Season 2 Episode 19: Beyond the Numbers: Leadership, High-Performing Teams and Positive Workplaces

What role does finance really play in shaping business strategy? It is not just about the numbers. It is about driving transformation, enabling growth, and building teams that thrive.This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Faisal Anwar, a seasoned finance executive with over 25 years of experience leading across IPOs, M&A, restructuring, and strategic finance in the Gulf and beyond. Faisal has worked with global corporations and top-tier family-owned groups, delivering sustainable performance and long-term value.Together, they unpack the evolving role of finance in strategy: navigating growth across multiple markets, overcoming resistance to change, implementing ERP systems and controls, and empowering high-performing teams across cultures and generations. Faisal also shares his perspective on how finance leaders can become true strategic partners to the business.This episode is a must-watch for finance professionals, CFOs, and business leaders looking to understand how finance can unlock growth and impact at scale.

17 Syys 202545min

What separates a good leader from a truly great one? It’s not just strategy, numbers, or execution. It’s emotional intelligence, presence, and the ability to inspire.This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Kamran Malik, a seasoned Regional CFO with over 18 years of experience across APAC, the Middle East, and CIS. Known for his strategic insight and expertise in financial reporting, digital transformation, and M&A, Kamran also champions the human side of leadership.Together, they explore what makes an effective leader: the balance between leadership and management, the importance of emotional intelligence, building executive presence, and leading through change. Kamran shares real strategies for creating impact, inspiring teams, and driving growth in today’s dynamic business landscape.This episode is a must-listen for finance professionals, senior executives, and aspiring leaders looking to elevate their leadership game.

10 Syys 202534min

Dubai’s job market has always been a hotspot for professionals across finance and tax but what’s really happening in 2025? In this final instalment of the Alchemy Uncensored Podcast’s UAE Market Review, we take a closer look at Dubai’s recruitment landscape in H1.From shifting hiring trends to the industries seeing the fastest growth, this episode breaks down what’s changed since last year and what to expect heading into H2. We also explore how candidate expectations, employer demands, and market confidence are shaping the current hiring scene.Whether you're navigating your next move or planning to scale your team, this episode offers a clear, up-to-date view of one of the region’s most talked-about markets.#DubaiJobs #FinanceCareers #TaxRecruitment #UAEHiring #AlchemyUncensored #MarketReview #DubaiRecruitment #UAE2025

30 Heinä 202516min

The tax recruitment landscape is shifting, and in this episode of the Alchemy Uncensored Podcast, we break down exactly what’s changed between H1 2024 and H1 2025. Joined by our in-house tax specialist Rutika, we explore how the number of roles has evolved, which industries are driving growth, and what’s happening with niche tax demand.We also look at how the balance between immediately available and relocated candidates has shifted, how the focus on digital tax transformation is progressing, and which sectors are emerging as key players. Whether you're a tax professional planning your next move or a company rethinking your hiring strategy, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the rest of the year.

23 Heinä 202514min

Abu Dhabi’s recruitment landscape continues to evolve, and in this episode of the Alchemy Uncensored Podcast, we unpack what’s really happening on the ground. This H1 market review gives a focused look into the capital’s finance and tax hiring trends.We cover which roles are most in demand, which industries are actively hiring, and how the market has shifted since the start of the year. With stabilising salaries and ongoing talent shortages, the Abu Dhabi market presents both opportunities and challenges for job seekers and employers alike.Whether you're planning your next career move or trying to build out your team, this episode delivers the clarity and insight you need to stay ahead in one of the UAE’s most dynamic recruitment markets.#AbuDhabiJobs #FinanceRecruitment #TaxCareers #UAEHiring #AlchemyUncensored #MarketReview

15 Heinä 202520min

Transformation isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the difference between keeping up and truly leading.This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Lewis Elsey sits down with Tarek Sayed, a transformational CFO whose 20+ year career has spanned four continents and some of the world’s most dynamic organisations, from General Electric to Mastercard and Majid Al Futtaim Ventures.From overhauling finance systems to reshaping global teams, Tarek shares the real work behind transformation, what it takes to drive change across borders, redefine leadership in the region, and why today’s CFOs must evolve beyond the numbers.This episode is a must-watch for finance professionals, senior leaders, and anyone navigating transformation in a fast-changing world.You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or visit our website at www.alchemysearch

18 Kesä 202543min

How do you fast-track your career from audit to CFO and thrive in a high-growth, PE-backed business abroad?This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Lewis Elsey is joined by Josh Burton, CFO at Skybound Wealth Management and a chartered accountant who's spent nearly a decade building his career in Dubai.From navigating the leap from audit to industry, to driving transformation within a private equity environment, Josh shares sharp insights on career acceleration, leadership growth, and balancing ambition with well-being, even taking an 18-month sabbatical mid-journey.This episode is a must-watch for finance professionals, aspiring CFOs, and anyone curious about life and leadership in the UAE

4 Kesä 202540min

You did everything right. The job. The title. The wins.But behind the success? Burnout. Pressure. Disconnection.This week on Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Lucie Lachaux - a former CFO turned mindset and performance coach, and the founder of Changing Minds. Lucie has coached over 500 leaders across 15+ countries and is ranked the #1 LinkedIn creator in the UAE for Personal Growth & Productivity.Together, they dive into the hidden cost of high achievement: burnout, identity loss, and the pressure to constantly perform. Lucie shares how leaders can sustain ambition while staying grounded, lead powerfully without overworking, and find real success — the kind that feels as good as it looks.This episode is essential viewing for finance professionals, senior leaders, and high performers ready to redefine how they lead, think, and live.

28 Touko 202547min