Building global treasury impact requires more than technical skills - it demands data-driven insight, strong relationships, and the ability to influence across the business.

This week’s guest is Takachida Kuhudzai, Head of Treasury at Avon. With a career spanning banking, corporate treasury, and global leadership roles, he has developed deep expertise in analytics, working capital optimisation, and navigating complex international markets.

In this episode, Takachida Kuhudzai, Head of Treasury at Avon shares his journey from starting in banking to leading global treasury functions. He reflects on how early experience in FX trading shaped his ability to operate in fast-moving environments, and how transitioning into corporate treasury gave him a broader understanding of how businesses operate.

A key highlight is his work in building a global working capital analytics platform, which became a central tool for decision-making and helped unlock significant cash flow across the organisation. He also discusses the importance of stakeholder relationships, tailoring treasury strategies to different markets, and managing complexity in volatile environments.

The episode also explores his current role at Avon, where he has been instrumental in transforming treasury operations and supporting the company’s transition to private equity ownership.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Career journey from banking into corporate treasury
• Experience in FX trading and fast-paced financial markets
• Transition to corporate treasury and understanding business operations
• Building and scaling a global working capital analytics platform
• Using data to unlock cash flow and drive decision-making
• Stakeholder management and influencing across global teams
• Adapting treasury strategies to local market constraints
• Managing volatility and risk in emerging markets
• Leading treasury transformation during organisational change at Avon
• The role of technology and data in the future of treasury
• Developing leadership, communication, and influence

You can connect with Takachida Kuhudza on LinkedIn.

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

How do you transform a treasury function from manual processes into an AI-powered, automation-driven strategic partner?

In this episode, we’re joined by Karen Kearney, Treasurer at Stanford University. She leads treasury across one of the world’s most complex and innovative institutions, overseeing areas including capital markets, cash management, and financial strategy within a large, mission-driven environment.

On the episode Karen Kearney, Treasurer at Stanford University shares her unconventional journey into treasury, from starting in audit to exploring a career in the culinary world before returning to finance and ultimately leading treasury at Stanford.

The conversation dives into how treasury can evolve into a strategic function through innovation, automation, and collaboration. Karen explains how her team implemented predictive cash forecasting, automated complex processes, and developed in-house solutions that outperform market offerings.

She also discusses the unique challenges of operating in a nonprofit, consensus-driven environment, the importance of institutional understanding, and how AI will shape the future of treasury.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Transitioning from audit to treasury through a non-linear career path
• The complexity of managing finances in a large research university
• Differences between corporate and nonprofit treasury environments
• Driving transformation through automation and process optimisation
• Managing a multi-billion-dollar debt portfolio and internal banking structure
• Creating a scalable merchant services solution and winning a major industry award
• The role of innovation and Silicon Valley influence on treasury strategy
• Elevating treasury as a strategic partner within an organisation
• The growing importance of AI, data quality, and upskilling in finance
• Future skills required for treasury professionals
• Career advice: embracing opportunities and continuous learning

You can connect with Karen Kearney on LinkedIn.

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

Building a treasury function from scratch is only the beginning - turning it into a strategic engine is where the real impact happens.

This week, we welcome back Ben Loper, Senior Vice President & Corporate Treasurer at Hilton Grand Vacations.

A returning guest to the podcast, Ben joins us for an update episode, sharing how his role and treasury itself has evolved since his first appearance, now overseeing a multi-billion-dollar financing business alongside treasury operations.

In this follow-up conversation, Ben Loper, now Senior Vice President & Corporate Treasurer at Hilton Grand Vacations walks through his journey from banking and equity research into corporate treasury, and how he helped build a treasury function from scratch within a newly independent company.

He shares how treasury has evolved from a back-office function into a strategic partner in capital allocation, risk management, and growth, and reflects on the realities of scaling teams, navigating acquisitions, and operating in an increasingly complex global environment.

The discussion also explores the future of treasury, including technology, payments, remote working challenges, and why treasury professionals must think beyond operations to deliver real business value.

