Editor’s note: In today’s A Day in the Life, Shelly Maneth (pictured), senior director, finance and business operations for APAC at Red Hat Asia Pacific, shares with FutureCFO audiences how moments of her career journey pushed her outside of her comfort zone and how her hobbies such as cooking, baking, reading, and watching films, help her unwind and stay inspired.
FutureCFO: What does a typical day look like for you?
Shelly Maneth (SM): My journey at Red Hat has evolved over the past few years — from leading Finance for APAC to now taking on the challenge of leading our Sales Operations team.
My days are somewhat "atypical"... and although I may wish for a 'typical' day, I'm afraid I would probably get bored quickly. My schedule is quite dynamic, although structured; it varies from early morning and late-night calls with my US/European counterparts, to strategy meetings with our APAC leadership, or discussions with regional and country sales leads, as well as team meetings/coaching, during the day.
Often we see high-growth tech companies transform themselves to keep up with market demands, which means roles, functions, processes, and systems must evolve to meet those demands, and Red Hat is no different.
Currently, we're undergoing systems and process transformations, while adapting to, but also guiding, ever-evolving sales expectations.
This demands that my team, who are located across APAC, and I stick together, keep communication open, stay agile and continuously adapt; time then becomes a precious asset.
With limited time and atypical days, I plan as far ahead as possible and structure my work calendar to allow flexibility and dedicated time for deeply evolving our strategies, executing them effectively, and ensuring all impacted teams are aligned on the journey--enabling their development and growth as well.
Personal development and ‘me time’ is equally important, although I’ll admit it’s often a luxury. When in Singapore, I try to be home in the evening to enjoy quality time with my family over dinner, and attend calls after, if needed.
I'm an early riser and enjoy road cycling, so when I'm not chasing deadlines, I'm often up at 4:30 am for a long ride. This routine helps me start the day feeling relaxed and refreshed, and keeps my mind sharp.
FutureCFO: What excites you the most when you work with the Finance Function?
SM: I love bringing to life insights from finance that help the business grow, and invest in strategic areas. I thrive on the challenges that come with strategy development and execution, transformation, as well as profitable growth.
I then take these same insights and translate those into broader concepts that show how each associate’s contribution at Red Hat connects to our overall financial outcomes, which has had an incredibly positive impact in our APAC Associates understanding of the business.
To do this, I actively engage with cross-functional teams and associates to understand their perspectives of our business and explore how I can better support their understanding of our financial/growth story.
These conversations often come up in our New Hire Orientation programs where I am invited to share about my function or during our regional quarterly company town hall, where I present our region's business performance to our APAC associates and help align everyone on what we need to do collectively, as ONE team, to drive success.
I've found that when communicated effectively, numbers can inspire and engage teams, as well as support change!
FutureCFO: Can you share an experience which was key to your professional growth?
SM: Without a doubt, the most pivotal experience which has contributed to my professional growth is my move to Singapore.
After graduating from university in 1992, I was eager to see the world! I joined Deloitte in Kansas City and a few years later, I applied for their two-year international rotation program, which brought me to Singapore.
My life literally changed forever - two years turned into 30, and I’ve loved every minute of it!
Asia is a melting pot of industries, bringing together established global markets and fast-growing emerging economies, with hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Delhi and Shanghai; these hubs are often leading the world in innovation, investment, and cross-border collaboration.
Developing the skills needed to adapt to such a broad array of cultures, languages, norms, laws, etc., was no easy feat, and I feel an immense sense of pride when I look back on my career, realising how those skills have contributed to my professional growth, and to the companies I have worked with.
Red Hat’s culture also truly reflects these values, embracing and celebrating the richness of diverse cultures. Recently, we came together in our Singapore office to celebrate Hari Raya with our associates, sharing a delicious Indonesian meal and meaningful conversations.
FutureCFO: Can you briefly describe your career journey and one or two highlights along that journey?
SM: My journey has been a ton of fun - yes, accounting/finance/operations can be fun too!
After moving to Singapore in 1995, I have spent nearly three decades in Asia, holding various regional Senior Finance and Operational roles.
