The finance world moves fast. Professionals need spaces to connect, network, and advance together - which is where the Finance Alliance community leads the way!
Our diverse membership, ranging from industry novices to seasoned experts, ensures a rich library of knowledge and experiences, making the community ideal for anyone looking to grow in their finance career.
Below, we hear from Megan Walbyoff, Commercial Finance Director at Luno (a Cryptocurrency wallet/exchange owned by Digital Currency Group and operating in over 40 countries). In her role, Megan is responsible for FP&A, Finance Business Partnering, revenue forecasting, and commercial analysis.
With over 13 years of post-qualification experience, including eight years with PwC in audit, Megan has tackled a wide array of technical challenges and transactions across multiple industries.
Megan wanted to expand her network, which was the main reason she joined the Finance Alliance Slack community. After being a member for quite a while, we decided to catch up with Megan to hear about her experience.
What have you enjoyed most since joining?
Finance Alliance offers a massive range of resources for all community members. From webinars featuring some of the biggest names in finance to educational articles, virtual and in-person events, reports, playbooks, and so much more.
We wanted to know what Megan has enjoyed the most since becoming a member. She highlighted our selection of articles (updated each week) covering topics such as FP&A, career development, finance transformation and more.
"The fresh content and resources channels on Slack have been great. I regularly read the articles shared and often take these back to my team as we hold discussions about the latest thinking related to FP&A."
What type of discussions have you found the most insightful and useful?
Finance Alliance thrives on a diverse array of discussions, offering insights into various facets of the finance world. However, Megan prefers to engage with content and likes to keep up with conversations - but that side of the community isn't her top priority (and that's okay!).
"I have been less active with the discussions, and more focused on the articles. But I keep an eye on discussions around things like systems."
4. What type of resources have you found the most helpful?
The Finance Alliance community is renowned for its diverse and extensive resources, catering to the varied interests and needs of its members. Among these, our recent focus on artificial intelligence (AI) in finance has garnered significant attention and appreciation.
Members like Megan find these AI-centric resources particularly beneficial, as they offer cutting-edge insights and practical applications of AI in the finance sector:
"The resources I've found most helpful are those related to AI, and those about some of the challenges facing FP&A (which I share with my team)."
Our content on AI includes in-depth articles, expert-led webinars, and interactive discussions that explore how AI is transforming financial planning and analysis, risk management, and decision-making processes.
Here are just a few that our community members have enjoyed recently:
Bekka Nathan
Sabrinthia Donnelly
Bekka Nathan
How has the community impacted your professional growth?
Professional growth is a hallmark of the Finance Alliance experience and we're dedicated to supporting our members in their career development every step of the way.
Our community offers a comprehensive platform where finance professionals can enhance their skills, gain new insights, and connect with industry experts and peers. Through a variety of initiatives such as career advice, and access to exclusive industry reports and case studies, we empower our members to achieve their professional objectives.
Megan reflects on her journey within the community, emphasizing how the diverse range of discussions, resources, and networking opportunities has helped her stay on top of industry trends, gain confidence in her role, and expand her professional network:
"It has been helpful for me to get an insight into who is out there and the types of questions people ask. I have grown in confidence. Joining has helped me to keep my finger on the pulse of the latest thought leadership in finance."
Can you share a specific instance where the community helped you overcome a professional challenge?
Members often find the community a supportive space for overcoming challenges. Megan recounts a significant experience:
"Through Finance Alliance, I took part in a panel discussion as part if the FP&A Forum. This was something I had wanted to do for a while but I was unsure about whether I had sufficient expertise. Off the back of this, I posted about my experience on LinkedIn and my Company also reposted this."
In what ways have you contributed to the community, and what was the outcome?
Contributing to the community can lead to rewarding experiences, as Megan discovered:
"Talking at the FP&A forum – the outcome was that people got in touch after the fact to say they were interested in learning more."
How do you see the value of this community in comparison to other professional networks you're part of?
Comparing Finance Alliance to other networks highlights its unique strengths. Megan explains:
"The Finance Alliance community is welcoming and encourages people to get involved. It’s a readily available network of individuals with a range of knowledge and experience, making it a great place to go to for advice on arising topics.
"It's proactive in sharing articles and driving discussions, which is also good for developing yourself professionally."
Why should other finance professionals join the community?
Encouraging others to join, Megan highlights the many benefits:
"There are multiple benefits from the community, including the opportunity to tap into a network of like minded professionals and to access information and thought leadership. You get out of it what you put in."
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