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Ricky
Koo
Senior Director of Finance
Autodesk
Ricky Koo is a corporate executive turned entrepreneur and certified Leadership & Communication Coach who knows what it takes to thrive in high-pressure environments—and how to bring out the best in others while doing it. With a background in Psychology and an early career as a Big 4 CPA, he went on to lead global teams in Fortune 500 companies across banking, consulting, and technology. Along the way, he developed a reputation for navigating complex challenges with clarity, empathy, and a focus on building cultures where people can do their best work. Ricky offers keynote speaking, professional coaching for individuals, and workshop facilitation for teams and organizations, while helping them grow with clarity and impact. Beyond his business, he is also a writer and an instructor at UC Berkeley Extension, where he teaches courses on Business Influence and Negotiation. Ricky's passion is blending his sharp business instincts with a human-centered approach for those he partners with. His style combines research, story, and strategy—bridging science with real-world lessons that stick. From the classroom to the boardroom, he brings an approachable style and inspiring energy that leave people with new skills and a renewed sense of confidence and purpose in communication, influence, and leadership.
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24 February 2027 14:45 - 15:15
Beyond the numbers: The soft skills AI can’t replace
AI can analyze numbers, build the forecast, and create polished slides in seconds. But it can’t effectively get the room to act on it. That takes judgment. That takes influence. In a world of automated models and templates, the finance professionals who stand out aren't the ones who are analyzing or producing the tables and graphs. They are the ones who can influence and tell the story. In this session, you will learn how to use your soft skills as your sharpest tool in today's world. We will break down the psychology of communication and influence, specifically for highly technical roles in Finance. You’ll learn why perception drives decisions (and promotions), why your work will not speak for itself, and how to build a recognizable professional brand that AI can’t copy. You’ll even come away with practical scripts you can use in your next budget review, stakeholder meeting, or promotion conversation. Led by Ricky Koo, Head of GTM & Technology/Engineering Financial Planning & Analysis at Autodesk. Ricky blends a psychology background with 20+ years of corporate finance experience across JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Visa, Oracle, and Autodesk. He is also an instructor of Leadership & Negotiation at UC Berkeley Extension.