Workday Podcast: Transforming Finance in Finland During the Pandemic

In this episode of the Workday Podcast, Elizabeth Schauman, head of finance at Academic Work was joined by Karin Hagman, regional vice president, Nordics at Workday to discuss finance agility and looking to the future of the function beyond the pandemic.

Audio also available on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

If businesses have learned one thing from the last two years, it’s that having the right finance team in place is key to surviving and thriving during periods of continuous change. But, how does that work in practice?

In this podcast, our first ever show from Finland, two business leaders, Elizabeth Schauman, head of finance at Academic Work, and Karin Hagman, regional vice president Nordics at Workday, discuss how fast-growth organisations should tackle the challenges of a global pandemic by embracing digital transformation head on.

Below are a few highlights from the conversation, edited for clarity. You can find our other Workday Podcasts here. You can also catch our latest podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

  • “The pandemic forced us to be more agile, but then I think finance had this coming and needed to have better agility. After all, we’re living in a time where we’re facing digitalisation in all fields.” —Elizabeth Schauman

  • “People within finance are not always open to change. We have been receipt-chasers and process guards. Finance needs its people to be open-minded and willing to take on new skills and roles. Leaders need to inspire this change and give people the confidence to thrive.” —Elizabeth Schauman

  • “Everything leaves a mark within finance. It touches all parts of the business and that’s why we need real agility.” —Elizabeth Schauman

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