In this episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide podcast, Lauren Eyles discusses finance fundamentals with Belinda Turner, an experienced chartered accountant. They explore the importance of understanding financial statements, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to grasp financial concepts to make informed decisions and drive organizational success. They also discuss the role of technology in finance, the significance of identifying business drivers, and the importance of soft skills in leadership. Belinda shares her career journey and offers valuable advice for women in leadership roles.

Takeaways

• Leaders must understand financial statements to make informed decisions.
• Financial statements tell a story about the organization's performance.
• Profit and loss statements show income and expenses over a specific period.
• The balance sheet provides a snapshot of assets and liabilities.
• Cash flow statements track money movement in and out of the organization.
• Identifying business drivers is crucial for strategic planning.
• Technology can enhance financial reporting and decision-making.
• Soft skills are essential for effective leadership in finance.
• Regularly assess personal values and career goals.
• Growth opportunities often arise from aligning work with personal interests.

Sound bites

• "The numbers tell us a story."
• "Cash is king."
• "Check in on what you enjoy and value in work."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Finance Fundamentals

04:38 Understanding the Importance of Financial Literacy for Leaders

11:13 Key Financial Metrics Every Leader Should Know

15:53 Decoding Financial Statements: Profit and Loss

19:32 Analyzing the Balance Sheet

22:28 Cash Flow Management: The Lifeblood of Business

27:12 Leveraging Technology for Financial Insights

32:28 Empowering Leaders: The Role of Finance in Decision Making

36:42 Soft Skills in Finance: The Human Element

38:28 Aligning Career Values with Professional Growth

Guest bio

Belinda Turner is an experienced Chartered Accountant, who has guided small and large businesses in accounting, compliance and internal processes.

Belinda is a trusted advisor for Boards, CEOs and Finance Teams across Australia and is currently a Senior Manager with RSM Australia on the NSW Central Coast.

With Belinda’s extensive experience, she is well-placed to advise small to large businesses and their accounting practices, compliance issues, special projects and internal processes.

Belinda holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle and a Post Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (now known as Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand).

You can connect with Belinda at RSM or on LinkedIn.

Host bio

Lauren Eyles, Producer and Host of the Female Executive’s Survival Guide, is a trusted guide to new and experienced leaders, helping them navigate times of growth and change.

She loves helping leaders find calm amid chaos, using her extensive experience as a Coach and Mentor, Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader.

Lauren started this podcast to support and inspire women in their first few years of executive leadership, as she found that being the only woman on the senior leadership team was a bit lonely.

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an MBA (Distinction), a Master of Sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Lauren would love to hear what you think of the podcast and what topics you'd like her to cover next. Please reach out via LinkedIn or Instagram.

Keywords

finance fundamentals, financial statements, profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, business drivers, technology in finance, leadership, executive coaching, women in leadership

Are you a female leader looking to understand and leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your business? In this insightful episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide, host Lauren Eyles speaks with AI expert Leanne Shelton about the transformative impact of AI on leadership and business practices.

Lauren and Leanne demystify AI, discussing how you can use it to boost your team's productivity without sacrificing the vital human connection. They share practical advice on integrating AI into your team, establishing clear AI policies, and using effective prompting to train AI to align with your company's values and brand voice.

Discover why embracing AI is a competitive advantage and learn how to get started without feeling overwhelmed. This conversation is your guide to leading a tech-forward team while prioritizing ethics, privacy, and human relationships in the age of AI.

Key Discussion Points

• AI's Impact on Leadership: How AI is changing the roles and responsibilities of modern leaders.

• Getting Started with AI: Simple, actionable steps for integrating tools like ChatGPT or Copilot into your workflow.

• The Importance of Human Connection: Strategies to ensure that technology enhances, rather than diminishes, human relationships in the workplace.

• AI Policies & Best Practices: Why transparency, privacy, and clear guidelines are essential for successful AI adoption.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Leadership

01:25 Embracing AI as a Competitive Advantage

04:19 Navigating AI's Impact on Business Strategy

06:15 Creating a Healthy Work Culture with AI

09:01 Establishing AI Policies for Transparency

12:11 Leveraging AI for Business Growth

15:57 Training AI for Optimal Performance

20:09 Ensuring Privacy and Confidentiality with AI

20:34 Navigating AI and Data Privacy

22:47 Effective Onboarding with AI

25:47 Streamlining Content Creation

27:25 Choosing the Right AI Tools

30:17 Leadership Insights and AI Integration

Bio: Leanne Shelton

Leanne Shelton is a global AI coach who demystifies AI for leaders and their teams.

