#201 What Does a Best in Class Finance Team Look Like? with Sharon Barber-Lui, CFO, Teva Pharmaceuticals

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VINqaQdff5glvnpFNcKm4

In this episode, we have the privilege of diving deep into the remarkable career journey of Sharon Barber-Lui, the Chief Financial Officer of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Sharon’s path from her roots in public accounting to leading a diverse team of 200 finance professionals at a global pharmaceutical company is nothing short of inspiring. As someone who has successfully navigated the complexities of the finance world, Sharon has amassed a wealth of knowledge on building high-performing teams. She emphasizes the foundational role of trust and a shared sense of purpose, as well as the relentless pursuit of continuous improvement, as cornerstones of effective leadership.

Sharon’s insights don’t stop there; she passionately advocates for finance leaders to transcend traditional roles and become strategic business partners. In her view, this involves harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to not only streamline processes but to add tangible value to the business. She also champions the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, urging leaders to broaden their candidate pools and engage in active outreach to cultivate a rich tapestry of perspectives and ideas.

Throughout this episode, Sharon shares her perspectives on the evolving role of the CFO as a strategic force within a company. She underscores the importance of delivering results while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Join us as we explore how these principles can be applied to drive success in an ever-changing business landscape. Whether you’re an aspiring finance professional or a seasoned leader, Sharon’s experiences and insights offer invaluable lessons in leadership and growth.

Key topics covered include:

• 
  
• Sharon’s career journey from public accounting to Merck and then to a small biotech company
  
• Her transition to the CFO role at Teva Pharmaceuticals and the structure of her 200-person finance team
  
• Challenges of managing a large finance team and creating a high-performing culture
  
• Defining the characteristics of a “best-in-class” finance team, including trust, shared purpose, and continuous improvement
  
• Sharon’s strategic priorities and leadership style when joining Teva Pharmaceuticals
  
• The importance of effective business partnering and connecting finance to the broader business
  
• Leveraging technology and analytics, including the role of AI, to drive insights and decision-making
  
• Emphasis on diversity and inclusion in building a high-performing finance team
  
• Strategies for finance teams to get involved in strategic discussions and decision-making
  
• The evolving role of the CFO and critical skills needed for the future
  

https://youtu.be/gLEdvD20oYw

Links

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• Sharon Barber-Lui on LinkedIn
  
• Kevin Appleby on LinkedIn
  
• GrowCFO Mentoring
  

Timestamps

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• 0:00:12 – Introduction of Sharon Barber-Lui, CFO of Teva Pharmaceuticals
  
• 0:00:44 – Sharon’s career journey from public accounting to Merck and then a small biotech company
  
• 0:03:32 – Transition to Teva Pharmaceuticals and the structure of her 200-person finance team
  
• 0:04:55 – Challenges of managing a large finance team and creating a high-performing culture
  
• 0:07:50 – Defining the characteristics of a “best-in-class” finance team
  
• 0:10:02 – Distinction between a “high-performing team” and a “best-in-class” team
  
• 0:11:00 – Importance of effective business partnering and connecting finance to the broader business
  
• 0:15:40 – Leveraging technology and analytics, including the role of AI
  
• 0:19:40 – The evolving role of the CFO and critical skills needed for the future
  
• 0:21:26 – Emphasis on diversity and inclusion in building a high-performing finance team
  
• 0:28:43 – Strategies for finance teams to get involved in strategic discussions and decision-making
  

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