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Coming Soon: 30% Club Podcast

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Q&A WITH CAROLINE NAHAS, OUR LATEST 30% CLUB SCHOLAR

 

Q: Caroline, give us an overview of your career path to date.

 

A: I am a global Finance professional with solid background in FP&A, Business Development, and Investor Relations. I am recognized for innovative problem solving, self-motivation, and  an inquisitive approach, exceeding goals in deadline-driven and cost-containing  environments.  

 

I started my career at Edenred, a French company (former Accord Group) specialized in  prepaid corporate services. I then joined Deloitte as a consultant for strategy and operations.  In 2012, I joined Hidrovias do Brasil, a fluvial transportation company managed by few private  equities – among which Blackstone and Patria Investimentos. I was responsible for structuring  and leading the FP&A/IR function and processes to adapt them to the organizational growth  from startup to operational company.  

 

Finally, in 2019, I joined Mondelēz as a Finance Manager for the North America Region to  support the structuring and expansion of the External Manufacturing department; in February 2021 I moved to the Procurement and Commodities department to support Mondelēz for risk  management of Commodities and Forex volatility.  

Over my career, I have experienced different environments, ranging from start-up to  recognized companies with fully established processes. 

 

I know this award carries many opportunities and responsibilities. The most important is to define how I will carry this accomplishment forth in my career, and how can I support others in building their own path.

Caroline Nahas, 30% Club Scholar

Why do you want to study your chosen course? 

 

This industry and market diversity present in my professional trajectory provided me with the  ability to adapt across different business cultures and leadership styles. As I am always  seeking to grow and develop, I constantly challenge ways of working and, most importantly, my personal approaches to business discussions. Now I want to bring this skillset to the next  level.  

 

Working in fast moving environments, the ability to manoeuvre through uncertainty is key.  Through this course I am aiming to acquire analytical toolsets that will make me more effective  in bringing innovative solutions and harness soft skills that would enable me to navigate and  bring value to my organization.

 

What are you hoping it will lead to? 

 

Since I started working in finance, my career goal was and remains to professionally pursue growth to achieve my lifelong aspiration to hold a CFO role within a multinational company. Experiencing Chicago Booth EMBA will provide me with the knowledge and the enriching exchanges with peers and faculty members that will help me to accelerate my career. I am confident it will strengthen my foundation skills to achieve my professional ambition. 

 

Why did you apply to the scholarship? 

 

Chicago Booth and the 30% Club partnered to offer this scholarship to support high potential  female students. I was fortunate to be granted to this award and be part of the 30% Club, among other amazing female candidates.  

 

I know this award carries many opportunities and responsibilities. and feel confident to strive  for them. Most important is to define how I will carry this accomplishment forth in my career,  and how can I support others in building their own path. 

 

What encouragement would you give to anyone considering applying for a 30% Club  scholarship? 

 

I believe it is an accomplishment to be admitted into a leading business school and gain the  opportunity to advance one’s career.  

 

I have no doubt that all admitted candidates can rely on their own strengths and have the  confidence to work for their professional and personal aspirations. Applying to become part of  the 30% Club is a major step towards achieving them as it will provide the opportunity to be  part of initiatives on career advancement and enhance networking & exchanging opportunities.

Where we are

Nulla vulputate, mi at efficitur cursus, turpis elit suscipit mauris, ac varius dui enim in sapien. Cras ut tincidunt sem. Nunc porttitor in nulla et sodales. Suspendisse bibendum ac dolor vitae tincidunt. Sed leo leo, pharetra id feugiat nec. Cras ut tincidunt sem.

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Meet our new 30% Club Scholar

Posted on by Admin

Q&A WITH CAROLINE NAHAS, OUR LATEST 30% CLUB SCHOLAR

 

Q: Caroline, give us an overview of your career path to date.

 

A: I am a global Finance professional with solid background in FP&A, Business Development, and Investor Relations. I am recognized for innovative problem solving, self-motivation, and  an inquisitive approach, exceeding goals in deadline-driven and cost-containing  environments.  

 

I started my career at Edenred, a French company (former Accord Group) specialized in  prepaid corporate services. I then joined Deloitte as a consultant for strategy and operations.  In 2012, I joined Hidrovias do Brasil, a fluvial transportation company managed by few private  equities – among which Blackstone and Patria Investimentos. I was responsible for structuring  and leading the FP&A/IR function and processes to adapt them to the organizational growth  from startup to operational company.  

