode of 2021 welcomes Peter van der Putten, the Director, AI Solutions at Pega and Assistant Professor, AI at Leiden University in the Netherlands. “The irony of it is that AI sounds super high-tech, but on the flip side, it could help companies become more human.” Peter spoke to our Founder, Paul Toms, from his home in Amsterdam, which he agrees is a great place to work and live. He’s always worked in Artificial Intelligence (AI), having studied one of the first master’s degrees in the subject during the 1980s.  Peter’s fascination with AI goes beyond the technological aspects; he’s interested in finding the answers to questions that are centuries old, as well as how AI shines a light on human experiences and expectations. We discussed the influence that AI will have on companies and people in the future, as well as the greatest shift in technology that has made AI what it is today. Peter’s research in the field also stretches beyond AI and looks at the other unique human qualities that we could artificialize. Be sure to listen out for the study he managed on whether we can artificialize creativity!  It’s his work in AI research that enables Peter to think positively about the future of AI; he explains to Paul how our relationship is evolving and what we can do about the negative aspects of technology.  In terms of business, Peter is insistent that companies must consider whose benefit they are using technology for. In fact, he explains how this change in focus is affecting the type of roles that will deal with AI moving forward. We talked about how professionals taking their first steps into a career in AI or Business Intelligence & Data can stand out. Peter has some key advice for technologically-minded people who may be struggling in a business environment, as well as the best way for him to check out of his work.  We are proud to bring you this tech-focussed episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, looking at the future of AI and its effect on business. Be sure to check out our other episodes here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/podcasts To find the part of the episode that most interests you, use the timestamps below: 01:00 – Living in Amsterdam01:57 – How AI can humanise companies06:00 – Entering the puberty years of AI09:21 – Can we artificialize other human qualities?11:53 – Creating modern art with AI15:39 – The good and bad sides of AI22:40 – How to use AI in the right way30:22 – Why AI will shift into business roles33:42 – How to begin your career path in AI39:01 – The importance of developing your people skills43:20 – How Peter checks out from his work46:25 – How to connect to Peter   If you’d like to connect with Peter on LinkedIn, click here. You can also follow him on Twitter, using @PetervanderP To find out more about Pega, visit its website: https://www.pega.com/ To learn more about Peter’s research at Leiden University, click here.  Learn more about emotional, creative and even religious robots at Bots Like You.    We are proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with Operation Smile, an international medical charity. We want to raise more awareness and funds for the vital work that Operation Smile does in delivering life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. If you’d like to find out more, or to donate, please click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms and Jenny Callum, our Associate Director.  To find out more about us, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/  You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/  You can connect with Paul on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/  Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   Please share this episode with anyone that you think would find Peter’s unique insight into AI interesting.  #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #petervanderputten #paultoms #ai #operationsmile

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #74 - How AI can Humanise Companies – Peter van der Putten

