Aesara Partners 

At Aesara Partners, our mission is simple: enable you to be the best version of yourself. We offer a range of focused services that unlock the potential of people, teams and cultures to maximise business performance. 

Collectively our Partners and Associates have decades of experience both in executive coaching and as board level leaders themselves working in multiple sectors across global markets.

Partner & Executive Coach

Doshisha University

Professor of Strategic Management, Global MBA Program

The CFO Coach K.K.

The CFO Coach K.K. is a boutique executive coaching firm specializing in developing High-Performance​ Financial Leaders and Teams.

Founder & Executive Coach

Kansai Gaidai University

•	Awarded President's Global Education Award (Teacher of the Year).

Professor of Leadership & Management

Benesse Holdings, Inc. (USD 4.5B; Tokyo Stock Exchange Code: 9783)

•	Member of the Board of Directors for Berlitz Corporation; Benesse Corporation; and Benesse Style Care.  Chairman of Audit Committee for Berlitz Corporation. Member of Benesse Holdings Pension Committee.
•	Global CFO covering all 40+ Benesse group companies
•	Championed and supported multiple cash generation initiatives including a CFO led "Save to Grow" initiative to improve Company Financial performance and to identify significant savings for business reinvestment
•	Enhanced Finance bench strength and hired a high potential team to start financial business consulting
•	Implemented several process and capability best practices to move group companies towards global standards

Global Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Senior Vice President

McCann Worldgroup Holdings

• Overall Responsibility for Operations (Finance, IT, Legal, and Administration - 10 legal entities) 
• Successfully turned around long term loss making lead agency by delivering double digit margin improvements within two years
• Delivered double digit margin improvements for all six MWG Group companies 
• Built a new Finance team and moved from Scorekeeping to Business Partnership and improved business performance
• Major projects within last two years include: 
  - Shared Service center creation/migration
  - New Financial System Migration
  - Acquisition & Divestiture
  - Business Turnaround
  - Retirement Plan consolidation/change
  - Office relocation/rent reductions

Group Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, and Member of The Board

Becton, Dickinson and Company

• Led Finance, Procurement, General Affairs, and Rebates teams (43 staff) to deliver multi-million dollar cash and profit performance improvement for first year and beyond. Exceeded all budget expectations.
• Engaged Japan Management Team and Global Finance Leadership Team on company objectives to deliver best outcome (Finance Transformation initiative, Sales effectiveness improvement, Key Account Management, Business Continuity plan, and strategy/selection of backup distribution center).  Led process for 2012-16 Business Plan development
• Developed and executed Finance department strategy and vision to move from scorekeeping to business partnership. Implemented job rotation program and hired several high potential employees to improve bench strength.
• Championed multiple Finance and Procurement initiatives including definition and implementation of new 401k Retirement Plan; divestiture of non-core business; change of primary banks (reduced bank fees by over 30%); vendor reduction process, and new travel expense management system 
• Taught New Manager Essentials program and selected as leadership trainer for PEPFAR program in South Africa to teach Leadership and Change Management to African Health Ministry officials

Finance and Administration Director

Avon Products Inc.

•	Implementation project leader for Avon Sales Leadership Framework (ASLF) – Highest priority project for the Company to adapt to a new Sales Model.  Completed project implementation in record timing.  Awarded regional award as part of ASLF Team. Only person in Asia recognized for both Top-line and Bottom-line contributions in the same year.
•	Defined and executed new vision and mission and led Sales Support department to complete over 40 initiatives (within a six-month period) as part of Team’s new journey towards field motivational excellence. Incorporated new processes to deliver high impact incentives, and to create Sales energy and momentum for sales turn-around.    
•	Achieved highest employee engagement scores with Sales Support Department significantly exceeding country results in over 95% of categories.  Previously had also led Finance department to highest employee engagement scores.
•	Global Project leader for a high potential, multi-functional, multi-national team to study and recommend actions to improve Global Sales Incentive management/spending process.
•	Oversaw execution of a variety of Company and Public/Media events ranging from Sales Conferences to Philanthropic events including Annual Awards to Women, and Pink Ribbon Campaign support.