 

Finally, in 2019, I joined Mondelēz as a Finance Manager for the North America Region to  support the structuring and expansion of the External Manufacturing department; in February 2021 I moved to the Procurement and Commodities department to support Mondelēz for risk  management of Commodities and Forex volatility.  

Over my career, I have experienced different environments, ranging from start-up to  recognized companies with fully established processes. 

 

I know this award carries many opportunities and responsibilities. The most important is to define how I will carry this accomplishment forth in my career, and how can I support others in building their own path.

Caroline Nahas, 30% Club Scholar

Why do you want to study your chosen course? 

 

This industry and market diversity present in my professional trajectory provided me with the  ability to adapt across different business cultures and leadership styles. As I am always  seeking to grow and develop, I constantly challenge ways of working and, most importantly, my personal approaches to business discussions. Now I want to bring this skillset to the next  level.  

 

Working in fast moving environments, the ability to manoeuvre through uncertainty is key.  Through this course I am aiming to acquire analytical toolsets that will make me more effective  in bringing innovative solutions and harness soft skills that would enable me to navigate and  bring value to my organization.

 

What are you hoping it will lead to? 

 

Since I started working in finance, my career goal was and remains to professionally pursue growth to achieve my lifelong aspiration to hold a CFO role within a multinational company. Experiencing Chicago Booth EMBA will provide me with the knowledge and the enriching exchanges with peers and faculty members that will help me to accelerate my career. I am confident it will strengthen my foundation skills to achieve my professional ambition. 

 

Why did you apply to the scholarship? 

 

Chicago Booth and the 30% Club partnered to offer this scholarship to support high potential  female students. I was fortunate to be granted to this award and be part of the 30% Club, among other amazing female candidates.  

 

I know this award carries many opportunities and responsibilities. and feel confident to strive  for them. Most important is to define how I will carry this accomplishment forth in my career,  and how can I support others in building their own path. 

 

What encouragement would you give to anyone considering applying for a 30% Club  scholarship? 

 

I believe it is an accomplishment to be admitted into a leading business school and gain the  opportunity to advance one’s career.  

 

I have no doubt that all admitted candidates can rely on their own strengths and have the  confidence to work for their professional and personal aspirations. Applying to become part of  the 30% Club is a major step towards achieving them as it will provide the opportunity to be  part of initiatives on career advancement and enhance networking & exchanging opportunities.

Where we are

Nulla vulputate, mi at efficitur cursus, turpis elit suscipit mauris, ac varius dui enim in sapien. Cras ut tincidunt sem. Nunc porttitor in nulla et sodales. Suspendisse bibendum ac dolor vitae tincidunt. Sed leo leo, pharetra id feugiat nec. Cras ut tincidunt sem.

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Meet our Mentees

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Curabitur tincidunt augue non turpis pellentesque sollicitudin. Fusce non ligula quis neque.

Nulla vulputate, mi at efficitur cursus, turpis elit suscipit mauris, ac varius dui enim in sapien. Cras ut tincidunt sem. Nunc porttitor in nulla et sodales. Suspendisse bibendum ac dolor vitae tincidunt. Sed leo leo, pharetra id feugiat nec.

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Placerat In Egestas Erat Imperdiet Sed Euismod Nisi Porta.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque urna dolor, ullamcorper varius mi ut, dignissim volutpat tortor. Sed sed nibh ex.

Nunc sed velit dignissim sodales. Mi eget mauris pharetra et. Vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. Cras pulvinar mattis nunc sed blandit. Tortor at auctor urna nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend.

Placerat In Egestas Erat Imperdiet Sed Euismod Nisi Porta.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque urna dolor, ullamcorper varius mi ut, dignissim volutpat tortor. Sed sed nibh ex.

Nunc sed velit dignissim sodales. Mi eget mauris pharetra et. Vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. Cras pulvinar mattis nunc sed blandit. Tortor at auctor urna nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend.

Placerat In Egestas Erat Imperdiet Sed Euismod Nisi Porta.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque urna dolor, ullamcorper varius mi ut, dignissim volutpat tortor. Sed sed nibh ex.

