Kottayam, Kerala – August 29, 2025 — There are moments in history when a book is not merely released, but a movement is born. On a vibrant evening at Hotel Indraprastha, Kottayam, finance leader and author CA. Jishore Abic, FCA unveiled his latest work, “I AM THE CFO: Your Guide to Modern Financial Leadership.”
The launch was more than a ceremonial occasion. It was a gathering of possibility, a spark of awakening. Chartered accountants, senior business leaders, young professionals, and aspiring dreamers filled the room. As the book was unveiled by CA. Manosh Mani, FCA, Chairman of SICASA-Kottayam, the applause was heartfelt, but the atmosphere was charged with something deeper: a recognition that this was not just the release of a book but the birth of a new philosophy of leadership.
Because this book is not only about finance—it is about becoming the leader your potential is calling you to be.
More Than a CFO Manual
In every profession, there comes a point when individuals confront a question larger than performance reviews, promotions, or job descriptions: Am I living my purpose?
I AM THE CFO addresses that question head-on. It challenges finance professionals—and indeed anyone in the world of work—to stop viewing leadership as a destination reserved for the few, and to start embracing it as a decision available to all.
Drawing from more than 25 years of financial leadership across continents, Abic has distilled his experiences into a manifesto for transformation. He calls on professionals to step beyond self-doubt, stop waiting for external validation, and instead lead from the inside out.
“You don’t become a CFO when a company writes it on your business card,” Abic writes. “You become one the moment you decide to own that identity, act with courage, and lead with vision.”
This is a book about taking ownership—not only of careers but of impact, of identity, and of legacy.
The Journey from Struggle to Significance
What makes the message powerful is its authenticity. Abic’s own journey is a parable in resilience.
As a teenager in Kerala, he failed the highly competitive entrance exams for medicine and engineering—doors that society often equates with success. But he chose not to see failure as an ending. Instead, he discovered his strength in mathematics, graduated with a gold medal in BSc Mathematics, and qualified as a Fellow Chartered Accountant.
From those beginnings, he went on to become one of the Middle East’s most respected CFOs. His leadership shaped billion-dollar mergers, corporate restructurings, and healthcare expansions across the UAE and beyond.
The book threads these life lessons into principles that any reader—whether student, mid-career professional, or C-suite executive—can apply. Lessons about persistence when odds are stacked against you, clarity of vision when distractions abound, and courage to redefine yourself when the world doubts you.
Like Robin Sharma’s The Leader Who Had No Title, Abic’s message is clear: greatness is not reserved for the chosen few. It belongs to anyone willing to cultivate discipline, service, and imagination.
Lessons for Every Professional
I AM THE CFO is not a dry academic manual. It is alive with stories, frameworks, and practical guidance that make leadership real and achievable.
The book is organized around four pillars, each inviting readers to rethink how they show up in their professional and personal lives:
- Claim Your Identity – Stop waiting for recognition. Leadership is not conferred; it is claimed. You don’t need a title to think and act like a leader.
- Lead with Purpose – Move beyond transactions to transformation; beyond profit to principle. The best leaders do not just count value, they create it.
- Courage in Crisis – True leadership shines not in calm seas but in storms. Abic shows how courage—not compliance—builds lasting trust in boardrooms and during turnarounds.
- Build Your Legacy Now – Leadership is not about climbing ladders for personal gain. It is about building staircases that others can climb. Real leaders create impact that outlives them.
These themes are written not just for finance professionals but for anyone who dreams of leading with authenticity, courage, and clarity.
Voices That Echo Global Leadership
Adding depth to the book is a powerful foreword by Ziad Makhzoumi, a transformational leader, award-winning CEO, and seasoned CFO whose global career spans construction, healthcare, private equity, and corporate governance.
Makhzoumi describes the book as more than a guide:
“This is not about interpreting numbers. It’s about shaping the future. Jishore Abic reframes the CFO as an architect of value and a co-pilot of growth.”
This endorsement underscores the book’s alignment with global best practices and forward-thinking leadership.
Why This Book Matters in Our Times
The urgency of Abic’s message cannot be overstated.
We live in an era where disruption is no longer occasional—it is constant. The pandemic reset global business models. Geopolitical shifts redefined supply chains. Digital revolutions continue to transform industries overnight. ESG priorities are rewriting the metrics of success.
In such a world, the role of leadership cannot be reduced to titles, positions, or hierarchies. Leaders must rise with humility, foresight, and courage. They must act as navigators of disruption and custodians of trust.
Abic positions the modern CFO as the Chief Future Officer—someone who sees possibilities before others do, who interprets numbers as stories of value, and who aligns profitability with purpose.
And the truth is, this lesson transcends finance. It is equally relevant to teachers, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, engineers, and dreamers of every kind. Leadership in today’s world belongs to those who refuse to hide behind roles and instead choose to step forward with vision and conviction.
Availability
You can now purchase “I AM THE CFO” on the following platforms:
- Amazon.in
- Amazon.co.uk
- Amazon.com
- Notion Press
- Flipkart
A Movement in the Making
The book’s launch event reflected this spirit of awakening.
In his inaugural remarks, CA. Manosh Mani praised Abic’s work as “a gift to every professional who aspires to lead with impact.” The audience—comprising both veterans and students—left not just with copies of the book, but with a renewed sense of responsibility.
Because I AM THE CFO is not just a book. It is a call to action.
Abic’s invitation is simple, yet profound:
- Stop waiting.
- Start leading.
- Declare today: I AM THE CFO.
This mantra is designed to spark courage in those who feel stuck, clarity in those searching for direction, and confidence in those who doubt their worth.
About the Author
CA. Jishore Abic, FCA is a Global Power Leader in Finance (2024), a transformational CFO, and a sought-after mentor. With over 25 years of experience across construction, healthcare, infrastructure, and advisory, he has led organizations through crises, turnarounds, and expansions with remarkable success.
He is also the author of BORED of DIRECTORS, an acclaimed work on corporate governance. I AM THE CFO is the second in his leadership trilogy, with a forthcoming third book focused on workplace culture.
Beyond his professional achievements, Abic is grounded in his family—his wife Rosemary and their children Jonathan and Agnella—who remain his constant source of inspiration.
In a world obsessed with designations and promotions, Jishore Abic’s message is refreshing and liberating: you don’t need a title to lead.
I AM THE CFO is not merely a publication. It is a mirror that reflects your highest potential, a map that guides you toward it, and a mentor that reminds you to walk with courage.
For anyone standing at the crossroads of career and purpose, this book whispers a declaration worth repeating:
“The journey doesn’t begin when you are given the title. It begins the moment you believe you are already worthy of it.”
That is the true rise of the modern CFO—and the true rise of every leader.
For Media Inquiries, Review Copies, or Interview Requests:
📧 Email: ja@jishoreabic.com
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