HR is not taken seriously in the majority of organisations and this is primarily because of HR itself. And by this I don’t mean that HR professionals are seen as 'softies'. No, it concerns the balance between the heart and mind, between sensing and knowing and between having a hunch and actually being 100% sure.

No sugar, fewer carbohydrates, gluten-free. Mindful and healthy eating is hot. Consumers are turning away from unhealthy products en masse and embracing one superfood trend after another. How do you respond to this as a food manufacturer? Do you go wherever the wind blows? Or do you still need to master the art of versatility?

Many financial managers experience challenges on a daily basis. They possess crucial information that can heavily impact business strategy, but are often unable to contribute to researching the results. Since traditional reporting methods are so time-consuming, they often just forward the information, rather than analyse and discuss it. The right BI tools can change this situation.

Aren’t robots in finance still some way off? Absolutely not. They are closer than you might think, which means that financial administration can be handled automatically. Should finance professionals be concerned?

Nowadays, there should be a Chief Innovation Officer in every boardroom, with innovation comprehensively embedded in the business strategy. This is the only way to keep up with an ever-changing playing field. No time to hesitate- it’s time for action!

Financial managers who are searching for ways to work faster and smarter are exploring the potential of big data. Big data undoubtedly has a lot to offer the financial manager. But not ‘just like that’. It’s possible to have a mountain of data, but that mountain is of little value without the strategy and the tools to convert the data into useable insights.

The food industry is under pressure. Competition over scale, costs and prices is intense. How should you deal with price fluctuations? Approached in the right way, you’ll make a profit. If not, you could be faced with significant expenses.

Automation and algorithms are increasingly dominating financial processes. One important technological development is predictive analytics. What is it, what makes it successful, and what can – or should – the CFO do with it?

Digital transformation, robotization, artificial intelligence. The impact of technological developments is high on the strategic agenda of many companies. What does this period of transformation mean for HR professionals? And what role are we expected to take?

Robotics, machine learning, blockchain- all technologies which cause disruption and spark digital transformation. 2016 could well be described as the year in which technological developments gained a foothold in both boardroom planning and management publications. If the trend gurus are to be believed, there are some big changes on the horizon. But what’s realistic? And what time frame are we talking about? What are the hot topics that should be on every CFO’s strategic agenda in 2017?