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

Get inspired to live a fulfilling life I CEO and Founder of get inspired

Raphael Buck

Live Longer Healthier - The 12 Hallmarks of Aging and What You Can Do.
 
Longevity isn’t about adding years. 
It’s about adding quality years
Staying strong, independent, mentally sharp, 
and free of chronic disease. 

Aging research, especially the 12 Hallmarks of Aging 
(López-Otín, 2013; updated 2023), shows that aging 
is a biological process we can slow and partly reverse. 

These hallmarks include genomic instability, 
mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and 
stem-cell exhaustion. 
Many are modifiable through lifestyle and 
targeted interventions.
 
Three leading thinkers offer complementary lenses:  
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿: Activate repair pathways through hormesis (benefits from stress)  
𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗮: Build physical and emotional capacity long before you need it.  
𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻: Use daily science-based protocols for brain and body.
 
How do we live longer healthier?
 
𝗪𝗛𝗬 it matters
 
More Quality Years 
Strong physical function reduces mortality 
and preserves independence (Studenski et al., 2011).  

Lower Disease Risk 
Better metabolic health and fitness cut the risk of 
heart disease, cancer, and dementia (Booth et al., 2012).

Higher Life Satisfaction 
Emotional wellbeing and strong relationships drive 
long-term happiness (Holt-Lunstad & Smith, 2010).
 
 
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 to do
 
1. SLEEP 
Aim for 7–9 hours. Cool, dark room. Morning sunlight. 
Consistent timing. Limit evening light.  
Principle: Sleep restores everything.
 
2. NUTRITION 
Earlier eating window. High protein. Avoid sugar and 
ultra-processed carbs. More plants and polyphenols. 
Stable glucose. Use fasting to activate autophagy.  
Principle: Choose better fuel.
 
3. EXERCISE 
Strength train 2–3× weekly. Zone 2 cardio 180–240 min 
for mitochondrial health. Add VO2 max intervals. 
Use heat/cold for safe hormesis.  
Principle: Train for life.
 
4. MENTAL WELLBEING  
Reduce chronic stress. Strengthen relationships. 
Use breathing tools. Cultivate purpose. 
Principle: Mind drives health.
 
5. PREVENTION  
Screen early for heart disease, cancer, metabolic 
dysfunction, sleep disorders, cognitive decline. 
Manage risks decades before symptoms.  
Principle: Catch it early.

FINAL thought
 
Longevity is not about adding years at the end, 
but adding life to every year.

Design a life that works for you 

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Live Longer Healthier

The Obvious: Acting on What Everyone Sees but Few Do. How to spot opportunity in plain sight. 

Some ideas hide in complexity. 
Others stare us in the face. 
The difference between those who succeed 
and those who stay stuck often comes down 
to one simple ability: seeing and acting on the obvious.

We admire brilliance, innovation, and disruption. 
Yet most breakthroughs weren’t born from genius; 
they came from clarity.

In my experience across ventures, investments, 
and career choices the obvious option is often 
the right one being ignored. 
If chosen, it always seems clear to everyone with hindsight.

A simple test for the obvious: 
If you can explain the opportunity in one sentence and 
it makes instant sense to everyone, 
you’re probably on to something.

In the classic book “Obvious Adams”, 
Oliver “Obvious” Adams, a young advertiser, 
builds success by focusing on the obvious

𝗪𝗛𝗬 it matters
• Clear Thinking: Simplify complexity into clarity. 
  People follow those who make direction obvious. 
  (Zenger & Folkman, HBR, 2016)
• Honest Connection: Clarity builds trust; 
  what feels simple and true earns belief. 
  (Reber etal., Cognitive Science, 2004)
• Easy Scaling: Simplicity spreads fast 
  what’s clear is easy to teach, repeat, and grow. 
  (Labroo & Kim, Journal of Marketing Research, 2009)
 
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 actions to take

1. OPEN YOUR EYES 
Notice what others overlook. 
Focus on simple frictions no one fixes
truth hides in plain sight. 
Principle: See what’s before you.

2. GET INSIGHTS 
Observe reality firsthand before judging. 
Principle: Observe, then create.

3. DO THE OBVIOUS TEST 
Great ideas feel simple, natural, and human. 
If it makes instant sense, it’s likely right. 
Principle: Truth feels obvious.

4. SAY IT PLAINLY 
Cut jargon and polish until clarity remains. 
Simple words build trust and understanding. 
Principle: Clarity beats cleverness.

5. DARE TO ACT 
Few act on the obvious. 
Courage, not complexity, turns insight into achievement. 
Principle: Act on the obvious.

𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 thought
In business and in life, progress rarely comes 
from discovering something new. 
It comes from having the eyes and the courage 
to act on what’s already in plain sight.

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Design a life that works for you 🔥 Raphael

The Obvious 

Supplement Your Health - The Five Supplements Everyone Should Take.