Key topics discussed:

• Transitioning from banking and equity research into corporate treasury
• Building a treasury function from scratch in a newly spun-out company
• Scaling treasury through acquisitions and rapid business growth
• The role of treasury in capital allocation and strategic decision-making
• How banking experience translates into corporate treasury success
• The shift from operational treasury to strategic treasury leadership
• Navigating post-pandemic challenges, including inflation and market uncertainty
• The growing importance of payments, customer experience, and technology in treasury
• Remote working challenges and training the next generation of treasury professionals
• The evolving role of certifications and experience in hiring treasury talent

You can connect with Ben Loper on LinkedIn or for more info check out www.benrloper.com.

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

What does it really take to prepare a company for IPO - and why should treasury be involved far earlier than most expect?

In this episode, Stef Layne, a three-time IPO leader, shares how treasury plays a critical role in shaping IPO readiness, strengthening cash discipline, and building financial resilience.

In this episode, we’re joined by Stef Layne, a finance executive with over 20 years of experience leading high-growth, global technology companies through IPOs, rapid scale, and transformation. A proven partner to CEOs and executive teams, Stef brings deep expertise across capital strategy, liquidity management, FP&A, global operations, and risk management. As a three-time IPO leader, she is known for bringing structure to ambiguity, building high-performing teams, and aligning finance strategy with business outcomes.

This conversation dives into the evolving role of treasury in the IPO journey, highlighting why early involvement is essential for success. The discussion covers how treasury supports liquidity planning, establishes financial discipline across organisations, and manages banking relationships during periods of uncertainty.

We also explores the importance of embedding cash awareness across teams and ensuring that financial decisions align with long-term business objectives - both before and after going public.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• The role of treasury in preparing a company for IPO
• Why treasury should be involved earlier in the IPO process
• Building and maintaining strong liquidity positions
• The importance of free cash flow awareness across the organisation
• Establishing financial discipline before and after going public
• Managing banking relationships and counterparty risk
• Navigating periods of financial uncertainty and cash risk
• Treasury’s role in supporting strategic decision-making
• Aligning treasury operations with broader business goals

You can connect with Stef Layne on LinkedIn.

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Free Guide: Treasury Career Accelerator (Inspired by Stef Layne)

In this episode, Stef Layne shares how she made cash visible across the business, her “yo free cash flow” approach.

We’ve created a short, practical guide to help you do the same, move from reporting cash to influencing decisions.

Download it here: https://treasuryrecruitment.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Treasury-Protection-Guide.pdf

Leading treasury across multiple industries requires more than technical expertise - it demands adaptability, broad experience, and a forward-looking mindset.

In this episode, Garima Thakur, Global Treasurer and Risk Leader at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) shares insights from building a treasury career spanning finance, technology, consumer products, sports, and entertainment.

Garima Thakur is Global Treasurer and Risk Leader at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she oversees treasury, liquidity management, and financial risk. She brings extensive treasury leadership experience across multiple industries, including financial services, technology, consumer products, and entertainment.

On the show Garima shares how she discovered treasury during an MBA internship and built a career across several industries and treasury disciplines. She explains why developing broad experience early in a treasury career can create a strong foundation for future leadership roles.

The conversation also explores how treasury functions evolve within growing organizations, the importance of forward-looking liquidity planning, and how technology and AI are beginning to influence areas such as forecasting, data analysis, and decision-making.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. Discovering treasury during an MBA internship and choosing it as a career path
2. Building early career experience across multiple treasury disciplines
3. The advantages of working in lean treasury teams and learning across functions
4. Leading treasury roles across finance, technology, consumer products, sports, and entertainment
5. Building and evolving treasury capabilities within a fast-moving organization
6. The role treasury plays in supporting both strategic initiatives and daily operations
7. Forward-looking liquidity planning and scenario analysis
8. The growing role of technology and AI in treasury processes
9. Developing strong treasury teams and learning from operational mistakes
10. What treasury leaders value when hiring and developing talent

You can connect with Garima Thakur on LinkedIn.