Executive Director and Member of the Board

•	Responsible for Financial policy making/implementation and reporting for Avon Japan as a public company (including statutory/public, and Board Meetings). All year-end financial documents audited with no comments/exceptions.
•	Defined and executed new department Vision and Mission, and recruited, trained and developed a completely new Finance team (80% new hires within a six month period) to move from scorekeeping to business partnership. Finance team formed core of country high potential list.
•	Consistently over achieved profit performance commitment under adverse conditions of sales decline by aggressively managing strategic business needs with cost cutting; Delivered zero overhead growth during all years; Japan winner of regional awards for best cost management performance, and for boldest transformation strategy.
•	Provided leadership and support for critical decisions and strategy development as Japan Leadership Team Member.  Actively led change management process within company.
•	Consistently achieved best internal control results in Asia-Pacific/Avon over a period of eight audits.  Japan one of only two countries with highest audit rating. Outstanding performance generated support to remove Japan from list of High Coverage countries.
• Co-developed strategic/financial business case, and obtained approval for number of campaign reduction in 2006 making Avon Japan only country ever in Avon to undergo campaign reduction. 
• Independently analyzed and provided strategic direction for Plant study which challenged and reversed previous recommendation by outside consultants on plant closure.
• Provided leadership in several restructuring initiatives by providing an achievable plan to achieve 12% people related cost reduction.  Played lead role in this study representing Finance, Supply Chain and HR 
• Consistently achieved highest performance rating and nominations to several high potential programs
• Elected (and re-elected) to Board of Directors

Executive Director, CFO and Member of the Board of Directors

Delphi

• Prepared Asia-Pacific regional messages / presentations for Delphi Strategy Board, and for Delphi Board of Directors.
• Supported development and implementation of critical Asia-Pacific strategies.  Performed competitive intelligence and other special studies to identify risks / competitive threats and outlined regional / corporate response.
• Provided Miller Heiman strategic selling process training to Asia-Pacific personnel to improve value propositions and increase sales effectiveness.

Director Asia-Pacific Planning

• Management responsibilities for Finance, HR, General Affairs, and Six-Sigma.
• Active member of the Japan Strategy Board and Japan management team.  
• Six-Sigma Deployment Champion for Delphi Japan.

Delphi Japan – CFO & Administration Director

Country Responsibilities:
• Managed all finance functions including accounting, budgeting / forecasting and treasury.
• Lead development of cross-functional and cross-divisional Internal Control Review Board.
• Lead and supported strategic initiatives including venture development support, site enhancement, competitive analysis, transfer pricing, and cost reduction studies.
• Represented Japan in Asia-Pacific Financial Task Team.

Regional Responsibilities:
• Coached country CFO and staff to implement common financial reporting processes.
• Supervised and provided training for engineering / commercial / plant / site analysts.  Coordinated regional financial training programs for the sector in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Coordinated the regional budget, business plan, and capital management process.
• Supported development of common financial practices among ventures including:  Loan monitoring, F/X and cash management, compliance with accounting principles, report submission, etc. Provided regional oversight of venture risk exposure.

Asia-Pacific Senior Finance Mgr.

Executive Coach | MBA Professor | Ex-Global CFO

I help senior leaders master complexity, elevate strategic impact, and lead with authentic authority.

I bring over 25 years of C-level and boardroom experience as a former Global CFO for a $5B publicly traded company, combined with a deep commitment to human-centered leadership development.

Today, I coach global executives, CEOs, and leadership teams — specializing in executive transitions, strategic leadership, high-performance teams, and Asian leadership development.

I am also an MBA Professor of Leadership and Strategic Management, blending research-driven frameworks with boardroom-tested insights to develop transformational leaders.

Based in Kyoto, fluent in English, Urdu, and Japanese.

Connect with me: arif@thecfocoach.jp

Website: www.thecfocoach.jp (please sign up on my mailing list to receive future announcements and newsletters)

Arif Iqball

The Leadership Shift: From Overwhelmed to Empowered.

Leadership can feel like a lonely and exhausting journey.

You might be:
• Putting out fires instead of focusing on strategic impact.
• Navigating cultural dynamics in a team that doesn’t quite gel.
• Feeling like you have to "perform" rather than lead authentically.