Nunc sed velit dignissim sodales. Mi eget mauris pharetra et. Vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. Cras pulvinar mattis nunc sed blandit. Tortor at auctor urna nunc id cursus metus aliquam eleifend.

30% Club Malaysia launched its first newsletter

Posted on by 30club-Malaysia

The 30% Club Malaysia is very excited to launch its first newsletter.


Each month we will share news and events that have taken place as well as future engagements of 30% Club Malaysia.


We look forward to seeing all of you at these events as we build that collective voice for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Getting it Right at the Board

Posted on by 30club-Malaysia

In the current climate, the media have placed a spotlight on embarrassing news reports and scandals in the Boardrooms. These cover a range of issues such as corruption, fraud, labour rights, climate harm.

 

Invariably when things go wrong in a company, public scrutiny is directed at the Company’s board. The Board of Directors carry a heavy responsibility to ensure that a duty of care and good governance are properly observed and implemented.

 

With this in mind, the 30% Club Malaysia jointly organised a talk “Getting it Right at the Board – WHAT DOES IT TAKE?” on 18 August 2021, with the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG). This was specially put together for its corporate members, partners and the 30% Club Malaysia Mentee Circle.

  

The talk focused on Corporate Governance, by key presenter and subject matter expert, David Berry (Vice President, MICG). Frances P. , a volunteer with Activate Pillar of 30% Club Malaysia moderated the session and the Q&A. 

 

The audience sat through an interactive session covering topics such as evolution of the code of corporate governance, effective Boards and directors, stakeholder management, symbiotic relationships between Boards and management, the courage to ask questions and more.

 

The presentation/dialogue was a power-packed session with valuable nuggets of learning. Some of the key takeaways from the session include:

 

     

      1. 1. There is a difference between being an independent vs a good Director.

      1.  
      2. 2. The is no such thing as a stupid question. When in doubt, do not be afraid to ask questions.
      3.  

      1. 3. Are the Board papers data-rich, analysis-poor and action poorer.
      2.  

      1. 4. Directors need to keep updated and abreast of developments.
      2.  

      1. 5. Alignment of Board and stakeholder objectives.

      1. Governance in action, is what counts.
      2.  

    “An independent director is not a decorative ornament …. and has a role in governance.” (Quoting the presiding judge in a 2011 High Court ruling).

    Crafting Board Profiles for Success: CnetG Asia’s Board Profile Writing Masterclass for Mentees

    Posted on by 30club-Malaysia

    A well-crafted board resume that clearly shows the value the board aspiring candidate brings to the organisation, increases the chances of an appointment as board director.


    With this in mind, twenty participants of the mentees from the Board Mentoring Scheme of the 30% Club Malaysia recently participated in the Board Profile Writing Masterclass, which was organised by CnetG Asia, a key strategic partner of the 30% Club Malaysia.


    Raj Kumar Paramanathan, the Managing Partner of CnetG Asia who ran the session single-handedly, brings to the table more than two decades of experience in executive search. 


    He shared that a board resume differs from a typical executive resume in that it highlights more of the successes or accomplishments from the angle of corporate governance, strategy, and P&L management.


    “The Top 1/3 of the resume is termed as the “prime real estate”, wherein candidates should use this section to describe the expertise and value they bring to the organisation. It is key to provide context and specifics instead of broad statements to highlight their expertise and competencies,” he said.


    During the two-hour event, participants learned an interesting angle about gender bias in resumes; Raj Kumar cited that studies have shown that female candidates tend to use collaborative words in their resumes compared to male candidates who use more action verbs.


    The session included interactive Q&A discussions as well as specific extracts of participants’ own resumes including demonstrations by Raj Kumar of eye-opening and catching “Before” and “After” effects by applying the techniques as shared during the session.


    In the next posting, we will share some of the feedback from the participants about the session and future improvements to the Board Mentoring Scheme.


    Simposio “Women in Payments”

    Posted on by 30club-Colombia

    El Simposio “Women in Payments” es un evento de la organización del mismo nombre que proporciona perspectivas de mujeres líderes en el mundo de pagos, apoya la diversidad y la paridad de género, e incluye temas que afectan todos los aspectos del ecosistema de pagos.

