Looking inward: A mindful approach to regulating stress, uncertainty

Swaran Singh, Ph.D., professor of social and community psychiatry at the University of Warwick, explores the reasons we feel disconnected from our mental process and responses to stressful events, along with ways we can exert more control over those processes to rationalise and minimise uncertainty.  Singh also illustrates the connection between mental and physical health and the role of a growth mindset in limiting stress and promoting positivity in the face of adversity.   He will speak on the topic of mastering your mindset at UK & Ireland ENGAGE in October in London and online.  What you’ll learn from this episode: §  Why organisations’ approach to wellbeing is evolving. §  How to begin to master your mindset and stay positive. §  The link between mental and physical health conditions. §  Small steps to becoming more at peace with change and uncertainty. §  Ways to reframe your inner critic. §  Tips for managing and recovering from stress.

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, is CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and president and CEO of the AICPA. He’s been in that role since the start of the year and travelled all over the world hearing from members. Summer’s end seemed like a good time for a progress report on a variety of fronts from Koziel, who at the time of publication was visiting Asia. This is a special edition of the podcast, published jointly on the Journal of Accountancy and FM channels. What you’ll learn from this episode: The skills gap affecting businesses around the world. Global influence on accounting and standard setting. An explanation of Rise 2040 and what it will mean for finance professionals. The role of hard and soft trends in strategic planning exercises. Why a 2026 report release is not the end of the Rise 2040 project. What Koziel has learned about himself now that he’s had nearly eight months on the job.

Leadership coach and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professional Sophie Turner explains how CIMA helped her navigate the learning and development path in her career, the psychology of imposter syndrome, and considerations for organisations looking to create a more diverse and inclusive culture.  Turner explains the importance of objectivity as a remedy for persistent self-doubt and why it’s hard for people suffering from imposter syndrome to tap into the objective side of their brain.  She also illustrates ways that organisations can think differently about creating a workplace where everyone feels valued. What you’ll learn from this episode: §  How CIMA studies led Turner down the leadership coaching path. §  Why imposter syndrome is more complex than feeling anxious or out of place. §  The role of feedback in managing imposter syndrome. §  The way language impacts women professionally. §  Some reasons why companies fail to execute DEI initiatives. §  Advice for organisations looking to close diversity and equality gaps.

The latest podcast episode provides a preview of content in the August digital edition of FM. To focus on the edition’s overall theme of sustainability, FM editor-in-chief Oliver Rowe and podcast host Neil Amato are joined for the episode by Jeremy Osborn, FCMA, CGMA, FCPA (Australia), global head of sustainability at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Rowe summarises articles on topics such as change fatigue, circular business models, Excel Compatibility Versions, and landing a finance job in the era of AI-enabled hiring. Osborn focuses on the state of adoption of global sustainability standards and how the standards will affect the role of finance and accounting professionals. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Highlights of the August digital edition cover an article on change fatigue. ·         Osborn’s assessment of the “accelerating” global adoption of IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 sustainability standards. ·         How the UK’s sustainability standards differ slightly from the IFRS standards. ·         A definition and examples of circularity in business. ·         Other highlights from the FM digital edition, including an article on Excel Compatibility Versions.

Jamie Gruman, Ph.D., professor of organisational behaviour at the University of Guelph in Canada, discusses some of the ways technology is distancing us from other people and how this can harm employees.  Gruman explains why this era of urgency and efficiency, aided by technological advancements, threatens to further dehumanise and objectify workforces and describes ways this is happening in businesses.  He talks about the research he and Alan Saks, Ph.D., professor of organisational behaviour and human resources management at the University of Toronto Scarborough), have done. That research concludes that work cultures focused on care are necessary for good management and satisfied employees. Gruman also highlights one commonly held “naive belief” preventing the development of more compassionate practices in the workplace.  What you’ll learn from this episode: §  Different ways technology can dehumanise and objectify employees at work. §  Why creating a caring work environment should be simple. §  One shared falsehood that stops organisations from implementing caring cultures. §  The role of leadership in demonstrating and rewarding care. §  The interplay between work culture and employees’ relationship with technology. §  How employees are resisting algorithms that threaten their autonomy.

Stephen Flatman, vice-president–Education & Professional Qualifications at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, explains how the CGMA Professional Qualification (CGMA PQ) upgrade is designed to respond to the change of “shape” in the finance function and how those changes will propel businesses and expand opportunities for finance professionals. Flatman discusses disruptions to role requirements and career development opportunities in a competitive job market and the skills and competencies required for finance professionals to drive organisations forward and future-proof their careers. “I genuinely think we engineered the way we think about education, and that will transform the skills and competency acquisition of candidates going through the programme,” Flatman said. “We think that there's real growth in the strategic and analytical roles that we're preparing people for.” What you’ll learn from this episode: §  External factors driving talent development challenges for employers. §  Some ways the CGMA PQ is changing to meet the growing requirements of the finance function. §  What an evolving finance function means for students and members. §  How a business-partnering focus aims to expand future finance professionals’ skillsets. §  Essential skills to empower professionals across various roles and industries.

This episode features Oliver Rowe, FM’s editor-in-chief, detailing the contents of the magazine’s June digital edition. The discussion begins with a focus on the CGMA Professional Qualification’s May update. Rowe also details the key points of an article about accountability and discusses the magazine’s regular columns and features. The episode closes with an explanation of how members can access the June digital edition as well as the issue library. Previous 2025 episodes about the digital editions: n  February n  April What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         Highlights of an article about the CGMA Professional Qualification update. ·         Advice in an article about dealing with the growing threat of deepfake fraud. ·         A summary of the president’s column by Simon Bittlestone, FCMA, CGMA. ·         Details of one article’s focus on the social-return-on-investment framework. ·         An explanation of vertical and horizontal accountability and their relationship to the finance function.

This episode of the FM podcast is the continuation of an occasional series on the show called Beyond the Code. That means taking a detailed look at part of the CIMA Code of Ethics. Xose Lumor, manager–Advocacy and Professional Ethics, discusses details with Monique Samuel, associate manager–Professional Conduct, on how members can properly handle official complaints and what they should know about the process if a complaint moves forward. Resources mentioned in this episode include: n  A downloadable ethics checklist. n  CIMA Member in Practice Rules. n  A summary page on CIMA’s approach to potential sanctions. What you’ll learn from this episode: ·         An introduction of the topic and a refresher on the Beyond the Code series. ·         Why members in practice should maintain communication with a client that has raised an official complaint. ·         An explanation of resources, including an ethics checklist that can help members deal with ethical dilemmas. ·         Samuel’s summary of the process after an ethics complaint is referred to the Disciplinary Committee. ·         A reminder that such complaints are rare.