Speaker Highlight: Anders Liu-Lindberg

We are beyond excited to announce that Anders Liu-Lindberg, a globally recognized leader in finance with over 400,000 LinkedIn followers, will be joining us at the World Finance Forum London! This is a truly exceptional opportunity to learn from one of the most influential voices in the field. Anders' expertise in communication, storytelling, and strategic leadership has inspired countless finance professionals worldwide.

Ahead of his appearance at World Finance Forum London on 26th March, Anders shared with us some invaluable insights on bridging the communication gap, transforming data into compelling narratives, and navigating the evolving landscape of finance. This is an absolute must-attend for anyone looking to elevate their finance career!

Communication is often rated as a critical skill for finance professionals, but so few of us receive formal training in it. Why do you think this gap exists, and how can finance professionals start to bridge it?

Over the years, priority for training in finance and accounting has been given to technical skills. This is also what makes you successful in the early years of your career. As people climb the ladder, it’s rather leadership skills they receive more training on than soft skills like communication or influencing, for that matter. In a modern finance function, though, much more emphasis has been put on the business partnering element, and here, communication is critical.

Unfortunately, the understanding of the need for communication skills comes faster than training programs can adjust.

I would expect, though, that the gap will narrow over time.

You talk about transforming financials into insightful storytelling. What’s the key to making data not just informative, but compelling enough to drive action?

It’s a simple five-step framework:

information -> insights -> recommendations -> arguments -> call to action

Too often, finance professionals stop at information or “what happened.” Sometimes, they answer “Why it happened,” but rarely, “What do we do about it?”. That’s why our financial communication often fails to drive action.

In your experience, what’s the biggest mistake finance professionals make when presenting to senior leaders, and how can they fix it?

The biggest mistake is that they show the details upfront. This is a surefire way to lose someone’s attention, especially if they’re not finance professionals. Instead, focus on the highlights and then dive into where the shoe hurts.

You’ve spent years working with senior executives. What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about what they actually want from a finance presentation?

They don’t care about the financials themselves; they care about getting help to improve their performance. It’s critical that we leave our agenda at the door and tailor our communication to theirs. Then, we’ll give them what they want and achieve the performance improvements we want, too.

With so many innovations in finance, like AI and automation, how do you see the role of communication evolving for finance professionals in the next 5-10 years?

AI can already explain what and why something happened. In some cases, it can even suggest what to do about it.

However, finance professionals should focus on quantifying and qualifying suggested actions and help executives weigh the different options.

Also, finance professionals should focus on the follow-up on decisions made to ensure companies get the desired results. There’s still plenty to do for finance professionals even with the advances of AI.

Storytelling can seem abstract for finance professionals used to numbers and data. What’s one mindset shift they need to embrace to become better storytellers?

It’s simple. Make it about them – not about you. Instead of coming in with a finance-centric mindset, meaning to show all the financials – come in with a customer-centric mindset and show what’s relevant to the audience and their issues.

You don’t need to be like an actor on stage or a journalist.

Your new book introduces a five-step framework for effective communication. Which step do you think will surprise finance professionals the most, and why?

It’s likely the step to make a recommendation. Most finance professionals don’t dare to lean out and do that. They’re comfortable leaving that to the executives, so they don’t have much skin in the game. This is the wrong mindset, though.

We should take on the role of co-ownership in delivering business results. We win or lose… together.

You’ve got 400,000 followers on LinkedIn, and your newsletter reaches hundreds of thousands. What’s resonating most with your audience right now in terms of finance trends and leadership?

Strategic leadership for finance professionals is the hottest topic.

It’s hard for most, and few do it well. However, ask a CEO, and it’s one of the most sought-after skills in their CFO.

You’ve been an advocate for elevating the finance function for years. What excites you most about where the profession is heading, especially with events like the World Finance Forum bringing people together?

Finance has an opportunity like never before with all the technology that’s starting to help us. We need to realise that we have an unfair advantage over almost everyone else in the company. We have analytical skills, business acumen, financial and non-financial data access, a cross-value chain perspective, and a seat at the table.

Name any other function that has this. If we can leverage this, Finance is going to be both fun and exciting!

For someone who’s struggling with communicating financials today, what’s the first step they can take to start improving?

Take away all the details and focus on the three most important points you want to communicate. Leave everything else to an appendix.

Feeling inspired by this exclusive interview with Anders? You won't want to miss his live appearance at the World Finance Forum London on 26th March at Convene London! He'll be sharing even more valuable insights on business partnering and communication.

Register for your pass today and secure your spot alongside other leading finance professionals. This is a unique chance to learn from a true industry icon! ??

https://events.futureforums.com/world-finance-forum-london#/tickets?lang=en