I coach executives and teams to turn these challenges into leadership strengths by focusing on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and effective leadership habits.

With over 25 years of experience across 30+ countries, I’ve supported leaders at Cisco, Oracle, Salesforce, BNP Paribas, and ambitious startups navigating hypergrowth. 

Whether you’re scaling fast or feeling stuck, I help you:
• Lead with clarity and confidence, even in uncertain times.
• Build cohesive, high-performing teams across cultures and continents.
• Reconnect with your authentic leadership style and your purpose - so it feels good and performs even better.

The result? Less stress, more impact.
Stronger teams, stronger leaders.

✨ Ready for that shift? Let’s start the conversation.



Looking for a keynote speaker on topics around or related to
• How to tackle challenges faced by startup founders, 
• How to tackle your large team when you are manager of managers, 
• Unconscious bias Impact, 
• Keys to Leadership of the future, 
• Women in leadership 
• Emotional intelligence at the heart of any transformation.

Please contact keynote@wellbeingmatters.com


Trusted by Leading Global Brands, startups and small companies
• Cisco Systems, Oracle, Salesforce, EPSON, ServiceNow, Workday, Computer Centre, Computer Associates, BT, Vodafone, Murex, 
• Daspren, Malizen, PeppySport, Ochy, OLOE
• Axa, BNP Paribas, Société Générale.
• Diageo, Nike, Somfy, Tate and Lyle, Fosroc, SNCF Energie, Jones Lang LaSalle
• The African Development Bank, OECD, some United Nation NGOs spin-offs
• CHAS, Women & Health, 60000 Rebonds

Florence Divet ☀️

A 20-minute walk can fix what 2 hours of scrolling never will.

We treat walking as “just transport” or “lite exercise.”
But walking might be the single most underrated act of self-care.

➤ For your health:
Walking lowers blood pressure, slashes heart disease risk by up to 30%, and boosts your immune system.
That’s like erasing a decade of bad habits with your shoes.

➤ For your brain:
Harvard measured it: walking sparks creativity by 60%.
Einstein did it. Jobs built Apple on it.
Coincidence? No. Movement fuels ideas.

If you enjoy evidence-based insights like this, follow me here on LinkedIn. 
I share simple ways to protect your health, mind, and leadership energy each week.

➤ For yourself:
Walking is meditation in motion. Problems shrink. Priorities rearrange. That email fight suddenly looks… less important.
Last week I solved a client brief halfway through a walk to the bakery. No laptop required.

➤ For your sanity:
Step out angry, come back lighter. Shoulders drop. Breathing deepens. The noise inside finally quiets.

So lace up. Today, go outside.

Don’t just walk for health.
Walk with someone you love.
Walk when the news is too much.
Walk when the house feels too quiet.
Walk for heartbreak, for hope, for grieving, for gratitude.
Walk with your worries until they get bored and leave you behind.

This isn’t just movement.
It’s medicine. Clarity. Self-compassion.

And remember:
A walk is not “time wasted.” → It’s time invested.
A walk is not “taking a break.” → It’s taking control.
A walk is not “doing nothing.” → It’s doing everything your body and brain are begging you to do.

Next time you’re stuck, spiralling, or snapping at people you love…
Don’t open another app.
Open the door.

Because sometimes the best gym, therapy, and strategy session… is the same walk.

Go walk it out. Your future self will thank you.

When was the last time a walk gave you clarity you didn’t expect? 👇
Not sure?
Prove it: take a 20-minute walk today, then tell me what shifted. 👇

➕ Follow Florence Divet ☀️ for insights that protect your health
📌 To access all my infographics → https://lnkd.in/eys6AGnG

♻️ Repost to help your friends rediscover the benefits of walking

Leadership & Team Coach. I help CEOS, Senior Leaders and Teams lead with clarity, confidence and purpose. Follow for insights on Leadership, Career and Personal Growth.

Your brain isn’t broken.
It’s just over-rewarded.