Post Deloitte, I’ve worked in a diverse range of industries - from a Hollywood studio, a brokerage firm, global tech giants, local startups, large global professional services firms and now back to the global tech sector with Red Hat. It’s been a journey of growth, filled with moments that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to continuously learn and adapt.
A recent highlight is my learning journey around AI; Red Hat’s strategic focus in this space led me to enroll in a course with Columbia to better understand AI and explore how my function could tap into its potential.
The course proved invaluable, not just in deepening my knowledge, but also in sparking wider conversations with colleagues at work.
When a few industry peers learned about my course they reached out to ask how AI could benefit the finance function; those discussions organically led to the idea of Red Hat hosting a CFO roundtable for fellow finance leaders in Singapore to discuss AI’s role in the finance world.
It’s been fascinating to see how a small step in learning and sharing can open doors to broader impact and collaboration.
Shelly Maneth, Senior Director, Finance and Business Operations - APAC, Red Hat Asia Pacific
In the vein of impact and collaboration, I received a fresh and interesting addition to my responsibilities this year - the Site Leader role for Red Hat Singapore. A new initiative we’re setting up in support of our strategy - driving innovation, collaboration, and associate experience to achieve our objectives. I’m excited to see how this role evolves and how it can help Red Hat.
Finally, as I reflect on my career, I realise there have been so many meaningful highlights to celebrate. I would like to leave with one that is very close to my heart. This one goes back about a decade and centres around the cause of advocating accessible education - particularly championing for women.
It all began when I applied for an open Board seat at my son’s primary school. As he moved to a larger international school, I continued that journey by joining the audit committee of its Board.
Eventually, this path led me to serving on the Asian University for Women’s Board in Bangladesh. Contributing my professional knowledge and experience to a cause I’m deeply passionate about has been incredibly fulfilling.
FutureCFO: Tell us something about yourself outside of work.
SM: Outside of work, I enjoy reading and watching films, as well as cooking and baking, which helps me unwind and stay inspired.
I enjoy books such as 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei and The Geek Way by Andrew McAfee.
In addition to books, I subscribe to Dwell, an architectural magazine that fuels my appreciation for design, and Foreign Affairs, which offers thoughtful perspectives on global issues.
Together, these readings nourish my curiosity and creativity, while also providing moments of quiet reflection.
On the creative front, I recently attended a Banksy exhibition in Singapore; his unique perspectives amaze me. One of my favourite films is Black Orpheus, a 1959 classic that I deeply appreciate for its vibrant Bossa Nova music and captivating dance sequences. I’m also a fan of Hamilton—the diversity of the cast, the music, and its imaginative retelling of history make it both fun and unique.
On the weekend, I love to cook and bake - trying new recipes, new flavours or ingredients! Recently, I saw a recipe for Blackbean Chocolate cake - EASIEST cake you’ll ever make and was truly delicious!
Another family favourite is Chocolate Tofu Pie! What I love is that people will never guess the key ingredients in either one - blackbeans or tofu! Try them!
FutureCFO: What do you want to do in the future?
SM: If I had the chance to try something entirely different, I’d love to be an architect, or a horticulturalist or maybe even a mystery novel writer - I feel like these would allow me to design, develop, create and express my passions, as well as put an envelope around my passion for creating joy and fun in the world.
FutureCFO: What’s your advice to female finance and accounting professionals of today?
SM: My advice is to embrace the evolving nature of work-life balance and to define your priorities and your success on your own terms.
Over the years, I’ve adopted a more flexible approach, blending personal and professional responsibilities with greater ease.
I believe that the key is in focusing on the quality of time rather than the quantity. Be intentional with your energy, make every moment count, whether at work or at home. Surround yourself with people who respect your priorities, understand they may change over time, and be open in communicating them.
In doing so, you not only build a supportive environment for yourself but also set an example for others, as you grow in your career.
And never underestimate the power of a strong support system – I’m especially grateful for my husband, my sons, and my friends, especially those in my workplace (given the number of hours we spend at work each day ☺️) whose encouragement and understanding have made a world of difference.
Love yourself - you be you!
