Episode 289: How Mid-Market Firms Handle Global Growth, Central Bank Rules, & Treasury Automation with Sue Caras

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we sit down with Stephen Randall, Global Head of Liquidity Management Services at Citi, to dive into the evolving landscape of treasury management and the future of liquidity solutions. With extensive experience in the treasury function, Stephen provides invaluable insights into how businesses are navigating volatility, the increasing need for real-time liquidity, and the role of technology, including AI, in transforming treasury operations.Stephen discusses the key challenges treasury teams face today, from managing liquidity in real-time to leveraging AI for better decision-making and risk management. He also explores the significant shifts in treasury operations over the past few years, the role of data in modern treasury functions, and what future treasury teams must do to stay ahead in a rapidly changing financial landscape.Whether you're leading a finance function, navigating the complex treasury landscape, or preparing for your first CFO seat, this conversation offers practical advice on managing liquidity, leveraging technology for efficiency, and future-proofing your treasury operations. Stephen’s insights into adapting to rapid technological advancements, data strategy, and embracing real-time liquidity management are crucial for professionals looking to stay ahead in today’s fast-evolving financial world.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Future of Liquidity Management: How companies are preparing for volatility while ensuring they have enough liquidity to capitalize on new opportunities in 2025 and beyond.The Speed of Change in Treasury: The shift towards real-time liquidity management and how treasury teams must adapt to faster data flows and transaction speeds.AI in Treasury: How AI is shaping the treasury function by enhancing forecasting, anomaly detection, and automating routine tasks for better efficiency.The Importance of Data: Why having clean, standardized data is crucial for modern treasury teams to make informed decisions and optimize liquidity.Treasury’s Evolving Role: How the relationship between treasury teams and their banking partners is changing and what that means for the future of liquidity management.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Introduction to Stephen Randall and the future of liquidity management[03:30] – The biggest shifts in treasury operations over the last five years[07:00] – Managing liquidity during uncertain times and volatile markets[12:00] – The role of AI in treasury management and its impact on decision-making[15:30] – Real-time liquidity and the rise of 24/7 treasury functions[21:00] – Overcoming data challenges in treasury and how clean data drives better decisions[26:00] – Key strategies for treasury teams to implement AI and automate operations[30:00] – The future of treasury technology and the need for end-to-end connectivity[34:30] – How Citi supports treasury teams in navigating these challenges and embracing new technologyFollow our guest Stephen Randall:&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-randall-b97997207/&nbsp;Citi: https://www.citigroup.com/global&nbsp;Treasury Leadership: An Antidote to Market Stress: <a...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we are joined by Sue Caras, Head of Global Commercial Banking for Global Payments Solutions at Bank of America, to explore the challenges and best practices treasury teams must consider when expanding internationally. With over two decades of experience in corporate treasury and global banking, Sue provides expert insights into managing cash flows, foreign exchange (FX) strategies, and navigating local regulations during international expansion.Sue discusses the foundational decisions treasury teams need to make when entering new markets, the role of technology in streamlining operations, and the evolving regulatory landscapes across different jurisdictions. Whether you’re part of a growing middle-market company or supporting a multinational enterprise, this conversation offers practical advice on the strategic and operational aspects of corporate treasury during global expansion.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:International Expansion Strategy: Key treasury decisions when scaling internationally, from starting with cross-border transactions to setting up full operations abroad.Cash Management Best Practices: How to establish an effective global cash management structure, including choosing banking partners, setting up accounts, and handling liquidity.Managing FX Risks: Approaches to mitigating FX exposure when invoicing in local currencies and handling fluctuating exchange rates.Navigating Regulatory Complexity: How to manage the regulatory challenges of different countries and understand the role of central banks in financial transactions.The Role of Treasury in M&amp;A: How treasury teams support international business development through mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A).AI in Treasury Operations: How generative AI is transforming treasury functions, from forecasting cash flows to automating invoicing and reconciliation.