We live in a world where pleasure is always on tap:
📱 Scroll
🍫 Snack
🛒 Buy
🎥 Watch
💬 Check messages
🔁 Repeat

Dr Anna Lembke (Author of Dopamine Nation) explains it well:
pleasure and pain share the same system.
It works like a seesaw.

Every time you slam it with a big dopamine hit
Your brain compensates by pushing you back with the opposite:

➡️ Irritability
➡️ Anxiety
➡️ Restlessness
➡️ “Nothing feels fun anymore”

Not weakness.
Just biology.

Here’s the protocol I’d actually use (simple, not easy):

1) Pick ONE dopamine bully

Not everything. Not your whole life.

Just one thing that has you in a chokehold:
scrolling, sugar, porn, shopping, booze, gaming, constant work, email refreshing  (yes, that’s a thing)

If you’re thinking “it’s fine, I can stop anytime”…
Perfect. Prove it.

--
2) Do a reset window (start with 7 days)

Dr Anna Lembke often speaks about a longer break (even 30 days) helping reset reward pathways but start realistic. 
7 days of clean distance from the one behaviour.

No “just a little”.
That’s not a reset. That’s bargaining.

--
3) Add friction (self-binding)

Make the bad habit annoying:
✅ Delete the app
✅ Block websites
✅ Log out every time
✅ Put your phone in another room
✅ Don’t keep trigger-food at home

Willpower is unreliable.
Friction is undefeated.

--
4) When cravings hit, add “healthy pain”

This is the counterintuitive part:
If pleasure tipped the seesaw too far,
You rebalance by doing something mildly uncomfortable on purpose:

20 squats.
Cold shower.
Brisk walk.
Tidy for 5 minutes.
Write the hard email.
2 minutes slow breathing.

Not punishment.
Restoration.

--
5) Practise “urges are waves”
Most urges peak and pass.
They feel endless, but they’re not.

Try this:
“I don’t have to obey this feeling. I just have to watch it.”
Give it 10 minutes.

--
6) Re-learn boring pleasure

Your dopamine system heals when you return to simple rewards:
☀️ sunlight, 😴 sleep, 🥘 real food, 🚶‍♀️movement, 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 connection, 📚 deep focus, 
🎶 music without multitasking

At first it feels underwhelming.
That’s withdrawal from easy highs.
Then it starts feeling good again.
That’s the point!

Litmus test:
If you can’t imagine a week without it, it’s not a habit. It’s dependency with better branding.

Start today.
Pick your dopamine bully.
Create friction.
Hold the line for 7 days.

Feel the difference.
Then repeat 4 times (to reach the 30 days recommended by Dr Lembke)

Your future focus will thank you.
And your nervous system will stop acting like a meerkat on espresso.

♻️ Repost to help your friend who is silently addicted to “tiny hits” 

If you want the 7-day tracker + friction checklist notion page: 
https://lnkd.in/evwb3VyZ

Talent opens doors. 
Habits keep them open.

I’ve coached hundreds of leaders, founders, and top executives across 30+ countries.
You know what separates the ones who rise from the ones who stall?

It’s not IQ.
It’s not fancy titles.
It’s not having a secret network or a golden degree.

It’s the choices you make when no one’s watching.
The little, unsexy, invisible things you do.
Consistently.

Because here’s the truth:
Success isn’t about talent.
It’s about behaviours anyone can choose.

Here are 12 things that take ZERO talent and yet change everything:

1️⃣ Getting sh*t done → Ideas don’t move the world. Actions do.
2️⃣ Having integrity → If people can’t trust you, nothing else matters.
3️⃣ Keeping your word → Broken promises cost more than broken strategies.
4️⃣ Showing up on time → Being late silently screams, “My time matters more than yours.”
5️⃣ Bringing solutions, not problems → Complaining is free. Creating value isn’t.
6️⃣ Bringing good energy → Energy is contagious. Make yours worth catching.
7️⃣ Being coachable → You can’t grow if you already know everything.
8️⃣ Cheering for others’ wins → Your light doesn’t dim when someone else shines.
9️⃣ Making others feel heard → People don’t remember your words; they remember how you made them feel.
🔟 Asking how you can help → Leadership starts when service does.
1️⃣1️⃣ Finishing what you start → Half-built bridges lead nowhere.
1️⃣2️⃣ Staying humble → Arrogance blinds. Curiosity scales.