Like many people in the creative industries, Leanne’s business was impacted by the arrival of Chat GPT.

Rather than lean into the fear of being replaced, she decided to embrace AI as a competitive advantage.

Leanne recently published a book, ‘AI Human Fusion’, to help leaders master AI for business growth, without losing their human connection.

You can connect with Leanne via her website, LinkedIn or Instagram. Her book, AI Human Fusion, is available online from leading retailers.

Bio: Lauren Eyles

Lauren Eyles, Producer and Host of the Female Executive’s Survival Guide, inspires and supports women to thrive in leadership.

As an Executive Coach and Mentor she is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change.

She loves helping leaders find calm amid chaos, using her extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader.

Lauren started this podcast to support and inspire women in their first few years of executive leadership, as she found that being the only woman on the senior leadership team was a bit lonely.

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an MBA (Distinction), a Master of Sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Lauren would love to hear what you think of the podcast and what topics you'd like her to cover next. Please reach out via LinkedIn or Instagram.

Keywords

• AI for Business

• AI in Leadership

• Artificial Intelligence

• Female Leaders

• AI Strategy

• Productivity Tools

• Leanne Shelton

• Lauren Eyles

• Future of Work

• Workplace Technology

Considering a career in politics but don't know where to start? In this insightful episode of the Female Executive Survival Guide, host Lauren Eyles speaks with Licia Heath, CEO of Women for Election, about the essential steps and mindset for aspiring female politicians. They dive deep into the journey of running for office, revealing what's involved, dispelling myths and highlighting transferrable skills.

Licia, a former candidate herself, shares invaluable advice on how to get started in politics and why "running is winning." They discuss the increasing trend of female candidates attracting more votes, the importance of recognizing your transferable skills, and why your lived experience is your greatest asset. If you've ever wondered how to transition from community involvement to public office, or whether you have what it takes to change the world, this episode is your roadmap.

Key Discussion Points

• The Path to Politics: Licia demystifies the process of running for office and how to get started, from local to federal government.

• Transferable Skills for a Political Career: Learn to recognize and leverage the skills you already have, from your career to your community involvement, to build a powerful political profile.

• The Reality of Political Life: A candid conversation about the personal costs and benefits of a life in public service.

• Overcoming Systemic Barriers: Insights into the trends in women's political representation and the systemic challenges that still exist.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Politics and Women in Leadership

02:55 The Journey of Running for Office

05:44 Trends in Women's Political Representation

08:21 Cultural Diversity and Systemic Barriers

11:28 Visibility and Personal Costs in Politics

14:13 Getting Started in Politics

16:54 Recognizing Transferable Skills

19:41 Encouragement for Aspiring Politicians

Bio: Licia Heath

Licia Heath is the CEO of the non-profit organisation, Women for Election, a non-partisan group committed to getting more women in public office at all levels of Australian government.

A self-professed “Queen Maker”, Licia and her team mentored 46 candidates in the recent Federal Election, across 11 parties, and 8 were elected or re-elected.

Licia has a unique perspective, having run as an independent candidate in the 2018 Wentworth by-election and she currently leads a community campaign for a new public high school in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

For two decades she has worked in finance and asset management in the UK and Australia, and helped establish a $5 billion asset management business, Ironbark Asset Management.

You can connect with Licia via the Women for Election website or LinkedIn.

Bio: Lauren Eyles

Lauren Eyles, Producer and Host of the Female Executive’s Survival Guide, inspires and supports women to thrive in leadership.

As an Executive Coach and Mentor she is a trusted guide to new and experienced Executives, helping them navigate times of growth and change.

She loves helping leaders find calm amid chaos, using her extensive experience as a Board Chair, Non Executive Director and Executive Leader.

Lauren started this podcast to support and inspire women in their first few years of executive leadership, as she found that being the only woman on the senior leadership team was a bit lonely.

Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has an MBA (Distinction), a Master of Sustainability and qualifications in coaching, change management, communication and project management.

Lauren would love to hear what you think of the podcast and what topics you'd like her to cover next. Please reach out via LinkedIn or Instagram.

Keywords

• Women in Politics

• Female Political Candidates

• Run for Office

• Licia Heath

• Women for Election

• Political Career

• Leadership Skills

• Transferable Skills

• Gender Equality in Politics

• Public Service

• Lauren Eyles