For a staggering 26 years, Annesa Dsouza, Finance Director Oetiker Group, has been employed in the world of finance, making numbers dance to her tune. As an expert in managing complete accounts and finance for several prominent companies, she has honed her skills in configuring SAP ERP, arranging funds, and providing immaculate MIS reporting. With a natural flair for numbers and a penchant for challenge, she has emerged as a formidable F&A Executive, employing innovative tools and methodologies to tackle any hurdle with ease. The longevity of her career never ceases to amaze her, and she takes pride in the wealth of experience she has amassed over the years.
Throughout her career, Annesa has been an integral part of the outstanding senior management team, reporting to CEOs and Group CFOs, and interacting with Directors. This has given her the opportunity to actively participate in strategic decision-making from the F&A side. She has been involved in the design and delivery of ERP, funding, accounting, processes, planning, compliance, and more for all companies, including young and innovative businesses.
Strong Sense of Social Responsibility and Professional Integrity
Annesa possesses a reliable and uncomplicated character, imbued with positivity and cheerfulness for the most part. She exhibits an innate tranquility and fortitude to confront any difficulties that may arise, firmly believing that every problem has a solution, one just needs to search diligently. Social responsibility is a core value that Annesa upholds, with a priority for safety above all else.
Within a professional setting, Annesa adopts a stern and dutiful demeanor, disapproving of any deceitful or underhanded actions. She values transparency and clarity and demonstrates exceptional understanding of others. Annesa’s strengths lie in her ability to achieve, maintain focus, engage in strategic thinking, envision future possibilities, cultivate a desire for knowledge, and build strong relationships.
Evolving Perspective on Life Through Difficulties and Hard Work
Annesa hails from a middle-class family that prioritizes completing daily tasks and getting a good night’s sleep above all else. They find contentment in achieving small goals and have no desire for anything grandiose. Annesa’s parents are happy with their 9-5 jobs and are simply glad that their children are studying.
Annesa herself was an average student in a convent school. Achieving top grades, participating in debates, engaging in inter-school challenges, and winning scholarships were all distant aspirations. Her routine consisted solely of school, play, homework, meals, and sleep. Family gatherings were infrequent occasions in her life. She grew up with slogans such as “hard work pays off,” “no pain, no gain,” “without God, you can do nothing,” “fear the dark,” and “trust no one.”
However, her thought process evolved as she pursued professional academics, on-the-job training, and leadership roles. Annesa faced various challenges in life and tackled them head-on without looking back.
Overcoming Challenges Through Belief in Herself, Prayer, and Compassion
Annesa attributes her success to her belief in herself, prayer, and aiming high. She possesses an attitude of never giving up, continuously learning and applying new knowledge, being bold and fearless, and demonstrating compassion towards others. She understands that each day presents limitless opportunities that should not be taken for granted, and that one must be prepared for these opportunities as they arise without warning.
In order to face life’s challenges, Annesa accepts whatever comes her way, prays for strength and wisdom, prioritizes spending time with family, attending to her health and nourishing her soul. She believes in seeking help from those who are willing to offer it, including parents, children, friends, neighbours, community members, peers, colleagues, and others. She recognizes that embarking on life’s journey alone can be arduous, and that it is important to be less judgmental of others.
Annesa values honesty and believes in doing things the right way, without resorting to shortcuts or short-term solutions. She is grateful for the struggles she has faced in life, as they have shaped her into the person she is today and made her stronger.
Annesa welcomes change and is not afraid of losing something good in order to gain something better. She expresses deep gratitude for her family, parents, husband, children, and extended family members, without whom her journey would not have been possible. Their unwavering support and encouragement have played a significant role in her success.
Achieving Organizational Success
According to Annesa, organizations can achieve results through either individual heroics or team processes. However, she believes that both approaches must work collaboratively to be successful in the long term. While individual heroics can lead to short-term success, this approach is not sustainable as it relies on the individual hero who may not always be present or available.
In contrast, team processes focus on building systems and structures that can withstand the test of time, ensuring long-term sustainability. These processes are not limited to individual heroics, and their success relies on committed individuals who are willing to work collaboratively within the established framework.
Balancing Roles and Responsibilities
As a Finance Director, Annesa faces a myriad of roles and responsibilities every day. Her work involves dealing with unknown challenges and striving to achieve daily milestones. If her day goes well, she feels satisfied with her work. However, if the day is tough but ends well, it still puts her in a happy state of mind. And if things don’t go as planned, she seeks alternative ways to achieve her goals.
Regardless of the outcome, Annesa understands the importance of maintaining a positive and happy state of mind. She knows that failing to do so can lead to numerous health complications. Therefore, she aims to achieve everything she planned for the day and have a good night’s sleep, which brings her happiness.
From Experience to Advice
As someone who has experience in leadership positions, Annesa advises those entering such roles for the first time to believe in themselves, dream big, be passionate, and live their dreams. If they truly want to achieve something, it should give them sleepless nights. They should never give up, as the best results come only to those who persist.
Additionally, it’s essential to believe in one’s team, as they play a crucial role in achieving the goals. Without them, it’s impossible to succeed. A good leader should always strive to build a strong and supportive team that can work together towards a common goal. This involves setting clear expectations, providing guidance and support, and celebrating successes together.
Breaking Barriers
In a world dominated by men, being a woman leader can be a challenge, but believing in oneself is the key to success. Annesa believes that leadership is not defined by gender, and consistently delivering high-quality work is essential to maintain one’s position. Leaders should have the mindset that there is always a solution to any problem and that patience and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.
Staying up-to-date, finding the right business partners, utilizing technology, and building a collaborative team are all critical elements to achieving set goals. However, these require time and conscious effort to achieve. Trust is an important factor in maintaining one’s position, and taking it for granted and doing little or nothing will not guarantee success. It is essential to dream and aim for the next challenge to remain competitive.
Today’s emerging leaders often lack focus, patience, and hard work. Real-time data is readily available, but many people do not take the time to understand it fully or use it effectively. Furthermore, there is little desire to learn beyond predefined boundaries, and selfless learning and delivering are missing.
Evolving Role of Leaders in Modern Finance
According to Annesa, finance has undergone significant technological changes in recent years, with advancements in real-time updates, accounting ERP systems, big data analytics, BI tools, AI, compliance tools, and online reconciliations. As a result, many of the pain points have been addressed, leading to higher expectations and lower employment of experienced personnel since most solutions are readily available.
However, Annesa emphasizes that technology is a tool and not a substitute for human expertise. While investments in technology are necessary, cost-cutting measures such as reducing recruitment must be balanced with the need for qualified personnel to use the software effectively. For instance, even if all relevant information is available online for GST or income tax, a new user may get lost without the guidance of an experienced individual. Therefore, there should be a blend of experienced and tech-savvy individuals to fully explore and exploit the best possible outcomes.
Annesa believes that leaders must be aware of the latest technologies and quickly adapt to their use. While it was previously crucial to search for learned leaders, the focus has now shifted to finding tech-savvy leaders. She concludes that change is constant, and success depends on adapting to it.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