Here’s the kicker:
Every single one of these costs nothing.
No degree required.
No title needed.
Just choices. 
Every. 
Single. 
Day.

And yet, they’re rare.
Because they require something talent can’t buy: intention.

Remember:
Talent may open the first door.
Habits keep doors opening.

Which one from the list are you missing out? 👇

Try this:
Pick that one today. 
Practice it like a habit.
Watch how your impact compounds in ways talent never could.

Your next big leap isn’t in your CV.
It’s in the choices you make when no one’s looking.

♻️ Repost to remind your team that consistency > genius
💾 Save this for the days in 2026 motivation dips

➕ Follow Florence Divet ☀️12 things for science-based leadership & emotional intelligence

📩 Join Inside Out, my free weekly newsletter for leaders who want to think deeper, lead wiser, and stay human → https://lnkd.in/e4zwNANS

Leadership & Team Coach. I help Leaders and Teams lead with clarity, confidence and purpose. Follow for insights on Leadership, Career and Personal Growth.

Stop asking which is best: IQ, EQ, or SQ.

The real question is: What’s limiting your impact?

People compare IQ, EQ, and SQ like they compare height or weight
Not to find a winner, but to predict success quickly.

Here’s why leaders focus on these three:

➤ Can she deliver results? (IQ)  
➤ Can she handle people without breaking them? (EQ)  
➤ Can she build alliances and momentum? (SQ)

Leadership mixes thinking, emotional control, and social skills.

Ever wonder how some brilliant people fail? Often low EQ or SQ holds them back.  
And why do average resumes sometimes rise fast? High EQ or SQ.

🧠 IQ measures cognitive power:reasoning, learning speed, problem-solving
❤️ EQ  measures emotional skills: self-awareness, regulation, empathy, emotional influence
🤝 SQ measures social skills:group dynamics, trust, influence, collaboration

Asking which is best is like asking: What’s more important, brain, heart, or nervous system?

If I had to pick one for leadership, I’d pick EQ. 
It shapes how you handle stress, conflict, feedback, and trust.

But the real answer depends on the job:

- Deep technical work? IQ leads. EQ keeps you from being unbearable.  
- Leading people through uncertainty? EQ multiplies your impact.  
- Navigating politics and alliances? SQ is your secret weapon.

Bottom line:  
IQ gets you in the room.  
EQ keeps you there.  
SQ moves the room.

If one is weak, the others can’t fully compensate.

- High IQ + low EQ = reactive, arrogant, risky.  
- High EQ + low SQ = kind but politically naive.  
- High SQ + low EQ = charming but toxic.

There’s no single winner. The real question is: Which one limits you right now?

Your bottleneck defines your real score.

Want the 5-question diagnostic I use with senior execs to find your bottleneck? Comment DIAG and I’ll send it.

➕ Follow Florence Divet ☀️ for more leadership tips that matter
📌 To access all my infographics → https://lnkd.in/e6-fiv9P

10 lessons I’ve learned coaching 500+ leaders, 
And experienced the hard way myself.
#5 saved my career.

73% of leaders experience burnout. 
62% of their teams are already halfway there. 
Let’s fix that. 

The 10 mindset shifts every burned-out leader needs are:

1. Thoughts Without Paper = Chaos
↳ Your brilliant ideas evaporate without documentation
↳ Clarity emerges through writing
→ Start your day with a brain dump

2. Leadership Is a Service Role
↳ Teams don't need another boss
↳ They need someone who amplifies their potential
→ Ask: "How can I remove obstacles for you?"

