Why Treasury Expertise Gets You Heard, but Results and Relationships Build Influence

Technical treasury expertise can earn you credibility, but it takes results, relationships, adaptability and an understanding of the wider business to build lasting influence.

In this episode, Julia Donegan, Senior Global Treasury Director at Newell Brands, explores what it takes to lead treasury through transformation, build a high-performing global team and make sure treasury continues to have a meaningful voice across the organisation.

Julia Donegan is Senior Global Treasury Director at Newell Brands, a leading global consumer goods company behind brands including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Yankee Candle and Paper Mate.

In her current role, Julia leads a global treasury team and works across treasury operations, transformation, banking structures, technology, liquidity and strategic business collaboration.

Julia shares her perspective on leading treasury in an organisation that is constantly changing and why strong technical knowledge is only one part of becoming an effective treasury leader.

She discusses how her team has approached large-scale treasury transformation while maintaining control of day-to-day cash operations, the importance of breaking complex projects into manageable stages and why collaboration with banks, IT, tax and other teams is essential.

The conversation also explores leadership, developing treasury talent, practical applications of AI, building strong professional relationships and why treasury professionals at every level need to keep learning and evolving.

Main Topics Discussed:

• How to maintain control of daily treasury operations while delivering major transformation projects
• Why breaking treasury projects into smaller, manageable stages can help maintain momentum
• Building and developing a global treasury team through continuous organisational change
• Why treasury needs to clearly communicate its requirements when working with IT and technology teams
• Where AI is adding practical value in treasury and where human expertise remains essential
• Why technical expertise and results can get treasury into senior conversations, but relationships help build influence
• The importance of building relationships across the organisation, with banking partners and within the wider treasury community
• Why treasury professionals should continually volunteer for projects, broaden their experience and avoid standing still

You can connect with Julia Donegan on LinkedIn.

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