Lessons in Cross-Border Finance and Leadership with Imran Maqbool

With over three decades of experience across four countries, Imran Maqbool’s career in finance reads like a roadmap through the evolving terrain of global markets. From shaping Pakistan’s early Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to steering strategic growth as CFO of BEXIMCO Group, Maqbool has consistently turned complexity into opportunity. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on the defining moments, leadership insights, and strategic pivots that have shaped his journey.

Navigating Uncertainty: The PPP Challenge That Defined a Leader

The most defining cross-border finance challenge that shaped my leadership style, Maqbool recalls, "was structuring Pakistan’s early PPP projects in the absence of mature regulatory frameworks." The ambiguity surrounding legal, political, and financial systems required more than technical skill, it demanded cultural intelligence, strategic patience, and unshakable resilience.

Unlike Dubai’s more predictable, investor-friendly environment, the early PPP landscape in Pakistan was filled with volatility. "That experience ingrained in me the importance of stakeholder alignment, risk anticipation, and the ability to build trust across borders—qualities that continue to guide my decisions today."

First 90 Days at BEXIMCO: A CFO’s Strategic Win

When Maqbool stepped into his role as CFO of the diversified BEXIMCO Group, he faced the high expectations of a board steering a complex, multi-industry enterprise through a period of growth. His first major move? Introducing a centralized, real-time cash flow forecasting model.

"This simple shift revealed idle capital, enabled faster investment decisions, and brought all verticals onto the same financial page," he explains. It was a quick win, but more importantly, it signaled Maqbool’s commitment to strategic alignment, data-driven leadership, and operational clarity.

High Rates, Rethinking Capital: What’s Over-Hyped and Underrated

In a world no longer flush with cheap money, Maqbool warns against the overuse of USD-denominated Eurobonds by emerging market conglomerates. "What once looked attractive now exposes companies to dangerous currency and refinancing risks," he says.

Instead, he champions a more resilient solution: local-currency blended finance models. These structures—built through partnerships with development institutions, local banks, and credit enhancements—provide stability, reduce external vulnerabilities, and better match the long-term nature of infrastructure and industrial projects.

Cultural Intelligence in Capital Structuring

Having worked across Asia and the Middle East, Maqbool highlights one Gulf-specific insight that transformed how he approaches deals: "Trust often matters more than contracts." In structuring capital at BEXIMCO, he applied this lesson by emphasizing alignment and transparency in early conversations with strategic partners and lenders.

This people-first approach led to more patient capital and favorable terms, proof that relationship-building and risk modeling are two sides of the same coin.

Don’t Stay in Your Lane: A Lesson Worth Sharing

Maqbool closes with a powerful piece of advice for young professionals:
‍"Ignore the pressure to specialize too early. I was told to focus narrowly on finance and avoid operations. I did the opposite."

Understanding the business holistically from supply chains to customer behavior—made him not just a better CFO, but a more effective leader. "The more you understand beyond your function, the more indispensable you become.”

‍Connect with Imran Maqbool on LinkedIn to follow his insights on leadership, finance, and cross-border strategy.