Syed Nadeem: Learning from your Failure in FP&A

Syed Nadeem is a top finance leader in Saudi Arabia. But the director of Budgeting at listed telecom company, Zain KSA, says he considers his previous failures as pivotal to his position today.  He says: “When I was young [and experiencing failure] I felt so disappointed I thought my world was going to end. Sometimes  you don't get a promotion and you see other peers getting a promotion. I struggled after getting my CMA (Certified Management Accountant). Sometimes you are not getting good increments, or you are about to hire someone and they reject you. But what I learned is this failure actually makes you strong for the future role.”

Today, he shares his full breadth of experience-both good and bad and explains why he provides (free) mentorships to businesses on a daily basis and to his 15,000 followers on LinkedIn.  

In this wide ranging interview Syed explains:

• Uncovering the power of FP&A in companies providing a “helicopter view of companies”.
• The role and limitations of certifications in FP&A
• How “selling”  is the core to getting a good job in finance 
• The power of technology in FP&A and “unlearning and relearning every day”    
• The secrets to effective communication with senior leadership
• How bad experiences make strong finance business leaders 
• The secret to talking to Investors in a Language they Understand 

 

Links 

Get a free one-to-one career session with Syed at https://calendly.com/syednadeem/connect

 

Read the full transcript and blog

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Datarails is the financial planning and analysis platform that automates data consolidation, reporting and planning, while enabling finance teams to continue using their own Excel spreadsheets and financial models.

 

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