Page 10 - KZN Business Sense-Vol6 No5

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP: A CRITICAL SKILL

Coffee with Grant, Rowan De Klerk, in business as well as some of change and have needed to shift
Chief Executive Officer, The FD Centre the knocks. Generally, these focus to online trading to survive
businesses are now ready for ‘scale – however the change in market
hen was The FD up’ or entering a ‘restructuring trends were there before Covid.
Centre started and phase’ – or some other big change Many industries won’t go back to
Wwhat services does it has happened, and they need the way they operated before.
provide? stronger financial acumen in the Everyone has been forced to look
business.
The FD Centre South Africa, long and hard at their business
which is part of an international Why should businesses use models and understand how their
consultancy, was started 10 years CFOs? industry and value chain has been
ago in 2010. Since then the firm Finances are key to the future affected. It always starts with a big
has flourished and grown to of driving the organisation. picture – what is going on in the
become the market leader for The CFO is integral as he or economy, what is going on in my
outsourced finance directors’ and she is giving advice and acting industry and how does that effect
chief financial officers’ services in as a sounding board for the my business?
South Africa and globally. CEO, as such the CFO needs What interventions have you
to have other advisors or implemented?
What is the CFO role in objective viewpoints that they Rowan De Klerk, Chief Executive Officer, The FD Centre South Africa
business today? are receiving, from the outside, We have put together a
The CFO role is no longer from organisations like The FD programme called survive, for a business to have a strategic important for the future success
revive, and thrive again. In the
number crunching and Centre. Because we have a range beginning of Covid it was about focus, this is where the CFO can of your business. My sense is that
producing spreadsheets. of clients across a wide array survival and how do we protect help build a road map including we are going to emerge from this
Nowadays a lot of that role is of industries and focused on cash in the devastation caused considering future scenarios. Only as a changed society; one that is
done for us through computer different parts of the value chain to the economy. The second having an operational focus won’t more about collaboration and
programmes, which will get within a particular industry, we part is more about rethinking sustain or grow your business co-dependency as we journey
more efficient as time goes on. are better equipped to observe your organisation and what you significantly, more especially forward. 
The CFO’s role is to distil that the bigger picture. As a result, need to do to adapt or ‘pivot’ during Covid times.
information and look at what’s we are able to draw from a deep your organisation in a different What are some specific actions For more information contact
pool of knowledge and practical
critical for the organisation experience, when we do give direction if required. businesses can implement to be Rowan De Klerk,
to help management to make sustainable? The FD Centre South Africa,
decisions about the future. It’s advice. We have a presence in A big part of this process is The future is uncertain, but it M: +27 (0) 82 901 7633
E: rowan.deklerk@fdcentre.co.za
twenty countries around the
about leadership – helping the world, which enables us to draw simply listening to your customer is about consolidating where you W: www.fdcentre.co.za
organisation’s exco understand on both international and local and observing how their needs are and looking after your people
what the numbers actually experience to provide the right may have changed, and if so, then – that is paramount. A business
mean and how to interpret the insight and foresight for our shifting your product or service is not just comprised of its assets
numbers as a road map going clients. in the right direction to more – it’s the people and empathy
forward and which routes to appropriately meet those needs. for your people that is key to
follow. What are some of the challenges The last part is thriving again, driving the business forward.
faced by businesses in response becoming future proofed so that And of course, looking after the
Who would a typical client be? to the Covid pandemic? your business can be sustainable. fundamentals – strong financial SCAN
Typical clients are entrepreneurs Currently we are in a time of We have developed a business management, protecting your QR CODE
– owner managed businesses huge uncertainty and change. We toolkit which helps CFOs deliver cash, making sure that the cash TO SEE
in the midsize space – with need to be agile, adaptable and best practice, called the twelve flow is sound. The business model VIDEO
approximately R30 million to nimble so that we can move and boxes model, which has three needs to be robust and future
R1 billion turnover per annum. shift with the changing times. layers – strategic, operational proof. Look after stakeholders
These are often the people who Certain industries such as retail and business support. In order generally – customers, suppliers (Open the camera on your phone and
hover steadily for 2-3 seconds over the
have learnt some of the lessons have been forced into massive to be successful, it is necessary and shareholders who are QR Code to see the video.)

INFLUENCING BUSINESS, BRANDS AND PEOPLE

rant Adlam is currently and people of the Province of content or co-create customer- (www.youtube.com/c/ editorial partner in KZN Business
the driving force behind KwaZulu-Natal. focused content to support KZNTopBusiness) Sense, your first step is to call
GKwaZulu-Natal Top “Being born in Pietermaritzburg brands, endorse products and Written articles that support Tracy at our office on +27 (0)31 701
Business and has been in the ensures that this is province services with the intent to increase the video content are available in 1445 or better still email her on
marketing and publishing that I am passionate about brand awareness and drive sales. Business Sense and on our social tracy@topbusiness.co.za.
sector for over 35 years. Much seeing succeed,” says Adlam. Influencing is about connecting media platforms. Follow the QR “Let’s set the appointment up to
of this time has been involved in “As an influencer in the business brands with people and we use links at the end of each article to have a chat. This can be through
promoting the businesses, brands environment, my team and I create a variety of media platforms to watch the video. Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp or even
communicate including print,
Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, In collaboration with Roshan an old fashioned phone call, but
let’s have that conversation, ‘
Pinterest and Vimeo. Morar, chairman of Morar
Incorporated and David White concluded Adlam. 
KZN Top Business has CEO of DRG Outsourcing, KZN
several products that share
business insight and company Top Business recently hosted a
information. The current highly successful business leaders’
webinar “Business Leadership
multimedia initiatives include Shaping the Future”.
KZN Business Sense, KZN Top SCAN
Business Portfolio, KZN Leaders, (www.facebook.com/MorarInc/
and KZN Top Business Women. videos/654060538645353) QR CODE
We look forward to our next TO SEE
The “Coffee with Grant” series
offer informal discussions with leaders’ webinar, details of which THE
will be posted shortly.
leading businesspeople about VIDEOS
their products and services. If you would like to have an
These interviews are posted on interview through our video series (Open the camera on your phone and
hover steadily for 2-3 seconds over the
Grant Adlam, Chief Executive Officer, KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio the youtube account “Coffee with Grant” or become an QR Code to see the video.)

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