'Being the CFO is the toughest of all': Lenovo India's Meenakshi Dagar on her most challenging role

Lenovo India CFO Meenakshi Dagar had joined the company in 2015. (Image credit: LinkedIn)

Lenovo India CFO Meenakshi Dagar believes that of all the leadership positions she has held in her two-decade-long career in finance, her current role is the most challenging. Speaking to Forbes India, Dagar opened up about how the responsibilities of a CFO evolved over the years.

"Being the CFO is the toughest of all," she told the publication. "You have to take care of multiple stakeholders across the business. There are many who rely on you to make the right decision from a market perspective as well as with respect to internal policies, processes, efficiencies, and growth. These responsibilities put you in the spotlight all the time and invariably bring various challenges."

She added that being the CFO of a tech company, she has the added responsibility of understanding the nuances and implications of the company's offerings so that they can be leveraged for their own profit and loss statement.

"In today’s context, CFOs are no longer just responsible for financial management," the Lenovo India executive added. "They are advisors who help the business grow while also fulfilling their fundamental responsibilities regarding compliance, controls, governance, policies, and processes. Unlike earlier, they also have to work closely with the leadership team."

Dagar told Forbes India that as CFO, she is at the centre, connecting the dots while other senior executives such as CMO, CTO, and CEO will have only specific requirements. She also believes that CFOs are crucial in influencing leaders and making future-oriented decisions like investing in the right resources and technology, and recognising value that goes beyond mere profit.