EMEA Recruitment is proud to welcome not one, but two Indirect Tax leaders to the podcast – eBay’s Anitha Chakravarthi and Bart Caluwé, of Expedia. “Own who you are and bring that to the table.” Anitha is the Global Head of Indirect Tax at eBay, while Bart is Expedia’s Indirect Tax Director.  They spoke to our Founder, Paul Toms, at an incredibly anxious time; the USA was in the midst of the 2020 election and COVID-19 continued to take its toll on people’s lives. It’s been such a turbulent time that Anitha hopes 2021 is a little less exciting! Bart, too, joked that he’ll hide under a rock and keep working until this is all over. We kicked off the podcast by asking both Anitha and Bart about their experiences with Digital Services Tax – the new kid on the block in their industry. It’s something that both eBay and Expedia, as online marketplaces, must deal with. However, they both explain how their departments deal with the legislation differently. Anitha is positive about changes in the Tax sector, as it keeps her role interesting. Bart agrees that professionals must remain savvy to the new platforms in the Tax ecosystem. Due to the changing demands of the function, Bart discusses why Tax newbies should go down that route in the first place and the roles available. Anitha runs through the characteristics that she believes good Tax professionals need, especially those interested in Indirect Tax. We also found out Bart’s golden nugget of recruitment – it’s a top tip that any professional in any discipline can apply to the interview process! Although we tried not to focus too much on COVID-19 during the podcast, it’s difficult to have a conversation with anyone today without the coronavirus coming up. Paul asked both Anitha and Bart to explain how they’ve kept their teams motivated during the pandemic. As managers, they both have very human approaches, with positive outlooks for the future. Inevitably, the conversation also turned to women in Finance, which has become an increasing focus of companies’ Diversity & Inclusion agendas. Anitha has some inspiring words for all Finance professionals, but also offers advice for women in the industry. Bart echoes Anitha’s points, having worked with lots of women during his career in Tax.   We ended by asking Anitha and Bart for their dream podcast guests – while Bart sticks with Finance, Anitha’s are at the opposite end of the spectrum… Listen to the full episode below to find out who they’d most like to interview. We hope that you enjoy this special Indirect Tax episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast – please share it with anyone in your network that you think would benefit from Anitha and Bart’s advice. Use these helpful timestamps to find the section you’re most interested in: 02:20 – The new Digital Services Tax06:32 – New taxes and technology11:52 – Why to choose Tax15:31 – The characteristics that Anitha looks for in Tax professionals19:40 – Bart’s key piece of recruitment advice21:23 – Routes into the Tax industry28:50 – Keeping teams motivated during COVID-1933:03 – Moving forward in your career35:56 – Advice for women (and men) in Finance40:02 – Women at Expedia44:24 – Anitha’s dream podcast guests45:27 – Bart’s dream podcast guests46:55 – How to reach out to Anitha and Bart You can listen to the full episode here: Or at: If you’re prefer to watch the episode, you can view it below:   This Indirect Tax special of the EMEA Recruitment podcast is brought to you in partnership with Operation Smile. Our international charity partner provides life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. We’re hoping to raise vital funds and awareness for this cause, which is very close to Paul Toms’ heart. If you would like to find out more or donate, click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Jenny Callum, our Associate Director.  If you’d like to find out more about our services, visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ To connect with Paul, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/  Or Jenny, at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If there are any topics you’d like to hear more about on the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know through LinkedIn. #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #anitachakravarthi #bartcaluwé #paultoms #ebay #expedia #finance #operationsmile   

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #73 - An Indirect Tax Special – Anitha Chakravarthi & Bart Caluwé

We were honoured to welcome Shari Levitin to the EMEA Recruitment podcast. Shari is a passionate global sales leader and CEO of Levitin Group, which she founded in 1997.  “We want to do good at work, but there’s not a human being out there that doesn’t also want to have a fulfilled, happy life.” Shari spoke to Paul Toms, our Founder, as the cold season sets in at her home in Park City, Utah.  She explained the core skills needed to be a successful salesperson. Shari also described to Paul the turning point in her career, when she realised she needed to reprioritise her life. Although many of us hopefully won’t go through the tragic situation that transformed Shari’s life, she has some key advice for re-examining your priorities. It’s especially relevant considering the global pandemic that has shifted many people’s lives this year. Shari herself talks about how she has managed to help her customers and, at the same time, grow her business during this turbulent time. But Shari’s priorities stretch much further than business, and she details this to Paul with a fantastic system, which she calls the triangle of fulfilment. For anyone struggling with work-life balance, Shari recommends instead looking for work-life integration, and shares her tools for managing this. As Paul was keen to invite Shari onto the EMEA Recruitment podcast after reading her book, Heart and Sell, we also discussed how such a busy person got a book written and published to a tight deadline, all with four broken ribs! In fact, traditional skills of reading and writing are the key to empathy, which Shari believes is the very skill needed to sell. She has some interesting thoughts on social media and how to use it effectively, as well as the ways we can still share love virtually. Shari also shared with Paul some of her favourite inspirational quotes, and a heart-warming answer to the question of who she’d invite to her last supper.  We hope you enjoy this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, and find Shari’s words inspiring, whether you’re in the sales sector or not. The timestamps below can help you find the most relevant section of the episode: 01:12 – Living in Park City, Utah02:47 – The core of what is sales04:54 – The moment that transformed Shari’s life07:45 – How to re-examine your priorities11:54 – The key to being a successful salesperson13:53 – Achieving work-life integration20:03 – How to manage your energy24:32 – Self-regulating your use of social media30:50 – Shari’s favourite quotes32:40 – Who Shari would invite to her last supper34:19 – Putting the love into what you do, virtually38:12 – How to connect with Shari   If you would like to reach out to Shari, email her at shari@sharilevitin.com or visit her website: https://www.sharilevitin.com/   We are proud to be a partner of Operation Smile, which delivers life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. Operation Smile supports the EMEA Recruitment podcast, to raise awareness of the fantastic work they do. If you’d like to find out more or donate to this wonderful cause, click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Jenny Callum, Associate Director.  To read more about us, visit our website here: 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, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If there are any topics you’d like to hear covered in the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know via LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #sharilevitin #paultoms #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #72 - The Skills Needed to Sell – Shari Levitin

