Season 4 Episode 17: Leadership in Construction - A CFO's Perspective

Uncertainty is inevitable.

How leaders respond to it is what makes the difference.

In this episode of Alchemy Uncensored, Conor McHugh is joined by Alia Saleh, CFO of ISG Middle East, who is widely recognised for her work on leadership, the future of finance, and women's representation at senior levels.

Together, they explore what finance leadership looks like in one of the world's most demanding industries and how CFOs can help organisations navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Because the reality is, today's CFO is no longer focused solely on financial reporting.

They are expected to guide strategy, manage risk, communicate with stakeholders, embrace new technologies, and help businesses make better decisions when the future is uncertain.

This conversation brings that into focus. From leading finance in construction to using AI for scenario planning, Alia shares practical lessons on resilience, leadership, and the evolving role of the modern CFO.

This is not just about construction.

It is about how finance leaders can build stronger businesses during uncertain times.

What you will hear in this episode:

📌 What uncertainty looks like from a CFO's perspective

📌 Managing cash flow during volatile markets

📌 Supporting employees, customers, and supply chains through change

📌 The role of banks and external stakeholders during uncertainty

📌 How AI is improving scenario planning and decision-making

📌 The future of finance in the construction industry

📌 What finance leaders should be focusing on today

This episode is proudly supported by Alaan, the Middle East's leading corporate card and expense management platform. Alaan helps companies eliminate petty cash, reimbursements, and manual reconciliations by automating expense tracking, approvals, and accounting, giving finance teams greater control and visibility without the manual work.

A big thank you to Alaan for supporting this season and helping us bring these conversations to life. We will be back soon with more insights and more voices from across the region.

Whether you're a finance professional, business leader, or aspiring CFO, this episode offers practical insights into leading with confidence when certainty isn't an option.

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