Masterclass Lessons: The Real Work of Leading in 2025

These weren’t panels with buzzwords and blue-sky thinking. They were gritty, real, and sometimes uncomfortably honest. And what came out of them was loud and clear:

Leading finance today isn’t just about change — it’s about surviving it, owning it, and doing it without losing yourself or your team along the way.

1. Leadership Burnout: The Cost of Carrying Too Much

Burnout doesn’t happen in a dramatic collapse. It happens in silence. In the “I’m fine” moments. In the CFO who hasn’t laughed in a month.

“I remember putting my hand on my heart mid-month-end and thinking, I can’t keep this up. That moment led to a stroke.”
— Nicky Marshall, Discover Your Bounce

This one hit home for a lot of us.

Burnout isn't just about long hours — it's about being expected to be the hero of transformation and the keeper of calm, all while carrying more weight than ever. The lesson? Wellbeing can’t be an afterthought. It has to be part of your leadership model.

2. AI: It’s Already Here, Quietly Reshaping Finance

If you’re still thinking of AI as something futuristic or experimental, you’ve missed the moment.

“The AI revolution isn’t ahead of us — it’s happening beneath us.”
— Giles Bonelli, See The Next Move

The real power of AI isn’t just automation. It’s the elevation of how we think and lead.

We heard stories of teams using AI not just to save time, but to think smarter: summarising insights, accelerating decisions, building capacity. The blockers? Not tech. Access and mindset.

AI isn’t something you prepare for — it’s something you start, right where you are.

3. Change Fatigue: People Don’t Hate Change — They Hate Uncertainty

Let’s be honest — the pace of transformation has been brutal. But the real killer isn’t change. It’s change with no clarity.

“If you don’t tell people when the change will end, it feels like it never will.”
— Bradley Channer, CFO, UBIO

Change fatigue is real, and most finance leaders are feeling it — in their teams, and in themselves. The fix? Involve people early. Communicate like crazy. Give them something to hold onto.

Change is emotional. So lead it like a human being, not just a strategist.

4. Authentic Leadership: Influence Starts with Integrity

This one got the room nodding: You can have the best data, the smartest strategy, and the sharpest model — but if people don’t trust you, it won’t land.

“Your credibility as a CFO doesn’t come from getting the numbers right. It comes from how you show up as a leader.”
— Ilana Esterrich, CFO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Authenticity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s your strategic edge. The CFOs who are leading real change are the ones leading with values, not just value.

What It All Adds Up To

These four sessions weren’t just great conversations. They were a call to action.

Here’s what we walked away with:

• Sustainable transformation starts with people, not processes.
• Emotional intelligence is a performance driver, not a soft skill.
• Clarity cuts through confusion — in change, in tech, in leadership

What’s Next?

🧠 If this stuff speaks to you, stay close. The GENCFO Academy (Nov 5–6) will dig even deeper.

💬 And if you’re tired of facing these challenges solo — don’t. Our community is where the future of finance gets built. Together. In real time.

Transformation is messy. Leadership is hard. Let’s do both — with honesty, courage and a little less burnout.