In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we were pleased to be joined by Rajiv Ramani, the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Luxasia in Singapore. “It takes ten years to build your own personal integrity, but it just takes ten seconds for all that to go away.” Rajiv spoke to Paul Toms, our Founder, in what has been an unusual year. He starts by sharing some advice on coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, both personally and professionally. In fact, Rajiv’s calm and results-focussed approach forms the foundations of this podcast episode. He explains the way he achieves a sense of buy-in from his team - with some strong sporting analogies – as well as the method he’s used for managing employees over the COVID-19 period.  Rajiv shares his core set of values and principles, which he applies to life both in the office and at home. But what do you do when you don’t meet eye-to-eye with certain people? Rajiv has some top advice for dealing with everyone from the CEO to frontline staff. We were inspired by Rajiv’s investment of time and effort into mentoring graduates, so asked him about why he took this step. Being so supportive of his team members and upcoming professionals is obviously time-consuming, but Rajiv explains how he manages to fit so much into his diary – and how he switches off at the end of the day. Rajiv also discussed the impact of Business Intelligence (BI) and Data on the Finance function of the future, insisting that it’s happening already.   He has a clear idea of how Finance will change in the next couple of years, but offers a word of caution on the information that we all share on the internet.  One thing that stands out speaking to Rajiv is his very calm and considered attitude. It’s something that he says he’s honed along the way, and would be earning mega-bucks if it was something he’d been born with!  We also found out what Rajiv has planned for the next few years and the way he begins each day – remember to share this episode with anyone that you think would benefit from Rajiv’s advice. You can use the timestamps below to find the part you’re looking for: 01:04 – How to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic03:05 – Rajiv’s key actions for a successful team06:46 – How Rajiv has managed his team during COVID-1908:48 – Being authentic in business11:07 – Rajiv’s set of values and principles14:58 – Why Rajiv mentors graduates20:18 – How Rajiv manages his diary23:02 – The impact of BI & Data on Finance27:52 – Dealing with the concerns of data31:30 – What Rajiv looks for in a business partner33:55 – How Rajiv stays calm and considered35:59 – Rajiv’s plans for the next few years38:10 – Climbing southeast Asia’s highest mountain41:08 – How Rajiv’s day begins44:22 – How to connect with Rajiv   If you’d like to connect with Rajiv on LinkedIn, click here. We’re proud to have partnered with international medical charity Operation Smile on the EMEA Recruitment podcast. We’re hoping to raise vital funds and awareness of the work they do in changing people’s lives. To find out more, or to donate, visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile    The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Jenny Callum, Associate Director.  You can find out more about us on our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ Alternatively, follow us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ If you’d like to connect with Paul, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   We’d love your feedback on the EMEA Recruitment podcast – please let us know of any topics you’d like us to cover in future episodes through LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #rajivramani #singapore #luxasia #finance #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #71 - The Importance of Integrity – Rajiv Ramani

