Bhairav Kothari https://bhairavkothari.com/ Articles on finance, cross-border transactions, running a practice, and what AI changes for finance teams. en Directing AI agents is a management job https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/directing-ai-agents-is-a-management-job.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/directing-ai-agents-is-a-management-job.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0530 A year of building daily taught me that agents reward the same judgement as a team, and punish the same laziness. What the prospectus does not tell you https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/what-the-prospectus-does-not-tell-you.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/what-the-prospectus-does-not-tell-you.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0530 The year before an AIM listing as the CFO actually lives it, rather than as the bankers describe it. Selling a category that did not exist https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/selling-a-category-that-did-not-exist.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/selling-a-category-that-did-not-exist.html Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 +0530 Bringing the fractional CFO to India in 2008, when every pitch began by explaining the words. Finance, strategy and the three-body problem https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/finance-strategy-and-the-three-body-problem.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/finance-strategy-and-the-three-body-problem.html Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0530 Two forces you can solve exactly. Three and the maths gives up on you. Most finance decisions are the second kind. The reference that did not check out https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/the-reference-that-did-not-check-out.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/the-reference-that-did-not-check-out.html Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0530 A CFO hire that looked clean on paper, and the phone call where something felt wrong. An annual report drawn as a comic https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/an-annual-report-drawn-as-a-comic.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/an-annual-report-drawn-as-a-comic.html Sun, 24 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0530 Nissin presented its financial statements as manga. A short note on why reporting does not have to be dull. LEGO's masterstroke: a brand turnaround that rebuilt an empire https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/lego-a-brand-turnaround-that-rebuilt-an-empire.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/lego-a-brand-turnaround-that-rebuilt-an-empire.html Sun, 24 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0530 It drifted into theme parks, clothing and video games, nearly went under, and came back by returning to the brick. Systems and processes: finance lessons from the manufacturing shop floor https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/systems-and-processes-lessons-from-the-shop-floor.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/systems-and-processes-lessons-from-the-shop-floor.html Sun, 24 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0530 A Maruti plant turns out a car every seven seconds. Most finance functions cannot close a month on time. Five essential strategies for CEOs and CFOs during fundraising https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/five-strategies-for-ceos-and-cfos-during-fundraising.html https://bhairavkothari.com/articles/five-strategies-for-ceos-and-cfos-during-fundraising.html Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0530 Research, rehearsal, a printed backup, clear roles and speed. What actually helps when you are raising.