Scaling Tax Teams & Breaking Down Silos: Insights from Booking.com's Head of Tax

Have you ever considered that broadening your perspective might be the key to excelling in tax leadership? In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx is joined by Karine Halimi-Guez, the Head of Tax at Booking.com, to discuss why generalists often have the upper hand. With over 25 years of experience in international taxation, Karine is a respected leader known for managing multicultural teams and navigating complex tax landscapes across various jurisdictions. As a sought-after speaker at international conferences and a former lecturer at the University of Paris-Dauphine, she brings a wealth of knowledge and unique insights to our discussion. In our conversation today, we discuss: 

• The pitfalls of learning in a tax consultancy environment

• The value of generalists in tax leadership, and how to broaden your perspective

• Why challenging your employees leads to growth and retention

• Building your brand as a strategic thinker

• Selling tax as a value driver 

• And much more

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Where to find Karine Halimi-Guez:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karine-halimi-guez-0515511

Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx⁠

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In this episode, we cover: 

(03:07) Karine’s hobbies and interests outside of tax

(06:20) Why Karine decided to become a tax professional 

(08:30) What sets Karine apart as a tax professional

(15:24) Karine’s team at Booking.com

(16:10) The problem with siloed thinking in the tax community

(20:00) Karine’s thoughts on the book Range 

(25:15) Why Karine likes to challenge her employees with new tax roles

(31:14) Challenges employees face when expanding skills, and why it’s worth it

(34:20) How Karine supports her team in a rapidly changing international company

(36:50) The structure of tax at booking.com

(40:05) Tips for unlocking value for business and environments that value tax professionals

(47:11) Selling the value of tax using a collaborative approach

(53:15) The importance of building a network and participating in stakeholder events if relevant 

(55:12) How Karine pushed for the work-from-home agenda at the UN

(58:11) Karine’s top advice for tax professionals

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Referenced:

Booking.com: https://www.booking.com/

FedEx Express: https://www.fedex.com/

University of Paris Dauphine: https://dauphine.psl.eu/en/

Georges-Eugène Haussmann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges-Eug%C3%A8ne_Haussmann

American Revolutionary War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War

Come-to-Jesus moment: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come-to-Jesus%20moment

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World: https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214484