Unlock the secret to leadership that truly gets results, not just talk. When influence, agility, and culture collide, your team can achieve extraordinary outcomes, but only if you master the art of knowing yourself and others.

In this episode, Steve Bloomer, a seasoned finance director with over 25 years of experience, shares how grounded values like accountability and curiosity shaped his leadership style, and the importance of getting stuff done. From fighting fires during his early career at Fujitsu to steering complex transformations across Europe, he reveals the critical lessons learned from climbing the corporate ladder and stepping into diverse roles.

• How finance leaders can build influence beyond technical expertise
• Why self-awareness and understanding personal blind spots matter in leadership
• Steve’s career journey from graduate roles to senior finance transformation leadership
• The role of mentors, sponsorship, and stepping outside your comfort zone
• Moving from “firefighting” to enabling others and sustaining change
• Balancing ambition, career progression, and family priorities
• Turning data into insight that drives practical business change
• Lessons from working across cultures and adapting leadership style
• Why failure, feedback, and continuous development build stronger teams
• The human skills finance professionals need as automation and AI reshape the function

You'll discover why technical expertise alone isn’t enough in today’s fast-changing landscape. Steve breaks down the power of influence over technical accuracy, and how understanding different personalities (like the insights from Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Idiots) can transform your ability to lead, communicate, and inspire change. Learn how to navigate ambiguity, influence stakeholders, and foster a culture where failure becomes a stepping stone rather than a setback.

Perfect for finance professionals, new managers, or anyone committed to making a lasting difference, this is your guide to leadership that moves beyond the technical, towards influence, empathy, and culture.