We were proud to welcome Roberto Bollinetti, the Group CFO at AMC International, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast. “To learn from mistakes, we have to be so brave to make mistakes.” From his home in Switzerland, Roberto discussed the challenges he currently faces as a Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with our Founder, Paul Toms. He explains that, although cash is king more than ever now, his challenges are not only financial; coronavirus is changing our way of working, making communication and motivation even more important. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on his organisation, but it has proven how quickly the company can adapt. Roberto explains how AMC International had planned a digital transformation in two to three years’ time, but was forced to complete it in just three months. To Roberto, it proves how well human beings can get things done. He has some interesting advice on how to create strong teams, which can be applied to all functions of a business. Although he claims to have no recipe for staying focussed, Roberto explains to Paul how he keeps projects moving in the right direction. We also asked Roberto some slightly obscure questions, such as whether he could cut down to a four-hour work day and what he hopes is written on his epitaph! Regarding the Finance function specifically, Roberto explains how quickly Business Intelligence (BI) and Data is changing the role, and which direction he believes analysis is going in.  We also found out why Roberto thinks sports stars make such good mentors – listen to the episode to find out who he’s most inspired by. If you think that anyone in your network would benefit from this Finance podcast episode, please share it below. These timestamps will help you find the section you’re looking for: 01:40 – Current challenges for a Group CFO06:29 – Roberto’s key to success09:34 – How to get everyone on board12:26 – How Roberto stays focussed16:21 – How Roberto would prioritise a 4-hour work day22:50 – The impact of BI & Data on Finance27:00 – Finding an inspirational person31:34 – What Roberto wants written on his epitaph  This episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast is brought to you in partnership with Operation Smile, an international medical charity. We hope to raise vital funds and awareness of the work Operation Smile does to deliver life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. To find out more, or to donate, click here: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by Paul Toms, our Founder, and Jenny Callum, Associate Director.   To find out more about us, visit our website at: 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, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If you would like to suggest questions or topics for the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know via LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #robertobollinetti #switzerland #operationsmile  

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #70 - The Key to Success in Finance – Roberto Bollinetti

The EMEA Recruitment podcast was pleased to welcome Jean-Michel Deckers, who serves on the board of various entities, and advises them on governance processes and growth strategies.  “I’ve grown the most when I was confronted with my own limitations by management.” As a previous CFO, CEO and M&A professional, Jean-Michel also supports a portfolio of clients in the technology, life science, medical and cosmetic industries in their strategies, development and corporate Finance projects. Jean-Michel spoke to our Founder, Paul Toms, from his home office in Switzerland. He discussed the challenges and opportunities that he’s seen in different roles at various companies, and the biggest obstacle that he currently faces as a non-executive director.  Jean-Michel combines his various interests, particularly in technology and life sciences, in his current work and is committed to using technology to have a positive impact on people’s lives. It’s this passion that helps him bring different perspectives to business.  In fact, Jean-Michel explains the importance of using data correctly within the Finance function, as more and more data is available to companies.  His focus on providing meaningful results is something that he also applies to management, as he describes himself as “more a mentor than a manager”. Building for the long-term is also essential for retaining the best people, Jean-Michel believes.  During these current strange and sometimes difficult times, Jean-Michel offers his best advice for prioritising, working from home and preparation.  We also discussed who Jean-Michel has been mentored by in his own career and why he probably got more support than he deserved! We hope that you’re inspired by Jean-Michel’s commitment to enriching the use of data and guarding of the Finance function – please share this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast with anyone that you think would enjoy it. The timestamps below will help you find the section you’re looking for: 01:20 – Challenges and opportunities03:56 – How to draw the line as a non-executive director05:01 – Using tech to have a positive impact08:16 – Data as a key responsibility of the Finance function13:38 – Using data in a meaningful way19:20  – Jean-Michel’s projects for the next 12 months22:47 – Balancing people’s strengths and weaknesses26:35 – Retaining the best people27:40 – How to prioritise30:38 – The importance of exercise32:50 – Creating a culture of feedback40:13 – Jean-Michel’s mentors44:18 – How to reach out to Jean-Michel If you’d like to connect with Jean-Michel, visit his LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-michel-deckers/   We’d like to thank our charity partner, Operation Smile, for supporting the EMEA Recruitment podcast. We hope to raise valuable funds and awareness for the work this amazing charity does through our partnership. To find out more and to support this cause, visit: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   This Finance episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast was hosted by Paul Toms and Jenny Callum. If you’d like to find out more about EMEA Recruitment, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ To connect with Paul, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny, at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If you have any topics that you’d like covered in the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know via LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #jeanmicheldeckers #switzerland #finance #techology #data #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #69 - Using Data in a Meaningful Way - Jean-Michel Deckers

