The tools we once built to support us are now smart enough to replace us. In financial institutions, this shift is already here, rewriting job roles, expectations, and the very nature of decision-making. Amid the noise and uncertainty, some financial professionals scramble to keep pace. While others take a different route, they lead the way for others. Among those leading with purpose and foresight is Derwish Rosalia, a seasoned auditor whose career spans PwC, Deloitte, BDO, and BMW Finance. In 2022, while working independently, he watched AI perform tasks he had spent years mastering and recognised it not as a threat, but as a turning point. That realisation sparked the beginning of Upvance, his venture dedicated to helping financial professionals rethink their roles, embrace technology, and reclaim their time. His story is not just about adapting to change but transforming himself and businesses with it. In this exclusive feature, Derwish shares how a quiet moment with technology reshaped his purpose and why the next chapter of financial professionals begins with reinvention.
What inspired your shift from auditing to AI education, and how has it shaped your view of thriving in the AI era?
My shift began in late 2022, while freelancing as a financial professional. Out of curiosity, I started experimenting with ChatGPT and was stunned. It could handle core aspects of my work as an auditor and controller, sometimes more effectively than I could. But instead of feeling threatened, I felt a spark. I realized this was more than just a tool. It was a turning point. Like electricity or the internet, AI is reshaping not just how we work, but what work means. That moment gave me a new mission: to help others lead through this change, not resist it. Thriving in the AI era is not about doing the same things faster. It is about reimagining our roles entirely. AI handles repetitive tasks, allowing us to focus on creativity, strategy, and human connection.
What’s one entrepreneurial challenge that truly tested you, and how did you come out of it stronger?
My biggest challenge has been transitioning from a successful freelancer to a true entrepreneur. As a financial consultant, I enjoyed stability, clear contracts, clear deliverables, and the freedom to focus on execution. But building my own AI training and consulting business changed everything. Suddenly, I was the strategist, the marketer, the salesperson, and the expert, all at once. Initially, I saw marketing and sales as hurdles. I felt pressure to present myself and chase leads constantly. The turning point came when I shifted my focus. I stopped asking how to find the next client and started asking how to deliver so much value that clients would become advocates. Today, growth comes through trust, results, and word of mouth. I’ve learned that real entrepreneurship isn’t about selling yourself but making your clients succeed in measurable, lasting ways.
What are some unexpected leadership lessons fatherhood has taught you that you now apply at Upvance?
Fatherhood has been the most unexpected but powerful leadership training I’ve had. It taught me the importance of radical clarity because with children, there’s no space for vague direction. They force you to be direct, honest, and present. I apply the same principle at Upvance, especially with younger colleagues. What surprised me most, though, is how fatherhood became a bridge to the next generation. My older sons are the same age as our junior colleagues. Through them, I understand how naturally this generation embraces AI — and how important it is to lead not with authority, but with empathy, curiosity, and shared purpose.
When training financial professionals, what’s the biggest mindset shift you aim to create in them?
The most important shift is moving from optimisation to reinvention. Many financial professionals start by using AI to enhance their existing processes, aiming for a modest efficiency gain. But that mindset holds them back, and in some cases, makes them less relevant. I encourage a complete reset. Instead of asking, “How can AI help me do my job faster?” the question becomes, “What’s the smartest way to reach our goals, now that AI exists?” That’s a very different approach. It takes courage to question long-standing processes and design something better from the ground up. True leadership in this era starts by becoming an architect of change rather than just a user of new tools.
You often speak about valuing time deeply. How do you personally guard your time and energy each day?
I treat time as life’s only truly non-renewable asset. You can recover money, but never a lost moment. That belief shapes everything I do. I plan my week by first blocking time for what matters most — my family and my health. As a father of five, uninterrupted time with them is sacred. I also prioritise exercise, because health is an investment in presence and clarity. Only once those pillars are in place do I schedule focused work sessions. I rely on early mornings for deep, undistracted thinking. I’ve also learned to protect my energy by saying no more often. Every yes carries a cost. I firmly believe that time management is about living in alignment with what I value most.
"The kind of leader I am at work should never be different from the father I am at home — because real leadership begins with who you are, not just what you do."
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