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

Global treasury leaders are operating in one of the most complex financial environments in decades. Volatility, evolving risks, and growing strategic expectations mean treasury must balance liquidity, risk management, and long-term value creation more carefully than ever.

In this episode, Deepali Chawla, Chief Treasury Officer shares how she navigates these challenges while leading the global treasury function at Moody’s Corporation.

Deepali Chawla is the Chief Treasury Officer at Moody’s Corporation, where she leads the company’s global treasury function. She brings extensive experience in treasury strategy, financial risk management, and liquidity oversight, along with an international career spanning multiple markets and leadership roles.

In this episode of the Treasury Career Podcast, host Mike Richards speaks with Deepali about her journey into treasury and her leadership role at Moody’s. She shares insights on leading a global treasury function, managing risk and liquidity in a volatile environment, and how treasury has evolved into a more strategic business partner.

Deepali also discusses the role of technology and forward planning in modern treasury, along with the mindset and skills needed to build resilient teams and successful treasury careers.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. Deepali’s early career journey and transition into treasury
2. Building a career internationally and adapting to new environments
3. The evolving role of treasury within global organisations
4. Leading the treasury function at Moody’s
5. Managing financial risk and liquidity in a complex global environment
6. The importance of forward planning and preparing for potential market disruption
7. How technology and automation are reshaping treasury operations
8. Creating a more strategic and forward-looking treasury function
9. Building and developing high-performing treasury teams
10. Career advice for professionals looking to grow within treasury

You can connect with Deepali Chawla on LinkedIn.

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

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📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/

What does it take for a treasurer to earn - and protect - credibility with boards, rating agencies, and banking partners during billion-dollar transactions?

In this episode, we explore how treasury leaders like Stephen Kaufhold, Vice President & Treasurer at Incyte, build trust when the stakes are highest.

Stephen Kaufhold returns to the show, now serving as Vice President & Treasurer at Incyte. When he last appeared, he was SVP & Treasurer at Allergan, leading treasury through significant capital markets activity and transformation. Since then, he has continued to navigate change at scale, bringing experience across financial services, telecom, and pharmaceuticals.

In this follow-up conversation, Stephen reflects on his transition from Allergan to Incyte and shares how treasury builds and sustains credibility during defining corporate moments.

We discuss capital allocation in pharma, managing leverage through large-scale transactions, and staying strategically relevant in an evolving financial landscape. Stephen also outlines how treasury professionals can deliberately build the exposure, skills, and judgment required to lead at the highest levels - from rating agency presentations to boardroom financing decisions.

What We Cover in This Episode:

1. Transitioning from Allergan to Incyte and navigating corporate transformation
2. Financing multi-billion-dollar acquisitions and divestitures
3. Presenting capital structure strategies to boards and audit committees
4. Building and maintaining credibility with rating agencies
5. Capital allocation priorities in pharma: R&D, business development, debt reduction and buybacks
6. Operating in both investment-grade and non-investment-grade environments
7. Developing and mentoring treasury teams for long-term success
8. The importance of broad treasury exposure across cash management, capital markets and securitization
9. Navigating compressed deal timelines and capital markets volatility
10. The evolving impact of AI, crypto, and cybersecurity on treasury

You can connect with Stephen Kaufhold on LinkedIn.

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🎙️ Subscribe to the Treasury Career Corner podcast - Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favourite platform:

CLICK HERE for 🎧Spotify Podcasts

CLICK HERE for 🍏Apple Podcasts

📊 Managing short-term cash and investments - Without the right technology is a huge risk for modern treasurers. Tradeweb changes that!

🎓 Save $150 on CTP & FPAC– Exclusive discounts for treasury professionals – thanks to our trusted partners.

🧠 Leadership Under Pressure – Practical tools and coaching that work – from the team at Gazing Leadership

🧩 What if your whole team had one clear view of your group structure - Fuseable makes it happen

🔐 Managing signatory lists manually? Cygnetise gives treasury teams a smarter, safer way

👉 FIND OUT MORE HERE https://treasuryrecruitment.com/partners/