For this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we were joined by Karin Aalbertsen, the Head of Finance Benelux/Group Manufacturing Controller at CPG in the Netherlands. “Focus on the future and what you can do and what decisions you can take to change direction.” Karin discusses the lessons she’s learned as a woman in Finance with our Founder, Paul Toms. She believes that it’s okay that women and men think differently sometimes, but offers advice to other female professionals on understanding the industry. We also found out her top tip for all Finance professionals that Karin feels will boost your career.  Having progressed to the role of Finance Director, Karin has faced a wide range of challenges, which she discusses with Paul and explains how she manages them.  Working with her team is something incredibly important to Karin, who finds it more important to hire people with complementary personalities than focusing purely on skills.  We also found out how she almost didn’t make it to her job interview at Philips, the type of books she can’t get enough of and her two dream podcast guests.  For anyone currently entering or moving through the Finance industry, listen out for Karin’s advice on feeling happy with your career choices.  The timestamps below will help you find the section you’re looking for: 01:13 – Being a woman in a male-dominated environment03:52 – Karin’s personal strengths07:11 – Why Karin went into Finance08:56 – The challenges of being a Finance Director12:53 – Recruitment and retention in Finance17:11 – Why Karin almost missed her interview at Philips20:51 – The books Karin reads26:13 – Would Karin go down the same career path again?27:45 – Karin’s dream podcast guests30:50 – How to connect with Karin To connect with Karin via LinkedIn, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-aalbertsen-0b0885/   We are proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international medical charity that provides life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate conditions. To find out more or to support this cause, visit: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by our Founder, Paul Toms, and Associate Director, Jenny Callum.  You can find out more about EMEA Recruitment at: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ Or through our LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ To connect with Paul, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/  Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If there are any topics you’d like covered in future episodes of the podcast, please let us know through LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #karinaalbertsen #thenetherlands #finance #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #68 - Karin Aalbertsen

In this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, we were proud to be joined by a “living legend of recruitment”, Greg Savage. Greg is an advisor, consultant, investor, speaker and author in the recruitment industry.  “We have no control over coronavirus, but we do have control over our response.” Inevitably, the topic of conversation between Greg and our Founder, Paul Toms, turned to the COVID-19 pandemic. Greg has been advising his clients about taking advantage of the recovery period as it comes. Keeping a positive mental attitude is something that he believes leads to resilience.  In fact, since his career in recruitment started back in 1980, Greg hasn’t had a single conversation about a job in any other industry. But he does have a warning for recruiters of the future, as he believes some roles are under threat of automation. Greg reveals to Paul the skills that he thinks recruiters need to survive the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  He also explains why the recruitment sector is a fantastic career choice for women and other minority groups – it’s an empowering discussion! However, returning to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg feels that a lot of leaders were exposed in the first month or two. He runs through the six things that all great leaders, either in recruitment or not, need in the current situation. Of course, all leaders also need to switch off. Paul and Greg discuss the best practices for looking after yourself and being more productive.  Whether you’re an established recruiter, are new to the industry or are in another field entirely, Greg has some fantastic pieces of wisdom from his career in staffing and professional services. We hope that you enjoy this episode – if you think your network would benefit from Greg’s advice, please feel free to share it with them. These helpful timestamps will direct you to the section you’re looking for: 01:01 – What’s on Greg’s mind today02:49 – Being resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic09:15 – Why Greg has never considered leaving recruitment12:25 – The impact of automation on recruiters19:50 – The most important book for influencing people25:40 – Why recruitment is a win-win-win30:34 – Best practices for leaders40:08 – How Greg switches off46:17 – How to reach out to Greg   To check out Greg’s website, click here: https://gregsavage.com.au/   EMEA Recruitment is proud to bring you our podcast in partnership with Operation Smile, an international medical charity. We’re hoping to raise vital funds and awareness of the work that they do in providing life-changing surgery to children and adults with cleft lip and palate. To find out more, visit: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   This episode was hosted by Paul Toms, the Founder of EMEA Recruitment, and Jenny Callum, our Senior Consultant.  If you’d like to find out more about us, visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ To follow us on LinkedIn, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ You can also connect with Paul at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ And Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If there are any topics you’d like covered on the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know via LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #gregsavage #australia #recruitment #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #67 - Greg Savage

This episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast welcomes not one, but two guests – Jan Werkman and Jim Reinhardt, who are both Managing Partners of Reinhardt Werkman & Partners in Switzerland. “Being good at a time is not being good over time.” Together, Jan and Jim have 50 years’ collective experience in Finance. Although they ended up in the same place, they tell two very different stories. Jim explains how he left his hometown of Nebraska to work for General Electric in the 1980s, before moving around in different business units – always in Finance – to see a lot of the USA. He took a chance on a project that led him to Australia, and also enabled him to see a “huge chunk” of Asia.  This is when Jim met his Swiss partner, who he married and started a family with. They then moved to Switzerland, where he’s been ever since.  Jan, on the other hand, was born, raised and educated in the Netherlands, where he studied Economics. He was attracted by taxation and fiscal economics, so started his career in tax. Jan followed his then girlfriend, now wife, to Brussels, before taking an opportunity to move to Switzerland.  Their wives were the reason that Jim and Jan met in the first place. They were good friends who introduced Jim and Jan to one another. When they both decided to start a business, they knew they didn’t want to do it alone.  Although they had different cultural experiences, they saw this as a benefit. With a common background in Finance, they were able to define their target market and work through challenges together. They discuss with Paul how their business has been affected by COVID-19, alongside being in the midst of a digital transformation.  We speak about the move within the Finance sector to business partnering and its potential longevity within the industry. Both Jan and Jim are also passionate about continued education for Finance professionals and who’s pushed them to be better in their disciplines. Paul gets into the nitty gritty of whose surname they decided would come first in their business name, ands decides who has the most inspirational quote to end the episode on. We hope you find this episode about two Finance professionals setting up their own business interesting – please share with anyone in your network who you think would enjoy it. These timestamps will help you find the part of the episode you’re looking for: 02:09 – Jim’s journey through Finance05:16 – Jan’s background in tax07:32 – Deciding to start a business together09:34 – The challenges and learning curves they’ve faced17:43 – How COVID-19 has affected the Swiss market22:40 – Moving towards a data driven society25:44 – Business partnering in Finance28:47 – Why reading is so important32:16 – The time, place and culture that formed Jim38:00 – Jan’s greatest influences39:50 – The importance of trust42:30 – Deciding whose surname came first44:06 – Advice for those thinking of starting a business48:45 – The company’s mission statement52:16 – Jim and Jan’s ideal podcast guests55:30 – Inspirational quotes 56:58 – How to reach out to Jim and Jan You can find out more about Reinhardt Werkman & Partners here: https://rwpartners.ch/   We’re proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with international medical charity Operation Smile. To support this incredible cause, please follow this link: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   This latest Finance podcast episode was hosted by Paul Toms and Jenny Callum, Executive Recruiter and Senior Consultant.  To find out more about us, visit: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ Or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ To connect with Paul, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ And Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea   If there are any questions or topics you’d like to learn more about in future episodes of the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know via LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #janwerkman #jimreinhardt #switzerland #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast #66 - Jan Werkman & Jim Reinhardt

