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

RICK CAZZELL

IMI Consulting Group

THE CLARITY COMPANY™ | Executive Director | Human-First Transformation Strategist | AI + CRM + CX Alignment

At The Clarity Company™, we help leaders navigate complexity, calm chaos, and find their next best step.

We’re a bold catalyst for transformation—trusted by HR leaders, contact center executives, and experience-driven brands in Travel and hospitality to unlock clarity in the fog of modern work.

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬:
• Digital Innovation 
• Operational Excellence
• Leadership Enablement 
• Contact Center Strategy 
• Tech-Driven Human Transformation
• HR & Employee Engagement Strategy 

⚙️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞:
Clients come to us saying:
“We’re stuck in fire-fighting mode.”
“Engagement is low and momentum has stalled.”
“We’re missing goals—but the team’s exhausted.”
“There’s no alignment between departments.”

𝐖𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨:
✅ Clarity of direction
✅ Aligned priorities
✅ Renewed momentum
✅ Confident next steps

📈 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
• 154% revenue growth via human-first transformation
• $ 1M+ savings through AI-powered redesign
• 30% boost in employee engagement
• 30% lift in customer satisfaction
• 25% gain in operational efficiency

🔍 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬:
• AI + CRM Implementation
• Omnichannel Contact Center Redesign
• CX + EX Strategy
• Change Leadership & Team Coaching
• Process Optimization (Lean Six Sigma)

🧠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡:
We work at the intersection of people and technology, bringing calm to chaos, clarity to confusion, and cohesion to siloed teams. From 1:1 executive support to full-scale consulting, we tailor our approach to meet the moment.

🗣 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩:
• Creator of Rickisms—micro-learnings for leadership clarity
• Advocate for making the invisible visible
• Known for turning insight into action

✨ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫? Let’s talk. Complimentary AI Readiness Assessment available.

THE CLARITY COMPANY™ | Human-Centered AI & Revenue Strategist 

Visionary Executive Leader | Expert in Travel, Hospitality & Beyond | Driving Operational Excellence | Delivering Increases in Revenue, Customer Satisfaction, and Employee Engagement | #OpenToWork

I’ve always been fascinated by the space 
between human connection and performance,
between technology and trust,
between what people say and what they really mean.

That space is where clarity lives.
And it’s where I work best.

Over the years, I’ve led sales teams, scaled customer-facing organizations, and coached executives through complex change. I’ve seen firsthand that sustainable growth doesn’t come from pressure or process—it comes from presence, trust, and behavioral clarity.

In every role, I focus on what my mentor Gregg Baron calls The Art of Influence Simplified—
the ability to make the complex simple,
to make the invisible visible,
and to create conditions where people and performance can rise together.

I’ve helped organizations achieve measurable outcomes like:
• 154% revenue growth
• 66x ROI
• 90% churn reduction

But the deeper impact has always been human—teams who rediscover meaning, leaders who learn to listen differently, and customers who feel understood.

My work now centers on bridging people, process, and technology—helping companies prepare for an AI-ready future that doesn’t lose its humanity.
I bring frameworks that guide performance through emotional intelligence, NLP, and neuroscience, yet always in plain language and with practical rhythm.

I don’t sell solutions.
I build relationships that earn results.
I don’t “fix” teams.
I help them see what’s been in front of them all along.

If you’re leading through complexity, I can help you translate chaos into clarity—
because clarity isn’t a luxury anymore.
It’s the new competitive advantage.

Let’s clarify your next move.
Email me at Rick.Cazzell@imicg.com

—

Rick Cazzell
Human-Centered AI & Revenue Strategist
Helping you Shift what’s stuck & scale what matters.

Visionary CEO | Transformative Leader | Innovation & Problem-Solving | Operational Excellence

At IMI Consulting Group, I lead by transforming vision into reality through empowering people, optimizing processes, and leveraging technology. My mission is to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence with innovative solutions tailored to client challenges.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬:

• 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Leading high-performing teams and fostering a culture of excellence.
• 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, & 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: Integrating these elements to drive growth and innovation.
• 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Streamlining operations to enhance efficiency and performance.
• 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Designing exceptional experiences that increase satisfaction.
• 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Equipping teams with skills to maximize performance and outcomes.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

• Boosted operational efficiency by 25% through targeted organizational development projects.
• Led process improvements, saving clients over $1M annually.
• Enhanced employee engagement by 20%, leading to significant performance gains.
• Developed customer journey strategies, increasing satisfaction scores by 30%.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡:

I challenge the status quo with bespoke strategies tailored to each client’s needs, specializing in people, processes, and technology to foster sustainable growth and innovation.

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭:

Ready to transform your challenges into strategic successes? Connect with me to explore impactful results.

taplio

The Battle

Arif Iqball

RICK CAZZELL

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?