"If a company of that historic caliber and ethics could disappear, what did that mean for so many other companies that didn't come close?" she says.
At the time, McGarvie was three years into a CFO stint with Bic Group, living in Paris and New York, and had returned the maker of disposable pens and lighters to a positive cash-flow position. It was her second CFO gig, having previously been finance chief at Hannaford Bros., a Maine-based grocery retailer. But the whole Andersen episode "shook me" so much, she says, that she paused to reevaluate her skills — which included communication in addition to finance — and her most satisfying accomplishments — developing future finance leaders.
That reassessment gave rise to the novel idea that she might help company leaders gain "financial savvy, a global perspective, and integrity." By January 2003 she had done the unthinkable: moved back to the United States to start her own company, Leadership for International Finance LLC — one part consultancy, one part executive coaching firm, and one part advocate for the importance of finance, even for nonfinance professionals.
Almost four years later, the 49-year-old McGarvie describes her new life as "more like jazz than a symphony." She has published a book, Fit in, Stand out: Mastering the FISO Factor for Business and Life (October 2005, McGraw-Hill), in which she outlines her six "catalytic agents" for becoming a more effective leader, including financial acuity and integrity. In addition, she addresses audiences around the world on finance's potential and also finds time to sit on five for-profit boards, including Accenture. And while McGarvie admits that she would jump back into the C-suite if the right offer came along, she cautions, "I'm probably not free for a while." — L.C.
Travel the World
Christine Mead got the travel bug early. By the time she
was 25 she had lived in three countries, including Zambia. So
it wasn't a total surprise 11 months ago when she left her CFO
post at Seattle-based Safeco to bicycle around the world.
"With Safeco financially secure and a strong finance team in place, the option was too exciting to ignore," says the 51-year-old Mead, who was brought in to help turn around the property-and-casualty insurer in 2002 by then-CEO Mike McGavick. (McGavick also left the company this year, to run for the U.S. Senate; Mead declined to be a candidate for CEO.)
Currently, Mead is exploring Tibet with three other women who have also taken time out from their careers for the 18-month trek. "The first phase took us from London through southern England, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Romania," she says. To get to the Asian leg, they had to take a train to Istanbul and fly over Iran and Pakistan. "But the beauty of traveling [mostly] by bicycle is that I see and experience so much more than by car, bus, or train," explains Mead, who is also an avid hiker, skier, and climber. "Whenever we stop, we're immediately joined by a crowd fascinated by our gear, panniers, GPS system, and maps."
In addition to managing the group's expenses, which are funded by personal savings, her other business skills are also apparent. "My adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving skills all come into play," says Mead, who was previously a divisional CFO at Travelers.
For example, Mead, who took both first-aid and self-defense courses before embarking on the trip, makes sure she doesn't travel after dark and keeps a low profile in tense situations. That's particularly important, since "some countries that we visit are in the midst of political transition," she says. Ditto for many companies.
So far the trip has supplied both unique opportunities and inspirational encounters. In Nepal, for example, Mead met three sisters who developed a trekking company that strives to empower women by training female guides and porters. "It was fascinating to learn about their experiences building the company," she notes, adding that she also "enjoyed encouraging them in their groundbreaking roles."
As CFO went to press, Mead was in Tibet, on her way to China. Upon her return to the United States, she has no set plans beyond possibly reconnecting with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, where she served as a member of the board before this trip. "It's 10 months away, so I have an open mind at this point," she says. — L.D.
Write the Great American Novel
There may not seem to be much common ground between serving in Vietnam
and serving as a CFO. But don't tell that to Christopher Joyce, a retired divisional
CFO at AT&T Corp. and a marine veteran, who weaves both experiences
into the plot of his first mystery novel, Last Effects.
Published in 2005, Last Effects tells the story of a business consultant who decides to investigate his brother's death during the Vietnam War. As the plot unfolds, the main character, Jack Keane, is weathering a career challenge in the form of a new client even as he begins to realize that his brother's death may not have been accidental. "I wanted the protagonist to be challenged professionally and personally," explains Joyce, who spent three years in the Marines, including a stint in Vietnam.
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