EMEA Recruitment was delighted to welcome Tjeerd van der Meulen, the Director Supply Chain Management at UPC Switzerland, to the podcast. “Mistakes are absolutely okay, because it’s the best learning opportunity that you have.” Tjeerd spoke to Paul Toms, our Founder, from his home in Switzerland, where he’s lived for 20 years.  For those who’ve moved for work or are thinking of moving abroad, Tjeerd describes the cycle of underestimating the complexity of a move, to feeling at home in a new country, to finally feeling comfortable enough to do a good job.  Tjeerd is insistent that those who move to new environments should make an effort to understand the culture and people, which creates an open exchange with your surroundings.  Tjeerd believes there is always an element of coincidence when choosing your career, but he also feels that you have a choice. In the Supply Chain sector, expectations on the market are currently extremely high, but the digitisation of the industry is enabling Tjeerd to help customers as much as possible. He’s always kept his eyes open for new opportunities, which Tjeerd says has served him really well. His positive, proactive mindset has also helped him take new steps. When looking back at his early career, Tjeerd finds that aiming for perfectionism is dangerous, so he applies this to recruitment. In a time when the Supply Chain function is changing, he doesn’t feel that you can ever find the perfect match, so suggests seeking someone who can grow with the job. However, something that he is always mindful of is the work-life balance. Tjeerd achieves this mainly through running an NGO with his wife, which they founded in 2011.  Nevandra – Association for Human Rights operates an orphanage in India, to support around 20 girls with nutrition and education. Tjeerd hopes to give them opportunities to advance in life, but it also provides balance in his career.  To find out more about the organisation, click here: www.nevandra.ch If you think this Supply Chain podcast episode may be interesting to your network, please share it. You can use the timestamps below to find the section you’re looking for: 01:45 – Why Tjeerd chose Supply Chain03:02 – Digitisation of Supply Chain04:15 – Finding new opportunities05:25 – Having a positive mindset06:37 – The cycle of moving to a new country08:03 – The mistakes Tjeerd’s made when moving abroad09:37 – The key lessons Tjeerd’s learned as a Supply Chain professional11:22 – Recruitment and retention in Supply Chain14:08 – How the Supply Chain function has changed17:06 – Being mindful of a work-life balance19:00 – Founding an NGO with his wife24:10 – Advice Tjeerd would give his younger self26:27 – More information about Nevandra33:07 – How to connect with Tjeerd   You can find Tjeerd on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjeerd-jeff-van-der-meulen-9a07786/   We are proud to bring you the EMEA Recruitment podcast in partnership with international medical charity Operation Smile. To find out more and to donate, visit: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/operation-smile   This episode was hosted by the Founder of EMEA Recruitment, Paul Toms, and Jenny Callum, our Senior Consultant. If you’d like to find out more about us, visit our website at: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ To connect with Paul on LinkedIn, click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If you’re interested in hearing about particular topics on the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please let us know via LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #tjeerdvandermeulen #upc #switzerland #operationsmile #nevandra

EMEA Recruitment Podcast Episode #65 - Tjeerd van der Meulen

We were proud to welcome Adri Simamora, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nordics at Sandoz and Country CFO Denmark at Novartis, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast.  “Hopefully, the world will become better with this pipeline of new leaders.” Indonesian-born Adri has lived in the Netherlands since 2013. He tells our Founder, Paul Toms, about the values he’s drawn to in the country: being independent and open-minded, and consensus-based decision making. It’s something he finds particularly important in the current world. Adri explains the value in broadening your point of view and ensuring that each party – be that in government, society or business – supports an idea.  Looking towards the future, Adri understands that the Finance function is changing. He told us about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Business Intelligence (BI) & Data will transform the Finance & Accountancy role. If you’re a Finance professional, it may be wise to listen to Adri’s advice on moving from technical aspects of the job to more abstract thinking in the future.  His focus on playing your strength and stretch is also a helpful piece of advice for all business professionals out there – be sure to take this on board.  Adri is confident that the pipeline of new leaders will make the world a better place, in tandem with a more interconnected world. In fact, having personal exposure internationally is something that he believes will help future leaders have “a more balanced view of business, a more balanced view of society and, hopefully, equip them to become a better leader”.  Although he doesn’t have much downtime, Adri told Paul about how he clears his mind and relaxes after a long day in the office.  He also offers up the best piece of advice he’s ever been given and reveals his two dream podcast guests – I think we can all agree that that would be an interesting episode!  Use the helpful timestamps below to listen to advice from CFO Adri Simamora:  01:28 - What Adri loves about being in the Netherlands/consensus decision making 03:00 - How the consensus model of decision making works 05:30 - How Adri manages time/importance of prioritising and stretching yourself/playing to strengths 08:40 - Adri’s biggest influencers and what he’s learnt from them 12:20 - Future of Finance function/BI & Data/abstract thinking 15:35 - Biggest challenges in finding talent/importance of culture fit  19:35 - How Adri retains the best talent/exposure to other parts of business & enriching knowledge 23:00 - How hyper-connectedness improves the world 24:45 – Downtime: How sports help Adri clear his mind 27:00 - The best piece of advice Adri was ever given 30:00 - Who would read Adri’s life story? 32:50 - Adri’s ideal podcast guests and what would he ask them 36:15 - How to connect with Adri   Please share this episode of the EMEA Recruitment podcast with any Finance professionals that you think would benefit from Adri’s advice.   If you’d like to reach out to Adri, connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrisimamora/   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is hosted by the Founder of EMEA, Paul Toms, and Executive Recruiter and Senior Consultant, Jenny Callum. To find out more about EMEA Recruitment, visit: https://emearecruitment.eu Follow EMEA Recruitment on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ Or connect with Paul on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/ Or Jenny here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea   If you have any questions or topics you would like EMEA Recruitment to cover in our podcast in the future, please send us a message on LinkedIn and we will look to help as much as possible.   #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #adrisimamora #finance #netherlands #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast - Episode #63 – Try to Think More Abstract - Adri Simamora

