Milk Makeup’s Post

When I was in college majoring in #Accounting, my grandpa asked what I was going to do after graduation. I shrugged and said that maybe someday I would come back and work at the #FamilyBusiness that he started back in 1978. He responded, "Oh good, there's always plenty of filing to be done." Well, filing isn't my cup of tea. So I became President instead. Don't get me wrong, I didn't start there. I started at the entry level position on the Accounting team and worked my way up. Lucky for me, I was curious and asked a lot of questions. Questions that lead to learning. Learning that lead to solving. Also lucky for me, my dad, who was President at the time, was pretty progressive and surrounded himself with people he could trust, rely on, and GSD, regardless if we were in the good ole boys club. I spent 12 years as his VP and we were a heck of a team. The last 8 of my 20+ years there I served as President and they were some of the best we'd had in our history as a company. My message to young gals in #manufacturing . There's always plenty of filing to be done, and if that's your thing, great. If you want MORE, go after it. Because there's always plenty of leadership to be done. ____________________________ Molly Varangkounh 📈 I help businesses Professionalize, Prioritize and Profit ♻ Share if you find this valuable ✔ Follow me for daily tips, tools and insights #WomenInManufacturing #Leadership #Management #FractionalCFO #FractionalCEO #Manufacturing

As my time at Brandon Hire Station comes to an end this Friday, I’ve been reflecting on what has been an incredibly rewarding and challenging chapter in my career. Joining as FP&A Manager in December 2023, I was fortunate to be part of a pivotal period of transformation for the business. From building the foundations of a finance business partnering function to establishing robust reporting systems, every step has been about driving greater clarity, collaboration, and impact across the organization. A few highlights that stand out: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬:  Partnering with a business that wasn’t afraid to challenge assumptions, ultimately leading to stronger insights and decisions. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩: Developing a budgeting and forecasting process while taking the time to understand existing workflows, ensuring continuity, and making sure nothing was overlooked during this critical transition. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞: Laying down structures and processes that will continue to support the business in its growth and decision-making journey. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the incredible colleagues I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Thank you for your collaboration, support, and shared ambition to keep improving how we work together. As I move forward, I carry with me the lessons, relationships, and sense of achievement from my time here. I’m excited for what lies ahead, but for now, I’m taking a moment to celebrate this journey. #workwithpurpose #careerjourney #businesstransformation #nextchapter

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐏 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 🔑 Stepping into a VP of Finance role is a significant career milestone. As you gear up for this pivotal interview, it’s crucial to be well-prepared and strategically poised. Here are essential tips to help you stand out and secure that top finance position: 1. Understand the Company’s Vision: Insight is power. Approximately 90% of successful candidates do extensive research on the company’s financial health, culture, and strategic goals. Aligning your answers to reflect how you can contribute to these areas is key. 2. Demonstrate Strategic Acumen: Companies seek VPs of Finance who are not just good with numbers but are strategic visionaries. Prepare to discuss past experiences where you drove financial strategy and delivered measurable outcomes. 3. Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss the latest finance tools and software. Familiarity with advanced financial modeling and analytics platforms is often expected at this level. 4. Leadership Experience: Highlight your leadership journey. Talk about teams you’ve led, challenges you’ve navigated, and the growth you facilitated. Leadership is about storytelling; make sure your stories resonate with your prospective employer. 5. Questions Ready: Having insightful questions about the company's future financial plans and challenges shows your engagement and preparedness. This is often what sets apart candidates in senior-level interviews. Share your advice or questions in the comments below! #FinanceCareers #JobInterview #VPofFinance #CareerPreparation #ExecutiveCoaching #FinanceLeadership

A truth that no one talks about... We, Finance professionals often believe that "our work should speak for itself". The world of finance is a breeding ground for hiding. Yes, you heard me. Hiding. There's something missing here... "Visibility" You can't grow if you're not visible. You can't network if you're not visible. You can't receive promotions & opportunities if you're not visible. It’s about more than just doing the work; it’s about making sure others see your contributions. Our work is important, but so is making sure it gets the recognition it deserves. ❌ Visibility isn't about bragging ✅ It's about ensuring your hard work leads to the growth and opportunities you deserve. For all the finance professionals working in silos, step up, show up, and be visible. #Visibility #Network 𝘗.𝘚. - 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘵

Over the past 9 years, 🤗 I've navigated the complexities of numbers and financial terms, often in collaboration and sometimes in contention with sales teams. My journey involved cost-cutting measures to maximize profits, Budgeting , Consolidations FS , financial reporting plus two three spearheading major projects, and managing operations. Through these experiences, I discovered that my skills extended far beyond numbers. I realized my passion for marketing and operations, which led me to shift my career path from finance to operations. This transition didn't mean leaving my financial expertise behind; instead, I integrated it into my new role. Now, I leverage my numerical acumen to drive operational efficiency and business growth. 💲 💹 📈 📊 This journey has taught me the ease of achieving business goals when you find the right balance between marketing, operations, and financial expertise. Trust me, understanding where to play and how to leverage your strengths can make a significant difference in your professional journey. 👨⚖️ 🙌 #CareerJourney #Operations #Marketing #Finance #BusinessGrowth #Leadership

Hey everyone! This week I'm putting the spotlight on Colin Carroll! Collin has been with Grainger for four years as of January. He explains, "I’m a Senior Financial Analyst supporting our Supplier Management Team, which manages relationships with our most strategic national brand suppliers. In essence, I serve as the CFO for the business portfolio of these suppliers, including those in the Safety & Tooling Product Segment. Before joining Grainger, I graduated during the pandemic and briefly worked as a finance contractor for Haribo of America, a small private CPG company under the Haribo GmbH umbrella. This experience provided a great introduction to operational finance, highlighting how we truly provide child-like happiness to consumers. In early 2021, I joined Grainger’s Financial Development Program (FDP), a three-year rotational program designed to build agility and financial acumen for early-career professionals. Outside of work, I’m an avid board game and computer gamer and have been building my own computers since I was 14. Some of my favorite board games feature deck-building and fantasy mechanics, such as Tyrants of the Underdark and Gloomhaven. Meeting my fiancée in college led me to explore watersports in Michigan, where I’m currently working on my wake surfing 360 and learning to slalom ski. Additionally, one of my life goals is to witness the "7 Natural Wonders of the World." My partner and I traveled to Iceland partially to see the Northern Lights! An Interesting fact about me is I had to relearn articulation and linguistics in English after being wired shut for over six weeks! The timing was coincidental, as I was up for a promotion during a busy season. Grainger and my immediate team were incredibly supportive throughout my short-term medical leave. Upon returning, I accessed all the resources I needed, ultimately leading to my current role, which I’ve held for nearly a year and a half. For my next role, I’m open to exploring opportunities in people leadership within finance as a finance manager. This year has been pivotal in preparing me for a leadership role. Leading the Membership Team in our Generational Business Resource Group (GBRG) has taught me how to attract and develop talent. Over the summer, I mentored an intern and currently help guide analysts on our team in their daily work. As someone who has received significant support in my own development, I’m eager to pay it forward. I’ve already contributed to stretch projects focused on compensation and retention within our financial development program, and once I gain more experience, I would love to serve on their advisory board! I enjoy the cross-functional nature of Supplier Management and look forward to continuing to provide diverse support. The prospect of tackling new complex analyses to enhance our product availability and portfolio truly excites me!" With that being said, to learn more about Colin, you can reach out to him here on LinkedIn! #teamgrainger

Early in my career, a CFO shared invaluable advice that resonates with me today. It is a simple yet powerful framework consisting of four essential questions: What do I need to start doing? What do I need to stop doing? What do I need to do more of? What do I need to do less of? Ask yourself those questions, ask your peers, ask your superiors, and ask the people around you. If you've done a good job of surrounding yourself with the right people, you will get the answers you need. Those are the only answers you need to propel you forward. What insights have you learned from your own career?

Shocked by the industry norm? So was I and that made me lay the foundation of Mulcahy Consulting Group Pty Ltd. Starting my own firm was a decision fueled by two pivotal realizations in my career.  ➢ Firstly, working in a traditional accounting practice opened my eyes. I saw invoices for hundreds, sometimes thousands, for tasks that took me no time at all. Clients were in the dark. It didn't sit right with me.  ➢ Then, observing finance departments in large corporations further shaped my perspective. Overworked teams. Overstaffed yet inefficient. Technology? Barely leveraged. And consultants? Their insights came with hefty price tags but no hands-on solutions unless you paid even more. It all boiled down to a system that seemed to prioritize profit over genuine client success. This is why I started my firm. To challenge the norm. To prove that client value and efficiency should go hand-in-hand. Have you felt this in your career? How did it inspire change in your path?

I’m honored to be a panelist in an upcoming webinar focused on navigating your FP&A career. Whether you're just starting out or are seeking your next big opportunity, this session will provide invaluable insights and actionable strategies to help you thrive in the world of financial planning and analysis. Don’t miss out—register today to elevate your career! 👉https://hubs.li/Q02TBkhq0

In case you missed it, register with the link to get access to the session recording and learn about leveling up your FP&A career! Shoutout to my fellow #GoAztecs MBA grad and an incredible finance leader Rosemary Linden!