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Meet Sue Caras from Bank of America[02:35] – Key Treasury Decisions When Expanding Internationally[03:51] – Building Best-in-Class Cash Management Infrastructure[07:57] – Managing Currency Exposure and Natural Hedging[13:18] – Best Practices for Organic International Expansion[17:30] – Treasury’s Role in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&amp;A)[21:17] – The Impact of Tariffs and Global Market Volatility[24:00] – How Bank of America Uses AI in Treasury[31:29] – Real Client Case Studies of AI in Treasury Operations[43:36] – Final Advice: Why Global Expansion Should Be FunFollow our guest, Sue Caras: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-caras-0a08ab169/ Bank of America: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bank-of-america-business/&nbsp;Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website: https://corporate-treasury-101.com/&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/86645197/admin/dashboard/&nbsp;&nbsp;Follow Hussam &amp; Guillaume:Hussam on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-ali-6bb69186/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we sit down with Stephen Randall, Global Head of Liquidity Management Services at Citi, to dive into the evolving landscape of treasury management and the future of liquidity solutions. With extensive experience in the treasury function, Stephen provides invaluable insights into how businesses are navigating volatility, the increasing need for real-time liquidity, and the role of technology, including AI, in transforming treasury operations.Stephen discusses the key challenges treasury teams face today, from managing liquidity in real-time to leveraging AI for better decision-making and risk management. He also explores the significant shifts in treasury operations over the past few years, the role of data in modern treasury functions, and what future treasury teams must do to stay ahead in a rapidly changing financial landscape.Whether you're leading a finance function, navigating the complex treasury landscape, or preparing for your first CFO seat, this conversation offers practical advice on managing liquidity, leveraging technology for efficiency, and future-proofing your treasury operations. Stephen’s insights into adapting to rapid technological advancements, data strategy, and embracing real-time liquidity management are crucial for professionals looking to stay ahead in today’s fast-evolving financial world.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Future of Liquidity Management: How companies are preparing for volatility while ensuring they have enough liquidity to capitalize on new opportunities in 2025 and beyond.The Speed of Change in Treasury: The shift towards real-time liquidity management and how treasury teams must adapt to faster data flows and transaction speeds.AI in Treasury: How AI is shaping the treasury function by enhancing forecasting, anomaly detection, and automating routine tasks for better efficiency.The Importance of Data: Why having clean, standardized data is crucial for modern treasury teams to make informed decisions and optimize liquidity.Treasury’s Evolving Role: How the relationship between treasury teams and their banking partners is changing and what that means for the future of liquidity management.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Introduction to Stephen Randall and the future of liquidity management[03:30] – The biggest shifts in treasury operations over the last five years[07:00] – Managing liquidity during uncertain times and volatile markets[12:00] – The role of AI in treasury management and its impact on decision-making[15:30] – Real-time liquidity and the rise of 24/7 treasury functions[21:00] – Overcoming data challenges in treasury and how clean data drives better decisions[26:00] – Key strategies for treasury teams to implement AI and automate operations[30:00] – The future of treasury technology and the need for end-to-end connectivity[34:30] – How Citi supports treasury teams in navigating these challenges and embracing new technologyFollow our guest Stephen Randall:&nbsp;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-randall-b97997207/&nbsp;Citi: https://www.citigroup.com/global&nbsp;Treasury Leadership: An Antidote to Market Stress: <a...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we sit down with Philip Costa Hibberd and Jan-Willem Attevelt from Automation Boutique to explore how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming treasury and finance teams. From eliminating manual workflows to building scalable automation ecosystems, Philip and Jan-Willem explain how modern tech can unlock efficiency and empower treasury teams to focus on value-driving activities. Whether you're new to automation or considering a rollout in your organization, this is a treasury-forward deep dive worth tuning into.Philip Costa Hibberd is the founder of Automation Boutique and a seasoned automation manager specializing in finance and treasury. Jan-Willem Attevelt is a technical expert in RPA, APIs, and AI, and brings extensive treasury experience to his work. Together, they help global organizations streamline operations through practical, no-nonsense automation strategies.