    Journey to the Boardroom

    Posted on by 30club-Malaysia

    This is a summary of the insights shared in a webinar entitled “Journey to the Boardroom: Actionable Practice for Women to Transition to the Next Level”

     

     

    It was held on 21 July 2021, organised by CPA Australia in collaboration with 30% Club Malaysia. Michelle Ann Iking, a member of the 30% Club Talent Pillar committee, was the moderator while the speakers for the first session were Pauline Ho, Assurance Partner at PwC Malaysia, and Tian Pouw TP Pun GNRC of Taylor’s Education Group.

    Read the whole article to gain excellent insights into what it takes for women to ready themselves to take the reins of Board membership and leadership.
     

     

     

    Read here.

    30% Club Malaysia and Heriot-Watt University announces scholarship

    Posted on by 30club-Malaysia

    The 30% Club Malaysia and Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University are pleased to announce that they are awarding one full scholarship for the part-time MBA programme at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia campus to ONE entrepreneurial woman.

    In addition, TWO partial fee scholarships of 30% will be offered under the same scholarship programme. The conditions are: 

    The candidate must have received and accepted an unconditional offer of a place on the full or part-time MBA programme and paid the deposit before a scholarship application can be submitted.

    Amount of award
    One placement for a full tuition fee waiver of RM58,050.
    Two placements for a 30% fee waiver of the full tuition fee.

    Successful applicants would commence the two-year programme in September 2021 or January 2022. In the video, you can hear from Laura Sanchez, an oil and gas executive who completed her MBA on campus in Malaysia.

    Important dates to note:
    Opening date: 15 June 2021
    Closing date: 15 December 2021 (Midnight, Malaysian time)

    For more information, please read here: 

     

    Mentee Circle holds its first Fireside Chat with Velesto Energy

    Posted on by 30club-Malaysia
    •  

    Early this week the MenteeCircle from the 30% Club Malaysia Board Mentoring Scheme held a Fireside Chat on “Board Diversity, Sustainability, and Governance”. 


    About 100 participants including the mentees from the six cohorts attended the virtual event, to learn from the guest speaker, Rohaizad Darus of Velesto Energy Berhad, speaking passionately about the topic. 


    The event started off with an opening address by Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Founding Chair of 30% Club Malaysia. She said that Velesto is indeed leading by example, as women directors currently represent 44% of Velesto’s board.


    The company, Velesto Energy Berhad which has been included and has scored highly in the FTSE4 Good Bursa Malaysia Index (which rates a company’s ability to manage its ESG issues) is also in the top quartile of Tier 1 for Sustainability Disclosures to Bursa Malaysia. 


    On this note, one of the questions that Savita Saigal, the moderator of the Fireside Chat posed:


    “It has been and, in some instances, still a challenge for corporations to convince their stakeholders to invest in Sustainability agenda as this requires a financial commitment, planning, and manhours. Stakeholders being profit-driven would rather plow back into the business. 


    Therefore, do share with us how Sustainability was introduced into Velesto and what were the challenges you faced with your stakeholders?”


    In reply, Rohaizad had elaborated, into three parts


    Lead and Manage
    – Velesto is fortunate to have Government-related funds (who are our major shareholders), so Sustainability and Governance are part of the business emphasis.

    – Convincing the management (top to bottom).

    – Building a robust infrastructure to implement the company’s value system and deploying standard practices such as iLEAP, QHSE focus, including implementing cost savings programmes and CSR initiatives.


    These approaches have made it easier for the company and people to accept. Having said that, we still face some challenges.


    Challenges
    – Staff were unfamiliar with the new Sustainability concept and were confused with existing practices, 

    – Costs and operations issues compounded 

    – Over expectations and concerns on reporting requirements 


    Overcoming the Challenges
    – Optimised on communication with our staffs at various stages – meetings, townhalls, formal and informal;  

    – Continued to allocate budget, albeit at a smaller scale to maintain momentum; 

    – Convinced the Operations team on the benefits of Sustainability and its impact on everyone 

    -Prioritised on what can be achieved first and managed expectations where necessary   

    – Gradually embraced reporting requirements

    – Shared experiences with the rest of the world


    The Fireside Chat is the second event by the Mentee Circle, a networking group that helps foster better collaboration among mentees and enhances the visibility of board-ready candidates. 

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