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Back in 2014, when Akash Palkhiwala was first approached to serve as treasurer of wireless technology company Qualcomm, the company\u2019s future CFO was uncertain as to what the role of a treasurer might actually entail.

\u201cI\u2019m not making this up: I did a Google search on what a treasurer does,\u201d explains Palkhiwala, who recalls that the approaching retirement of the firm\u2019s incumbent treasurer had led then-CFO George Davis to gauge Palkhiwala\u2019s interest in the role.

Palkhiwala had first joined Qualcomm in 2001, and during his early years with the firm had been involved in the wireless firm\u2019s M&A activity. Eventually, he graduated from a succession of financial planning and analysis roles through which he had rendered a steady flow of strategic insights for Qualcomm management as the company climbed from 3G to 4G to 5G along the wireless continuum.

\u201cAlthough I\u2019ve been here for 20 years, I feel like I have changed companies multiple times,\u201d comments Palkhiwala, who notes that the treasurer role ultimately proved to be one of his career\u2019s greatest learning grounds.

\u201cIt was just a fantastic experience. I did a lot of different things that I had never done before and worked with a whole new set of people, got exposure to the financial markets and the banking system, and created these new relationships that today I see as foundational in being successful as a CFO,\u201d observes Palkhiwala, who adds that while today he knows that he made the right decision, accepting the treasurer position did require a degree of courage.

Says Palkhiwala: \u201cI was recently talking to someone who was facing a tough career choice. He explained that you get maybe three windows of opportunity in the course of your career, and your success or failure over time is largely defined by your courage when windows of opportunity show up.\u201d \u2013Jack Sweeney\xa0