From Starting Over In A New Country To Reaching The C-Suite: A CFO’s Career Comeback
In the latest episode of Beyond the Ledger, Troy Ashby interviews Jaco van Rensburg, CFO of Aerwave, about the challenges and opportunities of starting over in a new country and reaching the C-suite. The conversation covers career reinvention and how to thrive in new environments despite initial setbacks. The discussion provides insights into global mobility and professional adaptation.
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Key takeaways
Rebuilding a career from scratch after immigrating can be challenging but rewarding.
Cultural adaptation and career perseverance are crucial for success in new environments.
Learning from setbacks and leveraging experience can lead to long-term professional growth.
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Global mobility is reshaping the modern workforce, with millions of professionals relocating each year in pursuit of opportunity, stability, or growth. Yet behind the headlines of talent migration lies a quieter, more difficult truth: restarting a career from scratch—even after years of success—is far more common than people expect. In fact, many skilled immigrants face underemployment in their first years abroad, making reinvention not just a choice, but a necessity.
So what does it really take to rebuild your professional identity in a completely new environment—and turn that reset into long-term success?
Welcome to Beyond the Ledger. In the latest episode, host Troy Ashby sits down with Jaco van Rensburg, Chief Financial Officer at Aerwave, to unpack the realities of starting over after immigrating. From cultural adaptation to career humility and leadership growth, the conversation explores how Jaco rebuilt his trajectory from entry-level roles back to the C-suite—and what others can learn from that journey.
What You’ll Learn:
- Rebuilding From Career Reset
- Shifting From Status To Growth
- Adapting To New Cultures Quickly
- Thriving Without A Safety Net
- Turning Setbacks Into Stepping Stones
- Leveraging Experience At Any Level
- Knowing When To Pivot Or Persist
- Building Skills That Compound Over Time
- Navigating Corporate Vs. Private Environments
- Leading Through Influence And Adaptability
- Developing Teams Through Trust And Mentorship
Jaco van Rensburg is a seasoned financial executive with over 20 years of leadership experience. He specializes in financial transformation, operational efficiency, and scaling businesses through strong financial strategy, ERP implementation, and streamlined accounting processes.
Prior to Aerwave, Jaco was Global Vice President of Finance at Zadara, where he led financial planning and operations across multiple global regions. Throughout his career, he’s held executive roles at companies like Experian, ConvergeOne, and TruClear Global, contributing to M&A, financial strategy, and business optimization in both high-growth and complex environments.
Jaco holds an Honors Degree in Accounting from the University of Stellenbosch and is both a CPA and a Chartered Accountant. He is based in Lucas, Texas, where he enjoys spending time with his family and staying active on the tennis court.
Article written by MarketScale.
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About the author
Troy Ashby is President at Benchmark Search and host of Beyond the Ledger, where he talks with the leaders, innovators, and professionals shaping accounting and finance.