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat RPA is and how it fits into broader treasury automation effortsWhy attended vs unattended bots matter—and where AI fits into the mixPractical use cases: from FX rate retrieval to multi-bank PDF parsingWhy RPA is “macros on steroids”—and what it can do that Excel can’tThe risks of automating broken processes and why simplicity winsEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps&nbsp;[00:00] – Introduction and AFP partnership ($100 off CTP certification) [01:29] – Meet Philip and Jan-Willem from Automation Boutique [03:02] – What is automation in Treasury, and why does it matter [06:02] – What is RPA and how it works in a Treasury context [08:04] – Security, attended vs unattended bots, and credential handling [11:25] – How RPA and AI can work together in automation flows [15:23] – Simple RPA use case: extracting data from PDF confirmations [19:52] – Why RPA isn’t always the best solution – when to say no [24:17] – RPA vs Excel macros: key differences and advantages [30:22] – How bots interact with applications and system UIs [36:05] – Is RPA suitable for small businesses? Cost and scalability [39:40] – Using Excel and Power Query as a starting point for automation [43:48] – Skills needed to start with RPA (free training and tools) [46:53] – How to maintain RPA implementations without deep tech skills [51:19] – Drawbacks of RPA: automating messy processes creates bigger problems [54:41] – Common Treasury RPA use cases: reporting &amp; master data uploads [56:51] – Real success story: automating bank deal confirmation processing [01:09:13] – Future of Treasury: combining RPA with AI for decision-making [01:10:51] – Where to learn more: UiPath, Microsoft, and Automation BoutiqueFollow Philip Costa Hibberd &amp; Jan-Willem AtteveltWebsite: https://www.automationboutique.com/Philip Costa Hibberd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-costa-hibberd/ Jan-Willem Attevelt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attevelt/&nbsp;Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website: <a...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we explore how corporate treasurers can enhance collaboration with Procurement and Accounts Payable (AP) teams to optimize working capital, reduce the cost of capital, and improve cash flow visibility. Tamir Shafer and Rajiv Ramachandran from Coupa share insights on the interdependencies between Treasury, Procurement, and AP, and how technology platforms can break down silos and streamline these critical financial functions. With growing complexity in supply chains and supplier payment management, treasurers need new strategies and tools to drive efficiency and financial health across the organization.Tamir Shafer, Area Vice President at Coupa and a former Treasury practitioner, offers a unique perspective on how Treasury can better engage with Procurement and AP. Rajiv Ramachandran, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at Coupa Pay, explains how integrated spend management platforms empower companies to gain early visibility into payments and cash flow forecasts while enabling innovative solutions like dynamic discounting. Together, they unpack how Treasury can become a strategic leader by working closely with these departments.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe roles Procurement and AP play and their impact on Treasury operationsHow Treasury, Procurement, and AP interconnect to manage supplier contracts, payments, and liquidity riskWays data analytics and technology platforms like Coupa improve spend visibility and cash flow forecastingPractical insights on dynamic discounting and working capital optimization across the supply chainTips for breaking down organizational silos and fostering cross-department collaboration for financial transformationEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps&nbsp;[00:00] – Introduction and $100 AFP Certification Discount [00:37] – Meet Tamir Shafer and Rajiv Ramachandran from Coupa [02:17] – What Does a Procurement Department Typically Do? [06:11] – Supplier Contracts, Risk, and Treasury’s Role [08:54] – Understanding the Accounts Payable Process [13:17] – Optimizing Working Capital through Dynamic Discounting [20:01] – Simplifying Payment and Financing with Technology [25:27] – Integration Challenges and Supplier Onboarding [30:10] – Interdependencies Between Procurement, AP, and Treasury [37:03] – How Coupa Enables Collaboration Through Unified Platform [42:54] – Learning Across Departments and Breaking Silos [48:00] – Why Coupa Linked Procurement, AP, and Treasury [56:00] – Final Advice: Treasurers as Superheroes and Change Agents [58:00] – Closing and How to Learn More About Coupa and Our GuestsFollow Our Guests:Tamir ShaferLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamir-shafer-0722434/&nbsp;Website: https://www.coupa.com/&nbsp;Coupa (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/coupa-software/&nbsp;Rajiv RamachandranLinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajiv-ramachandran-7a60b91/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we