Amidst today’s technological advancements, economic uncertainties and shifting regulatory landscapes, the role of financial leaders is rapidly evolving. To succeed in this new environment, leaders will need to develop their skillsets—and mindsets—accordingly.
To help you do this, 20 members of Forbes Finance Council share the most essential skills financial leaders need to thrive in 2025. From adapting to new technologies to focusing on human relationships, these practices can help you and your team reach organizational goals and find long-term success this year.
1. Adapting Strategies To Tech And Investor Changes
In an ever-evolving market, the ability to swiftly adjust strategies in response to global economic shifts, technological advancements and changing investor expectations is crucial. Adaptability ensures that leaders remain resilient, innovative and capable of seizing new opportunities in a dynamic landscape. – Marlon Sanchez, Skyway Pacific Research
2. Owning Your Decisions With Transparency
Accountability isn’t just a buzzword—it is the backbone of trust. When financial leaders own their decisions, they earn credibility to inspire collaboration and strategic risk-taking. In a fast-moving world, accountability and transparency keep teams aligned and businesses thriving. – Sonya Thadhani Mughal, Bailard, Inc.
3. Experimenting, Taking Risks And ‘Failing Fast’
Agile innovation is crucial for financial leaders in 2025. Traditional methods are outdated. Leaders must inspire experimentation, quick adaptation and prioritize progress over perfection. “Failing fast” fosters learning, equipping teams to navigate uncertainty and drive growth. – Sasha Vyash, Alphabet/Google
4. Filtering Through Talent To Find Real Value
The most important trait for a financial leader would be their ability to filter the right talent, whether hiring a team member or onboarding a vendor. In this AI-led era, everything is so well packaged that even average looks exceptional. Only true leaders can see through the window dressing and identify the real value. Stay alert and do not compromise on due diligence. – Vijay Pandey, Wipro LTD
5. Integrating Technology To Automate And Streamline
Leveraging and integrating technology is becoming even more important to drive efficiency and control. Outsourcing non-core functions can boost efficiency and innovation, giving SMEs a competitive edge. For larger firms, leveraging automation, AI and process integration is vital to streamline workflows, enable data-driven decisions and enhance scalability while optimizing costs. – Andrew Collis, Moneypenny
Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
6. Providing Support And Value To Your Employees
Caring about the company’s bottom line while not losing sight of your employees’ bottom line is key. Employees are the majority of how quickly your business grows and succeeds. Keeping updated with finances while ensuring your team is taken care of is the top priority. This ensures trust and a healthy workplace, as well as increased production and growth. – Brenna Carles, The Mortgage Shop
7. Factoring In Financial Flexibility To Shift Focus When Needed
It can be tempting to be too laser-focused on certain financial targets or overly committed to a strategic roadmap. The best leaders bake in some financial flexibility to capitalize on opportunities. They also have the humility to admit if a strategy must change or when to terminate an underperforming initiative. – Paul Davis, Bank Slate
8. Uncovering Smart Strategies With Financial Tech And AI
To stay competitive in 2025, financial leaders must be tech savvy and leverage emerging financial technologies, including AI. Harnessing the power of technology, both internally and by using external experts, allows financial leaders to uncover smart strategies and drive better decisions. – Matthew Bjonerud, Cerebro Capital
9. ‘Riding The Wave’ Of New Innovations
In 2025, one of the most important traits for a financial leader is “futuristic flexibility.” Why? The financial world is like a high-speed roller coaster these days—new tech like AI, blockchain and fintech innovations keep adding twists and turns. A leader who can ride this wave with a mix of adaptability and foresight will succeed. – Prasanna Kumar, FinloTax
10. Maintaining Empathy For Employees
Empathy is needed from finance leaders in 2025 to best weather the unpredictability of the macro-economic environment, the evolving impacts of AI and inevitable changes needed to adapt. A deep empathy for employees and an understanding of how best to inspire their resilience, curiosity and adaptability is key to retaining top talent and attracting new talent with the best skills and mindsets for strategic success. – Shannon Power, Scope AR
11. Staying Positive And Focused On Your Goals
Positivity is the best trait for a financial leader. Regardless of the year, there are bound to be stresses to the financial system, the political landscape and the global markets. Keeping positive and maintaining a long-term time horizon will help leaders with their teams and their clients. Volatility and change are inevitable, but keeping a focus on goals is key to success as a leader. – Aviva Pinto, Wealthspire Advisors
12. Creating Genuine Human Relationships
Rapidly changing profiles in clients and the workforce, along with AI, only highlight the importance of genuine human relationships. A relatable leader uses authenticity to translate strategy and vision to execution, creating an environment where people feel comfortable to provide honest feedback, thus enabling an agile adjustment loop. – Alvina Lo, Wilmington Trust
13. Diversifying Income Sources To Expand Earning Capacity
Leaders should have an adaptive intelligence mindset that will pivot the business strategy as dynamics change. They should have a deep understanding of the flow of money and follow multiple steps in creating value to diversify income sources and expand the business’s earning capacity. In addition, they should optimize cash and extract the maximum value from the company’s assets and resources. – Oluwatoyin Aralepo, Africa Finance & Strategy Hub
14. Anticipating And Embracing Change In Trends
In 2025, the most important trait for a financial leader is the ability to embrace change with vision and resilience. Leaders must anticipate disruptive trends like AI and climate risks while guiding their teams through uncertainty. By combining bold innovation with empathy, they can inspire trust, drive progress and ensure long-term success in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. – Swati Deepak Kumar (Nema), Citigroup
15. Having Patience In Transitions And Uncertainties
Financial leaders must have patience in 2025. They must have the patience to allow the interest rate environment to settle, allow for a presidential transition and see how AI shakes out. There must also be patience with an uncertain economic picture. – Jamie Ellis, Katz, Sapper & Miller
16. Being Courageous Enough To Question
Courage is imperative for a leader in 2025. Leaders need the courage to ask, the courage to question and the courage to empathize and go the extra mile. – Dr. Jackie Meyer, The Concierge CPA
17. Balancing Innovation With Fiscal Discipline
Financial leaders must be adaptable and data-driven to navigate economic shifts and evolving consumer behavior. I see leaders who anticipate trends, leverage predictive analytics and pivot strategies driving long-term success. The ability to balance innovation with fiscal discipline will separate those who thrive from those who fall behind in an increasingly complex financial landscape. – Patrick Galleher, Boxwood Partners
18. Using Generative AI To Improve Efficiency And Growth
Given higher interest rates, the era of cheap money is over. In an era where capital is expensive, the most important trait for financial leaders would be strategic foresight to implement Gen AI in order to improve expense efficiency and drive bottom-line growth. – Tanmay Gupta, Fortitude Re
19. Being Open-Minded To Unlearning Outdated Practices
Being open-minded to learning is essential for financial leaders in 2025. Rapid technological advancements, regulatory changes and global economic shifts demand the ability to unlearn outdated practices and embrace new strategies. This adaptability fosters growth, equips leaders to navigate challenges and ensures their organizations thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. – Nike Ajao, OneBarrow Corp.
20. Maintaining A Pragmatic Mindset
With an overabundance of information and in an increasingly complex world with new geopolitical and economic issues, it is easy to be overwhelmed. Pragmatism will help leaders to navigate those challenges effectively. – Daniele Viappiani, GC1 Ventures
The information provided here is not investment, tax, or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation.
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