Annabella Cardone, Investment Manager and Resiliency Services CFO – Europe, IBM

I am Italian living in Geneva since 2000. I like living in this beautiful region and its multicultural environment is very exciting. I am married with two beautiful daughters. I have an extensive experience in finance and I firmly believe in the strategic role of finance as a catalyst for improved business performance. Process improvement and optimization have always been the leitmotiv of my career.  I am a generalist, intellectually curious, always exited by new things, I am in a constant state of learning and changing. This is probably my secret for having been in the same company all my career and having be married for 25 years! I am very interested in leadership and personal development matters. I love meeting, connecting and helping people. I enjoy swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, skiing in the Alps, running and walking everywhere, kayaking, cycling. I love culinary art and tradition and am member Accademia della Cucina Italiana. I joined CWF as IBM corporate member at the end of 2012.

Who is Annabella  in three words?

Efficient, logical, emphatic

What would you do differently if you could travel back in time.

Many things! With the benefit of hindsight, it is too easy. But I don’ have regret I prefer to live the present and I feel fortunate.

What advice do you give to a new generation of women entering the job market ?

You will not regret your decisions based on our own principles and values, rather than on circumstance and social pressure. Do you know what they are?

Which skill(s) would you like to possess?

Public Speaking

Do you have a particular skill ?

Decision Making. I think to have a good mix of intuition and logic without being overconfident or anchored to set ideas.

What is your perception about the benefits of networking?

Socializing is an important aspect of human nature. Networking permits sharing of ideas and experience. It boosts confidence and always presents something new to learn. It is very energizing

Which hobby should we try or practice – and why ?

Any outdoor activity, it helps to relax and unwind. We live in a beautiful area it is so easy to benefit from the beauty of nature .

What do you suggest to change and or improve at the CWF ?

I have been part of CWF’s committee for 3 years and the continuous improvement is our daily challenge.   The development of the new website is one of the great projects that will permit CWF to develop further, to better respond our members’ needs and to automate many of the current manual activities.

What are the opportunities and challenges for the CWF ?

CWF is a great association and it really contributes to its members’ professional development through sharing and exchanging of ideas. CW’sF challenge is to put in place tangible and concrete actions to increase the proportion of women in leading positions, in Swiss companies.

A final message?

The success of CWF requires the active participation of its members

Take part in the events, share your ideas, make your proposals, contribute to the projects …