Drawing from a military background, Dr. Curtis Carver believes that communication and coordination are key to maintaining and improving high performance in the enterprise. Carver understands that when people align their strategies to meet common goals, the organization benefits. CFOs can drive this culture of alignment in the enterprise by strengthening their communication and leadership. Believing that CFOs need to learn to share, communicate, teach and help each other, Carver will share collaboration and communication best practices that everyone can utilize to pave a smooth road for strategic financial leadership.

Whether our organization is currently public or private, ultimately we all serve at the pleasure of our shareholders. While many leadership roles initially appear to be clearly defined by the componentry of the organization’s shareholder group, the rise of private equity has contributed to an environment where ownership is often dynamic. Experienced in working with private equity and in taking the business public as well as private, David Tehle shares lessons learned in managing these transitions, as well as strategies for leading effectively within various ownership structures.

Despite improving business fundamentals and strengthening balance sheets, many companies are hesitant to invest in growth due to economic uncertainty, market volatility and regulatory concerns. Minding these forces, corporate agendas are focusing on capital management issues, such as optimizing, raising, investing and preserving capital. With continued record-breaking levels of cash on hand and confidence slowly returning, it is critical to strategically manage capital in order to achieve and maintain competitive advantage.

Session discovery topics:

• Align capital strategy with business strategy and operating initiatives

• Prioritize projects across the enterprise

• Develop consistent capital allocation framework to optimize investment decisions

With signs of economic improvement, organizations are heightening their focus on talent development, engagement and retention, especially critical-skill talent. Please join this executive discussion of the talent management issues most important to today’s finance leaders.

Session discovery topics:

• Best practices for engaging and nurturing top talent
• Going global — defining a corporate culture that can be adapted locally
• Employee value proposition — differentiating your organization and attracting the right-fit talent

Strategic risk management is about maximizing the value from the risk inherent in your enterprise's business environment. It encompasses two distinct but related fields: risk surveillance and risk allocation. While many enterprises' risk discussions are largely focused on risk surveillance, this singular focus does not create significant value. It is an organization's ability to increase its relative return on risk, by treating risk as input rather than outcome of a strategy, that ultimately drives returns for shareholders. Please join Bjørn Pettersen in this discussion of how top-performing strategic risk management programs are creating value.

Session discovery topics:

• Providing financial flexibility at minimum cost
• Enhancing capital allocation and performance management
• Leveraging operational and strategic flexibility

As the global economy continues to produce uncertainty and the U.S. prepares for another presidential election, businesses should consider the key political-economic risks facing the United States. How do we “stack up” globally? Are US “country risks” a challenge or an opportunity for business? Using the Robinson Country Risk Index as a lens, this session places the U.S. in comparative perspective and engages discussion of short- and long-term uncertainties and their business implications.

Despite indications of progress, concerns linger regarding the economic trajectory of the southeast region and stability of the global economy. Please join Tom Cunningham in this candid discussion of the outlook for the broader economy and its risks.

Session discovery topics:

• Assessing financial markets stability
• Expectations regarding commodity supplies and demand
• Long-term basic imbalances in the world economy