Group CFO at Schroders: From South African Diamond Mine to Boss managing £778 Billion

Episode Guest:

Meagen Burnett is the Chief Financial Officer of Schroders plc, appointed in January 2025 after joining the firm as Chief Operating Officer in 2023. With over 25 years in financial services—including senior roles at M&G plc, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and KPMG—she now oversees Schroders’ finance, operations, technology, and corporate services functions.

Episode Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

0:46 Meet Meagen Burnett, CFO of Schroders

1:11 Meagen’s first job in a South African mine

2:59 Career advice to her younger self

3:43 How Meagen decides when to say no

5:36 Turning down mining for financial services

6:05 Walking through unknown doors at KPMG

7:05 Building curiosity in your career

9:40 The line between curiosity and intrusion

11:24 Embracing feedback and managing fear

13:18 The power of pausing before reacting

14:42 Career doubt and managing tough times

16:45 Is the grass really greener?

17:43 A missed startup opportunity

18:44 Meagen’s simple money tip to her 18-year-old self

20:05 Mental health in the workplace

21:48 Encouraging open conversations at work

24:37 Creating safe spaces and work communities

26:20 What Schroders does and Meagen’s CFO role

27:43 How Schroders manages people's money

30:00 Money tips for young people and beginners

32:31 Responsibilities of a Group CFO

33:47 Schroders’ global impact and client trust

34:53 Meagen’s favourite part of her job

35:03 What makes a great CFO today

36:13 From Kimberly to the FTSE 100

37:00 Meagen’s life lesson: never give up

38:22 Meagen’s duvet flip: running, learning, people

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