dive into how corporate treasurers can better manage their short-term investments and gain clearer visibility over their cash using money market funds and digital investment portals with Sebastian Ramos and Zachary Brown from Institutional Cash Distributors (ICD). With rising interest rates and tighter scrutiny around liquidity, treasury teams are looking for tools that make it easier to invest wisely and manage risk. This episode explores how these funds work, why they’re becoming more popular, and how technology can help treasurers make faster, smarter decisions.Sebastian Ramos and Zachary Brown from ICD join us to explain it all. Sebastian, who leads global trading and product strategy, walks us through the basics of money market funds and how they’re structured, the benefits they offer, and how they compare to other investment options. Zach, who oversees product development, introduces ICD’s new Portfolio Analytics tool. It’s built to help treasurers pull data from different sources and see their exposure in real time, so they can act quickly when markets shift. Together, they break down how treasury teams can reduce risk and stay in control.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow money market funds work and why they’re ideal for liquidity and diversificationWhy independent investment portals offer advantages over bank platformsHow to simplify the complexity of short-term investing with daily digital executionWhat ICD’s new Portfolio Analytics tool does and how it supports better risk managementHow AI and machine learning are transforming treasury reporting and data integrationEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps[00:00] – Introduction and $100 AFP Certification Discount[01:12] – Meet Sebastian Ramos and Zachary Brown from ICD[02:41] – What Are Money Market Funds and How They Work[06:33] – MMFs vs. Bank Deposits: Credit, Liquidity, and Diversification[11:12] – MMFs in a Rising Rate Environment[18:12] – Regional Differences: U.S. vs Europe MMF Regulations[25:18] – How Treasurers Access and Trade MMFs[26:58] – Investment Portals Explained and ICD’s Independent Platform[39:53] – Launching ICD Portfolio Analytics: Problem, Solution, and Use Case[43:47] – Exposure Tracking, Counterparty Risk, and Predictive Scenarios[48:29] – Data Integrations, File Challenges, and Use of AI[59:36] – How Portfolio Analytics Connects with TMS and Bank Systems[01:04:26] – Final Thoughts: Why Treasury Needs Real-Time Data ToolsFollow Our Guests:Sebastian RamosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-ramos-4299247/&nbsp;Website: https://icdportal.com/&nbsp;Zachary BrownLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-brown1984/&nbsp;Website: https://icdportal.com/&nbsp;Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website: <a...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we explore how treasury teams can improve their operations by focusing on practical steps in cash forecasting, in-house banking, and treasury reporting. Our guest, Alexander Fleischmann, Market Development Executive at Nomentia, shares examples from companies like Lufthansa, GLS Logistics, and Eaton Corporation to explain how treasury departments can solve real challenges using the right tools and strategies. From building cash visibility to managing internal bank structures, the episode highlights the importance of agility and structured planning in a changing financial landscape.Alexander brings over 15 years of experience helping companies improve their treasury operations. He explains how to start small, make quick wins, and build scalable solutions over time. We discuss why forecasting remains a top priority, how historical data plays a key role in accurate planning, and what makes reporting more useful and accessible to teams. Whether you’re new to treasury systems or looking to optimize your existing setup, this episode offers practical advice and real examples from leading organizations.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy cash flow forecasting remains a top priority for treasurers and CFOsHow Lufthansa rebuilt its forecasting system in just 6 working days during the pandemicWhy starting small helps with treasury transformationWhat an in-house bank is and how it saves on intercompany payment costsHow GLS Logistics started implementing in-house banking from the ground upHow Eaton Corporation manages bank accounts and user permissions with clear dashboardsWhat a data cube is and how it supports treasury reportingThe importance of using the tools you already know, like Excel and Power BIWhy having the right data matters more than new technology hypeEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps&nbsp;[00:00] – Introduction and AFP partnership ($100 off CTP certification) [01:35] – Meet Alexander Fleischmann and an overview of today’s discussion [02:52] – Why liquidity and forecasting matter more than ever [05:26] – Lufthansa case: how they changed their forecast model in six days [09:19] – Importance of being flexible in difficult times [11:10] – How Nomentia supports team development and talent retention [15:37] – When and how