Only 14% of Americans and 
17% of Europeans regularly 
use dietary supplements.

At the same time, there is a frenzy on social media 
about the miracle powers of supplements, 
along with a whole plethora of supplement advertising.

Supplements fill gaps.
And those gaps are deeply individual 
shaped by diet, lifestyle, stress, genetics, and age.

But amid all the noise, one question remains:
What are the five supplements that most people 
benefit from?

WHY it matters

Close Nutritional Gaps: 
Even strong diets miss key nutrients from lifestyle 
and soil depletion 
(Bird et al., 2017).

Enhance Performance: 
Supplements boost physical output 
and sharpen cognitive performance under stress 
(Avgerinos et al., 2018).

Strengthen Health:
Targeted nutrients support immunity, 
heart health, cognition, and aging muscles 
(Bhatt et al., 2018).

WHAT to do

The top FIVE SUPPLEMENTs everyone would benefits

1. VITAMIN D + K2
Indoor lifestyles cause vitamin D deficiency 
and weaken bone health.

Benefits:
Stronger immunity
Improved bone density
Better cardiovascular health

Scientific Evidence 
Bischoff-Ferrari, 2005, Avenell, 2014 Knapen, 2015

2. OMEGA-3 (EPA/DHA)
Most adults consume too little omega-3 
for inflammation and heart health.

Benefits:
Lower cardiovascular risk
Reduced triglycerides
Supports cognition

Scientific Evidence 
Bhatt, 2018, Yokoyama 2007,  Bernasconi 2021 

3. MAGNESIUM
Modern diets and stress cause widespread 
magnesium insufficiency affecting metabolism.

Benefits:
Better sleep
Lower blood pressure
Improved metabolic regulation

Scientific Evidence 
Zhang 2016, Abbasi 2012, Fang 2016

4. DAILY MULTIVITAMIN
Even good diets often fall short in 
vitamins A, C, E, B-complex, zinc, selenium, and choline

Benefits:
Fills nutrient gaps
Supports immunity
Improves cognition

Scientific Evidence 
Yeung 2023, Vyas 2024, Gaziano 2012

5. CREATINE MONOHYDRATE
Creatine enhances strength, energy production, 
and cognitive performance safely.

Benefits:
Greater strength
Better cognition
Preserves muscle mass

Scientific Evidence 
Branch 2003, Avgerinos 2018, Candow 2014

FINAL thought
As Arnold Schwarzenegger put it: 
“It’s called a supplement for a reason 
it’s there to supplement your diet, 
not replace it.”

Design a life that works for you 🔥 Raphael

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Supplement Your Health

Pursue More, Need Less. 
How to Grow and Avoid the Hedonic Treadmill.
 
At first glance, it seems contradictory.
 
Ambition tells us to set big goals, work hard, 
and achieve what once felt impossible. 
Achievement brings pride, capability, and momentum. 
Thinkers like Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, and Zig Ziglar 
built entire systems on this truth.
 
But here’s the paradox:
 
You’ve already achieved things you once believed would 
finally make you happy and the feeling didn’t last.  
The bar moved.  The satisfaction faded.  
That’s the hedonic treadmill: progress resets 
expectations, and success loses its emotional impact.
 
On the other side, Buddhism and Stoicism warn that 
desire and attachment create suffering. 
Acceptance and gratitude create calm 
but taken literally, full contentment kills growth.
 
So the real question becomes:
 
How do you reach your full potential 
without turning life into a moving target?
 
This is the essence of “Pursue more, need less.”  
Ambition with grounding. Growth without craving. 
Achievement without being owned by achievement.
 
 
WHY it matters
 
Higher Growth  
Ambition fuels learning and capability. 
(Dweck, 2006)
 
Greater Well-Being  
Needing less reduces comparison and emotional 
volatility. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003)
 
More Resilience  
Detachment strengthens 
stability through setbacks. (Seligman, 2011)
 
 
WHAT to do
 
1. Raise Ambition  
Set goals that stretch who you are.  
Principle: Think bigger.
 
2. Take Massive Action  
Focus on effort, skills, and discipline, what you control.  
Principle: Act relentlessly.
 
3. Build Capability  
Grow into excellence so achievement 
becomes identity-driven.  
Principle: Become more.
 
4. Practice Gratitude  
Anchor yourself in what you have, 
not what you chase.  
Principle: Need less.
 
5. Enjoy the Process  
Find presence in the work itself and 
detach from the outcome.  
Principle: Love doing.

 
FINAL thought
 
Ambition and contentment aren’t opposites. 
They are partners.  Combined, they create upward 
growth and inner stability.
 
“Don’t achieve to be happy. Focus on happily achieving.”

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Design a life that works for you 🔥

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The Battle

Arif Iqball

Raphael Buck

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Raphael Buck

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Raphael Buck's LinkedIn Performance

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