3. Listening Is About Impact, Not Input
↳ People share more with those who make them feel valued
↳ True listening builds psychological safety
→ Practice: "Tell me more about that"

4. Failures Are Just Expensive Teachers
↳ Every setback holds a lesson
↳ But only if you pause to extract it
→ Schedule weekly reflection time

5. Time Is Your Most Precious Currency
↳ It's the only resource you can't multiply
↳ Yet we waste it in low-impact activities
→ Audit your calendar against your priorities
➠ It saved my career

6. The Only Race Is With Yesterday's You
↳ Industry benchmarks are mirages
↳ Focus on your team's growth trajectory
→ Celebrate progress, not just outcomes

7. Redefine Wealth Beyond Revenue
↳ Team energy is your real bottom line
↳ Without it, no strategy succeeds
→ Invest in collective wellbeing

8. Clear Priorities = Clear Progress
↳ Trying to do it all = doing nothing well
↳ Excellence requires focused attention
→ Pick your vital few

9. Comfort Zones Are Career Coffins
↳ Growth lives on the other side of "scary"
↳ But so does every breakthrough
→ Make "slightly uncomfortable" your new normal

10. Management ≠ Leadership
↳ Managers direct. Leaders inspire
↳ One creates followers, the other creates leaders
→ Which one are you cultivating?

Every high-performing leader I know masters at least three of these.
I learned most of them the hard way, usually right after burning out.

💌 Want weekly tools on leadership & clarity? ➔Join us on: https://lnkd.in/ePitBSZv

The shift that saved me? #5 
Realising time isn’t a calendar problem, it’s a values problem.

Which one hits home for you right now? 👇 

➕ Follow Florence Divet ☀️ for evidence-backed leadership insights
♻️ Repost to help your network learn these lessons.

Most AI = distractions in disguise.
Here’s what real assistance feels like.

In 2025, I finally experienced what most people actually want from AI 
(and what Pew Data points to).

Not more notifications.
Not another “game-changing” thing to learn.

Just this:
speed, better quality, and staying in control.

Because honestly?
I was tired of wasting time managing and responding to my emails, typing slower than I think, and lacking creativity for my visuals 
Not to say wasting time to tools that promised leverage… and delivered friction.

The three tools I started using daily in 2025 and can't live without in 2026:

➤ Save me time,
➤ Improve the quality of my work,
➤ And keep me in control.

__
1) Wispr Flow - “My voice, but in clean sentences” 
https://lnkd.in/eFb_hTXe

A voice-powered AI keyboard that turns speech into clear, well-punctuated text in any app.

I use it to:  
- Reply to LinkedIn comments quickly  
- Draft Word documents, LinkedIn posts, WhatsApps, SMS  
- Capture ideas before I forget them 

Why I love it:
→ No awkward transcription or filler words  
→ Corrects my English when needed  
→ Learns my phrases, names, acronyms  
→ And I still edit and approve every word  

Improvement: It’s not (yet) as accurate in French or Spanish as in English

__
2) SuperInbox - “Email, without the mental fatigue” 
https://lnkd.in/eqwNXBsz

An AI email co-pilot that automatically drafts replies (only when required) and sorts my inbox by intent. It links to my calendar and suggests meeting times that fit my schedule.

I use it to:  
- Review and send suggested replies in seconds  
- Organize emails into clear categories  
- Answer “When can you talk?” emails without checking my calendar  

Why  I love it:
→ Saves a ridiculous amount of time (proportional to your emails volume)
→ Drafts match my style, learned from my emails  
→ Replies in the same language as the original email 
→ Helped me realised I needed to clean up my inbox and unsubscribe to some emails, I now keep my inbox lean
→ And I approve every email before sending 

Improvement: None as of December when 2 past issues were fixed.

__
3) Saywhat - “Visuals without the blank-page panic” 
https://lnkd.in/e9yiW4sp

An AI creative sidekick that turns rough ideas or linkedin posts into usable visual concepts in minutes.

I use it to:
- Generate ideas for LinkedIn infographics
- Create quick, clean visual drafts
- Iterate fast without getting stuck in Canva

Why I love it:
→ Saves huge amounts of time on visuals
→ Customisable to my brand colours and infographics style
→ You can highlight parts to change, with instructions like editing on paper 
→ and I make the final call (in Canva if I have to)

Improvement: It doesn’t always follow all instructions perfectly.

If an AI tool doesn’t save time, raise quality, and keep you in charge… it’s not an assistant. 
It’s AI distraction with good marketing.

➕ Follow Florence Divet ☀️ for more practical insights that matter

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Florence Divet ☀️

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