A Role Model for Women in Finance We were delighted to welcome Nadine Gruber, the CFO of Business Unit Industry at Georg Fischer in Switzerland, to the EMEA Recruitment podcast.  “It will not change if women are not willing to fight.”  Nadine spoke to our Founder, Paul Toms, about her progression with Georg Fischer, from a Divisional Controller, to the Head of Division Controlling, then onto becoming the interim CFO of her division. She is now the CFO of the most profitable business unit at the company.  It was during this latest role that Nadine realised she’s now a role model for women in Finance. But she’s still had her doubts; leading such a company is certainly a big task, but Nadine was fortunate to have the support of her colleagues and management at Georg Fischer.  Her positive approach is also inspiring to all women in Finance roles or education. Nadine chooses to see the chances available to her, rather than the risks and challenges, and tries to bring herself in the organisation.  Although Finance and Manufacturing are typically male-dominated, Nadine believes that she can change the world and the perception of the women around her. While it might be a slow process, she’s confident that women can go out there and show the world that it cannot cope without strong women.  Nadine spoke to us before the birth of her first child, which will present new challenges when it comes to finding the perfect work-life balance. But, with a fantastic mentor at Georg Fischer, Nadine feels she has a deep understanding of the underlying concept of the company. We also spoke to her about the next destination on her bucket list – take a listen to the podcast episode to find out! We hope that women and men alike find inspiration from Nadine – please remember to share this episode with your Finance network. Use the timestamps below to find the section you’re looking for: 01:20 – Gaining practical experience in Finance04:52 – Career progression at Georg Fischer07:07 – Trusting yourself to take on a new role10:33 – The 2 things that motivate Nadine12:51 – Being a role model for young women16:50 – Why 2019 was a big year for Nadine19:28 – Nadine’s mentor21:32 – The new challenge of motherhood23:30 – Where Nadine wants to travel to26:00 – How to connect with Nadine  You can connect with Nadine on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-gruber-0551a3128/   The EMEA Recruitment podcast is brought to you in partnership with international medical charity Operation Smile.  This episode was hosted by Paul Toms, the Founder of EMEA Recruitment, and Jenny Callum, our Senior Consultant.  To find out more about us, please visit our website: https://www.emearecruitment.eu/ You can follow us on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emea-recruitment-limited/ Connect with Paul at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultoms/  Or Jenny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/   If you’d like us to cover any particular topics in the EMEA Recruitment podcast, please contact us on LinkedIn.    #emearecruitment #emearecruitmentpodcast #nadinegruber #finance #switzerland #georgfischer #operationsmile 

EMEA Recruitment Podcast Episode #62 – Nadine Gruber

Covering all elements of the recruitment cycle for both job seekers and hirers. The EMEA Recruitment Podcast with Paul Toms and Jenny Callum will take you through every aspect of recruitment. Looking at both sides of the process, Paul and Jenny will be offering career-changing advice to the job-seeker and essential exposure to recruitment ‘best practice’ for the hiring employer, giving each party an insight and understanding into the perspective of the other. This podcast is brought to you by EMEA - At EMEA Recruitment we are specialists in Finance, HR, Procurement, Supply Chain and Operations Recruitment at Middle-Management to Executive levels across Switzerland, The Netherlands and the wider EMEA & US region. With offices in Zug, Amsterdam and Nottingham our consultants are well networked and can offer knowledgeable advice within these regions. The podcast is hosted by founder of EMEA; Paul Toms and Executive Recruiter and Recruitment Marketing Specialist; Jenny Callum. To find out more about EMEA recruitment visit https://emearecruitment.eu/, follow EMEA Recruitment on LinkedIn or connect with Paul on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultomsemea/ or Jenny at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycallumemea/

hubhopper

EMEA Recruitment Podcast Episode #64 – Andrea Masnata

hubhopper