forecasting tools can be used properly [20:50] – In-house banks: what they are and how they reduce costs [25:46] – GLS Logistics: building internal systems step by step [30:17] – Benefits of using separate tools for different needs [33:53] – How to plan and prioritize treasury transformation [37:16] – What is Microsoft Azure, and why does Nomentia use it [42:03] – Moving away from pie charts and improving reporting [44:40] – Eaton Corporation: reporting and permission workflows [49:56] – Using Excel and Power BI without being an expert [53:16] – How to use reporting tools for forecasting and exposure tracking [56:36] – Why some companies start with reporting and later move to full solutions [58:54] – Final thoughts and advice from Alexander [1:00:15] – Where to learn more about NomentiaFollow our guest Alexander Fleischmann:LinkedIn: <a...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we dive into the rapidly evolving world of corporate fraud and explore how businesses can protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Our guest, Baptiste Collot, Co-Founder and CEO of Trustpair, shares actionable insights on how treasury and finance teams can move beyond traditional manual controls and adopt modern solutions to safeguard corporate payments. We explore the explosion of sophisticated fraud schemes, the dangers of deepfakes, and why companies must rethink their fraud prevention strategies to protect enterprise value. From understanding the new cyber era of fraud to implementing real-time vendor validation and efficient risk management practices, this episode is packed with critical advice for any treasury professional looking to stay ahead of modern fraud trends.Baptiste Collot draws from extensive experience leading one of the world's top fraud prevention SaaS platforms to explain how companies can rebuild trust in their payment processes. He breaks down the key risks facing treasury today, how cybercrime has gone global, and why thorough information verification at every step of the procure-to-pay process is crucial. We also discuss real-world fraud examples, the rise of highly convincing phishing attacks, how to build a strong business case for fraud prevention tools, and why integrating these solutions into ERP and treasury systems is essential for future-proofing your organization.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow AI and streamlined processes have supercharged fraud attacks in 2024Why fraudsters target vendors and exploit email chains, and how to stop themWhat deepfake fraud looks like in the corporate worldHow to create a multi-layered fraud prevention frameworkReal-world cases of fraud detection using Trustpair's technologyWhy internal training alone isn’t enough to fight cyber-enabled fraudHow to make a strong business case for fraud prevention to your CFO and boardEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps[00:00] – Introduction &amp; AFP Partnership ($100 Off CTP Certification)[01:40] – Meet Baptiste Collot and Introduction to Fraud Trends[03:13] – How AI Has Fueled the Explosion of Fraud[05:17] – Why Defense Mechanisms Are Still Lagging Behind[07:19] – The Globalization of Fraud: No Borders Anymore[10:20] – Regional Differences in Fraud Tactics[12:13] – Common Fraud Schemes Explained (Vendor Impersonation, Deepfakes, etc.)[16:54] – How Deepfakes Are Being Used to Commit Fraud[21:46] – How Trustpair Automates Vendor and Bank Account Validation[32:00] – ChatGPT and AI Tools: New Weapons for Fraudsters[36:09] – The Domino Effect: How Fraud Damages Beyond Money[48:16] – Building a Business Case for Fraud Prevention[51:40] – Real-World Examples: How Trustpair Helped Clients Prevent Fraud[56:33] – Final Thoughts &amp; How to Connect with BaptisteFollow our guest Baptiste Collot:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcollot/&nbsp;Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trustpair/&nbsp;Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website: <a href="https://corporate-treasury-101.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we dive into the evolving role of corporate treasury and explore how it can shift from a traditional cost center to a strategic business partner. Our guest, Kurt Smith, Director at Marengo Capital and Vice President of the Australian Corporate Treasury Association, shares actionable insights on how treasury teams can move beyond operational functions and start driving enterprise value. We explore how treasurers can help define risk appetite, optimize capital allocation, and influence key business decisions. From understanding the strategic importance of metrics like ROIC and WACC to navigating internal relationships and regulatory discussions, this episode is packed with practical advice for any treasury professional looking to elevate their impact.Kurt Smith draws from decades of experience in fund management, derivatives trading, and treasury consulting to explain how corporate finance teams can move upstream in the value chain. He breaks down what it means to be a strategic treasurer, how to optimize working capital through better cash conversion cycles, and why financial acumen should be embedded across treasury teams. We also discuss the state of treasury in Australia, how ACTA supports professionals through networking and education, and how treasurers can embrace AI to free up time for higher-value work.