Corporate Finance: from numbers to strategy. The skills for a CFO who can lead change

12 January 2026

The world of Finance is no longer what it was ten years ago. Digitalization, new regulations, and rapidly evolving business models have radically transformed expectations for managers in the sector. It is no longer enough to “make the numbers add up”: today, vision is required.

We explored these topics with Mirka Gamberini, headhunter and industry expert, to understand which skills truly make a difference in today’s market and how the BBS Executive Master in Corporate Finance responds to these new needs.

 

Beyond technical expertise: the new Financial Leadership

Which skills—technical and, above all, transversal—really make the difference for a manager in the Finance sector today? How do intercultural sensitivity and the ability to negotiate with international stakeholders increase competitiveness in this field?

According to Gamberini, strong technical mastery of managerial skills remains an essential foundation for positions of responsibility, but today it is no longer sufficient.

The real challenge is strategic vision:

• Data-Driven Decision-Making. It is not enough to collect data; managers must be able to interpret it using advanced digital tools (such as Power BI).
• Business Partnering. A financial leader stands out for strategic insight, transforming numerical analysis into concrete business decisions aimed at company growth.
• Soft Skills. Flexibility, adaptability, and above all communication skills are essential for engaging both top management and operational teams.
• Risk management and regulatory compliance remain fundamental, but they must be accompanied by flexibility and adaptability to changing contexts.

 

A pragmatic approach to leading change 

The Finance world is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by digitalization and new business models. How can professionals prepare to manage digital transformation and regulatory compliance without losing operational effectiveness?

The answer lies in education that moves beyond pure theory and embraces pragmatism.
The approach adopted by the BBS Executive Master in Corporate Finance is highly practical: real-life case simulations, project work, and digital labs allow participants to directly experience budgeting, forecasting, and investment evaluation processes in digitalized environments. This develops the ability to read KPIs in real time and link them to operational and strategic performance.

At the same time, the Master strengthens transversal skills such as leadership, change management, and communication—essential for leading teams in complex and technologically integrated environments.
The goal is to train professionals capable of combining financial vision with digital innovation, ensuring immediate impact in the job market and a competitive advantage for companies.

 

Executive education: a career accelerator 

Why choose an executive education program today? Mirka Gamberini highlights how training should be seen not as a simple “academic course,” but as a true career accelerator.

The distinguishing elements of a high-level program like BBS’s are three:

• Immediate market value. Tools that can be applied right away.
• Uniqueness of the program. A blend of academic rigor and hands-on experience.
• Personal transformation. Growth that goes beyond technical skills, extending into leadership development.

A key added value is relational capital: access to a community of professionals, direct testimonials from CFOs and managers, and continuous exchange that creates a strong bridge between the classroom and the market.

The Master includes practical activities and direct contact with the corporate world through a blended approach that is immediately applicable.
The academic component is designed to provide solid foundations in corporate finance, risk management, and strategic planning, while the experiential component translates concepts into real cases.

Participants work on project work that can be developed in collaboration with partner companies, tackling practical case simulations (financial statements, M&A transactions, investment valuations, and budgeting processes). In addition, the program includes testimonials from CFOs and industry managers, as well as business cases presented by professionals, further strengthening the link between classroom and market. It goes without saying that the program remains flexible and open to evaluating contributions deemed interesting and effective by the audience involved, with close attention to participants’ interests and curiosities.

 

Who it is for: the profile of the Finance Leader 

The Executive Master in Corporate Finance is designed for professionals already active in the workforce who wish to accelerate their growth toward leadership roles in the financial area.
It targets individuals with a solid background in finance who aim to become leaders capable of combining technical expertise, strategic vision, and the ability to drive digital change. In particular, it is suitable for middle management profiles seeking a career leap, as well as CFOs who want to update their skills in response to the challenges of digitalization and enterprise risk management, and entrepreneurs who wish to better understand corporate finance dynamics and lead the growth of their companies.

 

The objective is to train Finance professionals capable of leading change by combining technical solidity with an innovative vision.