Most Important Skills For A Senior Manager, Long Range Planning At Patagonia
For a senior manager in long-range financial planning at Patagonia, foundational finance skills are crucial, progressing from "detail orientation, execution oriented skills" to managing "abstract risks" and communicating "abstract ideas." The ability to foster curiosity, ensuring everyone understands the value of financial decisions and their connection to other areas, and adaptability to a changing world are equally vital for success.
Financial Planning, Communication, Problem-Solving, Adaptability, Curiosity
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Jenny Tang
Senior Manager, Long Range Planning
Patagonia
University of California, Berkeley
MBA & M.S. Business Analytics at Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Environmental & Related Sciences
Apparel, Beauty, Retail & Fashion, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Finance
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Strong foundational finance skills, including financial planning and proficiency in financial systems
2. Excellent communication skills, particularly in conveying abstract ideas and complex processes to diverse stakeholders
3. Adaptability and a curious mindset to navigate the ever-changing business landscape and collaborate effectively across different teams
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
My role currently falls under the finance department, so I'd say some very basic finance skills are important. You need to understand the concepts of financial planning and how to interact with basic financial systems.
As you progress in a finance career, you move from detail-oriented, execution-focused skills like ensuring accuracy in your numbers and managing Excel sheets cleanly, to managing abstract risks. This involves leveraging clear communication skills, especially for abstract ideas and processes. It also means understanding how to tackle problems you haven't solved before.
Softer skills become more important as we move forward. These include getting everyone on the same page for vague challenges. Fundamentally, it’s always great to be curious.
Finance can only provide as much value as the people leveraging what we provide. So, it's important to ensure people understand the role of our decisions and our work. Also, be curious about how it connects to other people's work.
Finally, adaptability is key because the world is always changing. To keep up, you need to stay agile and on your feet.
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