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow to reposition treasury from a cost center to a value-adding business partnerThe importance of aligning treasury with enterprise risk appetite and capital allocationWhy understanding ROIC and WACC is critical for measuring impactHow to improve working capital through smarter cash conversion and internal advocacyReal-world examples of building treasury influence through operational and regulatory engagementHow ACTA is raising the bar for treasury professionals in AustraliaWhere AI fits into the future of strategic treasuryEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps[00:00] – Introduction &amp; AFP Partnership ($100 Off CTP Certification)[01:00] – Kurt Smith’s Background and Role at ACTA[03:03] – What Treasury Departments Typically Focus On[04:39] – Core Treasury Functions: Cash, Risk, and Funding[06:15] – From Cost Center to Value Creation Unit[09:12] – Defining and Influencing Risk Appetite[13:36] – Operational vs. Strategic Treasury[17:28] – KPIs that Matter: ROIC, WACC, and Enterprise Risk[20:59] – Turning Treasury into a Profit Center[26:00] – Strategic Cash Flow Management &amp; Internal Advocacy[30:37] – Case Study: Streamlining Insurance with Tech[34:51] – Cash Conversion Cycle and Working Capital Optimization[41:50] – Creating a Competitive Internal Market for Capital[46:00] – Real-Time Cost of Capital: Why Treasury Should Own It[55:00] – Treasury in Australia: Opportunities &amp; Challenges[01:03:00] – ACTA’s Role in Supporting Treasury Professionals[01:10:00] – AI, Digital Tools &amp; the Future of Strategic Treasury[01:24:48] – Final Thoughts &amp; How to Connect with KurtFollow our guest Kurt Smith:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-smith-phd-97053515/&nbsp;Website: <a href="https://www.marengocapital.com.au/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we dive into the complex but essential world of commodity risk management with Olivier Kaczmarek, Partner at O2 Finance and a seasoned treasury consultant. We discuss how companies can identify, assess, and mitigate their exposure to commodity price fluctuations through both strategic planning and operational tools. From forecasting exposure and selecting the right systems to aligning strategy across procurement and finance, this episode sheds light on how corporates can proactively manage commodity volatility. We also discuss real-world examples like how Ryanair saved €1.4 billion through effective fuel hedging and why financial derivatives should be your last line of defense, not the first. Whether you're exposed to gas, metals, or oil, this discussion offers a clear roadmap for building a solid hedging framework that goes far beyond the treasury desk.Olivier Kaczmarek shares his proven approach for helping multinational companies mitigate commodity exposure. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Olivier explains how to identify implicit versus explicit risk, the importance of aligning your hedging strategy with market behavior, and what KPIs you should be tracking to measure success. From system implementation to pitching the project to the CFO, this episode is full of strategic and practical insights for modern treasury teams.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe four types of commodity risks: direct vs. indirect, explicit vs. implicitHow to forecast commodity exposure based on sales and production dataWhy financial hedging comes last in a complete risk management strategyReal-life examples of how companies like Ryanair use commodity hedgingCommon tools used in commodity risk management (SAP, FIS, Orchestrade)How to align strategy between procurement, finance, and treasuryBuilding internal awareness and pitching risk projects to the C-suiteKPI strategies to evaluate risk performance and decision-makingEpisode Breakdown &amp; Timestamps&nbsp;[00:00] Introduction and AFP Partnership (Get $100 Off CTP Certification) [01:22] Why commodity risk is often overlooked in treasury [02:51] Forecasting energy, input, and production exposure [05:18] Using supplier price strategies and arbitrage [06:21] Understanding direct vs. indirect, explicit vs. implicit risk [10:57] How pricing strategies protect brands from volatility [13:06] Ryanair's €1.4B gain from fuel hedging [14:16] Strategic hedging vs. following the competition [15:24] Tools and software used for commodity risk [17:09] Hedging vs. operational decisions: which comes first [19:14] Building your strategy from the ground up [21:52] When financial derivatives are the right move [24:30] Operational ideas: integration, re-engineering, 3R model [26:36] KPIs, the monkey benchmark, and measuring value [28:12] Pitching a risk project to the CFO [30:27] Who should own commodity risk management[31:31] Where to learn more about O2 Finance and OlivierFollow our guest, Olivier Kaczmarek:Website: https://www.o2finance.be/&nbsp;LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivier-kaczmarek-5200602/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...