Want a board seat? Xero’s CFO says being a good operator isn’t enough

Claire Bramley, CFO of Xero, argues that financial leaders pursuing board positions must demonstrate strategic enterprise thinking, not merely operational finance competence. The distinction matters: a CFO who optimises cash flow and manages risk isn't automatically board-ready. Board seats demand a different capability set – the ability to think across business model, market positioning, and stakeholder value creation beyond the finance function.