CEO Wavelength
2025: The Year of the Turnaround.
Nicole Ballestrin, Founder, Aspire CFO
January 2025
I’m calling 2025 the Year of the Turnaround.
In the 2010’s, up until the pandemic and, the global recession, it was growth at all costs, money was basically free to borrow, and companies have been slow-walking their way to more productive business models, if at all. But, for many - not fast enough. 2025 is the year many more companies jump into what they should have done some time ago, turnaround their operation so it is highly efficient and profitable into the long term.
So, as a Turnaround Finance Architect, what do I look for, when scanning for the ideal conditions for a turnaround?
First and foremost, a CEO who acknowledges the status quo is a problem and, shows the signs of sufficient grit to work through a turnaround. Leader buy-in is essential. Leader grit is what makes a better business possible, especially during the complexity of working through a turnaround.
Second, a business model that makes sense, post-turnaround. Market-relevance does matter otherwise, why bother with the work of a turnaround if the inevitable – market irrelevance, will happen? Providing best advice also means choosing to provide advice on all things related to business models that have staying power.
Third, candour matters - big time. Clients who embrace the hard truths are that muchfurther ahead of their competitors... they stand a much better chance of businesslongevity and, will likely achieve a successful exit when that time is meant to happen. When best candid advice isn’t celebrated, what’s the point? Mediocrity will reign if candour doesn’t.
Fourth, turnarounds are a down-payment on the future success of a business. Investing in the right things for a business matters. When the signs are flashing for a turnaround, aka full-on finance function transformation + business strategy overhaul,the investment into the turnaround is critical. That investment value needs to be understood before, during, and after the turnaround.
Lastly, I look for businesses that are really messy by design and their operations and, it’s the finance architect expert to the rescue! I thrive on this work that results in a business that can make strong decisions about its future and can operate productively while doing so - and, by extension, so does the whole Aspire CFO team. Applying our talents is what we enjoy most about our day to day and this means turning around messy business structures so they become well-structured, efficient business engines – this, is our M.O.
So, here’s to 2025, the Year of Turnarounds – make sure you pick the right expert to lead your turnaround – that too, will save you a whole lot of dough.
