Janice Matwi – ACCA Zambia Country Head & Regional Head of Employer Partnerships for Africa
It is with great pleasure and excitement that I welcome you all to this remarkable gathering, the annual ACCA Business Leaders Conference, where we come together to explore and discuss the ever-evolving landscape of “Trends Shaping Business Strategy and the World of Work” which is this year’s theme.
Today, we find ourselves standing at the intersection of remarkable transformation and unprecedented challenges. The world of business is evolving at a rapid pace, driven by technological advancements, societal shifts, and global events. In this dynamic environment, it is imperative for us, as leaders, to stay ahead of the curve and adapt our strategies to effectively navigate these changes.
As business becomes increasingly global,finance professionals and business leaders are increasingly being seen as a source of higher-value business advice and analysis. Your understanding of worldwide trends and their potential impact on your organisation has never been more important.
This conference serves as a catalyst for innovative thinking and insightful conversations that will shape the future of our organizations and businesses. We have assembled an extraordinary lineup of thought leaders, experts, and visionaries, each bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the table. Their invaluable insights will help us decipher the trends that are shaping our business strategies and the world of work.
The world of work has gone through the biggest transformation for more than a generation and a new era has begun. There are many trends but we settled on discussing four main trends:
- The evolved role of leadership.
- Digital transformation.
- The rise of big data.
- The rise of ESG.
Examining these trends will ensure that as a leader, you provide the best advice and identify the issues that require action and oversight.
ACCA has recognized the rapidly evolving world of work, as organizations strive to adopt business practices that are more inclusive, sustainable, and recognise environmental and social impacts.
Our over-arching brand theme for 2023/24 is
“Accounting for a better world” reflecting the vital role the profession plays in the transition to a fairer, greener and more sustainable world.
Throughout the year, we’ll bring our theme to life through a rolling programme of ‘spotlights’ that engage our stakeholders around an area of current relevance and importance to the profession. Each of our spotlights are underpinned with our policy and insights and draw together our related learning and other resources. By bringing everything we offer together we better demonstrate our leadership of developing the accountancy profession the world needs – a profession that we’re equipping to create a better world.
There’s a world of opportunity in front of us,
so it’s essential all finance professionals and
business leaders apply the right focus to
deliver maximum impact.
I encourage you all to take small steps or actions towards a more sustainable world. Collectively we can make a big impact.
My team and I look forward to hosting you for the next two days.