Teradata's CFO, Claire Bramley, Multitasks as a Tale Spinner and Rule-Bender
Article Rewrite
Meet Claire Bramley, the CFO of Teradata, a leading hybrid cloud data analytics company renowned for itslarge-scale data warehousing and analytics solutions, including AI and generative AI. Bramley shares Teradata's ethos: people thrive when they are empowered with trusted information. Their top-notch cloud analytics and data platform deliver the harmonized data and trusted AI/ML that companies need for confident decision-making, swift innovation, and impactful business outcomes.
Recently, Bramley and I had a chat about the significance of storytelling in finance, Teradata's transition to cloud-based solutions, and how CFOs can embrace opportunities that push boundaries.
Born with a financial flair, Bramley discovered her knack for numbers at the tender age of 14. Growing up in Canterbury, Kent, she developed an appreciation for the broader business landscape in school. Her teacher's encouragement nurtured her interest throughout high school.
"The finance aspect resonated with me—telling a story through numbers and connecting it to real-world decision-making really captured my attention," Bramley explained. "My business studies teacher provided captivating case studies about companies, which fueled my enjoyment of deciphering patterns through numbers."
She continued her education in the UK, attending Loughborough University and earning a degree in accounting and business management.
Throughout her career, Bramley never lost sight of her teenage self's enthusiasm for communication in finance. In fact, the ability to narrate a financial story is a skill she encourages other finance professionals to develop early on. With many professionals well-versed in the technical aspects of the CFO role, those who can communicate effectively will undoubtedly stand out.
Bramley underscores that investing in one's communication skills is a smart investment...in oneself.
"Many accountants and controllers say, 'I can't present. I can't communicate. I can't tell a story,'" she said. "It's not that you can't. You need to practice. You need to tell yourself, 'This is something I'm going to do.' Invest like any other skill. Put the same dedication into becoming a good communicator as you have become a good controller or financial analyst."
Bramley's journey began at SSP Group, where she served as controller and financial analyst. From there, she moved into personal systems financial planning at HP, where she stayed for approximately 14 years, assuming various roles and responsibilities.
During her tenure at HP, she learned valuable lessons from leaders with diverse management styles—some that seemed challenging at first.
"My first manager found a unique way to mentor me and pushed me," she said. "I remember thinking, 'I'm never going to be enough. I'm never going to be able to get there,' but he knew I would rise to the challenge. It was like, 'You've got that now. What about this?' Honestly, that was the best thing that ever happened. He was essentially setting me up to manage things temporarily, add more value, and accelerate my learning."
HP offered Bramley a supportive environment to grow beyond her self-imposed limitations. Her father also encouraged her to pursue jobs that might be outside her comfort zone.
Bramley's role as CFO of Teradata, her first as a CFO, represents an opportunity to expand her horizons. Before joining Teradata, her last role was Global Controller at HP, a position that prepared her well for her Teradata role. In addition to managing the day-to-day financial responsibilities, her role as Global Controller gave her valuable experience interacting with the HP Board of Directors.
"At HP, allowing the controller to manage the audit committee is relatively uncommon," Bramley explained. "The CFO is present and participates, but the controller is the person who develops relationships with the audit committee chair. Engaging with the audit committee and understanding how the board of directors operates was crucial exposure. I would encourage anyone aspiring to be a CFO to get more involved and connected to the board of directors in some way, as this relationship and communication style are quite different."
At Teradata, these relationships have been key to helping her adjust to her new role. She has prioritized building relationships with the board from day one, allowing her to oversee a diverse range of departments and teams, including IT, security, procurement, real estate, strategy, and transformation.
In addition to her professional life, Bramley appreciates spending time outdoors, thanks to her husband, a raft guide, skiing instructor, and whitewater kayaker. Bramley often publishes content on LinkedIn, sharing articles such as "How Kayaking Made Me a Better CFO," inspired by her husband's adventures.
Bramley's whitewater kayaking experience is yet another example of her consistent pursuit to transcend boundaries. Despite not initially considering it, she bravely kayaked down the Grand Canyon, encouraged by her husband.
"Some of those rapids can be downright terrifying," she said. "But it's about investing time and practice. It's about staying focused. It's about adapting in the moment. It doesn't always go to plan in every rapid. It's about teamwork. You need someone to help you out if something goes awry. It's about keeping an eye on each other and working together."
Once again, her experience showed how, with the right attitude, the right approach, and the right support, she could accomplish anything.
- Claire Bramley, the CFO of Teradata, a cloud-based data analytics company, emphasizes the importance of effective communication in the CFO role, likening it to her teenage self's enjoyment of deciphering patterns through numbers and connecting them to real-world decision-making.
- In her role as CFO of Teradata, Bramley has leveraged her experience in managing diverse departments such as IT, security, procurement, real estate, strategy, and transformation, a skill she attributes to her time as Global Controller at HP where she developed relationships with the audit committee.
- Bramley's pursuit of whitewater kayaking, inspired by her husband's adventures, is a testament to her fearlessness in transcending boundaries, mirroring her approach in her professional life, where she continually seeks to add value and learn, as demonstrated in her rise to the CFO role at Teradata.
