Business Made Personal

“The one thing I did get right in my career is that I never moved for money!”

Gary Gribbin derives satisfaction from being involved and working with people he respects – and as a legendary industry leader and academic, over the years, he has worked with the who’s who of insurance. The eldest of six children, Gary attributes his success to the drive and determination modelled to him by his mother and rates social relationships equally with technical capabilities. In this podcast, he encourages insurance professionals to develop their product knowledge, market knowledge, industry knowledge and to draw on all the resources they possibly can but at the same time, understand that soft skills and interpersonal skills are utterly critical.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

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For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“Have the courage to do what you know is right and lead people!”

A multi-generation farmer, John Dunk found it necessary to leave his farming lifestyle and develop a new career in insurance. Moving from what he had known (and loved) to establishing himself initially as an Insurance Inspector and eventually as a Broker came with its challenges. In John’s words, “I’d love people to buy into insurance to realise how important it is” sums up the importance John places on, not just what he does but what the insurance industry provides to so many at a critical time of need.  

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

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Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“You don’t have to love every single moment of what you do (for work) but love TO work! Be curious and open.”

From serving at bars in the UK and driving Ubers to become the co-founder and CEO of Zemble – an Australian Insuretech business, Aurora Voss has done and seen a lot. Her worldly experience is evidenced by the very way in which she views her business life. Her self-stated mission is “to deliver better tools to the people who are servicing insurance.”

In this podcast, Aurora discusses the challenges of raising a young family whilst simultaneously building a business from the ground up and the factors that have and are helping her to succeed.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“You can’t do anything without a personality and a relationship and a sales mentality.”

The classic story from mail person to CEO is what Tony Walker, CEO of PSC Network Partners has reflected upon in this podcast.

His passionate commitment to relationship-driven outcomes is very apparent in the outlooks he shares with us. Tony speaks of missed opportunities, being allowed to do your job, working with good people and job satisfaction – all tempered by the belief that ‘(insurance) business done online is not insurance’.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“Find the opportunity to challenge yourself and look for things that are outside your comfort zone.”

A staunch advocate for Women in Leadership, Simone Dossetor discusses how we need to rethink leadership and why the insurance profession should be leading the actions in diversity and inclusion as well as climate change and environmental challenges.

She is of the opinion that there is no reason we should have a gender imbalance and that women, in particular, need to be lifelong learners with a growth mindset of challenging oneself.

Simone also speaks about difficult decisions in larger Organisations and the transparency required to communicate those messages to staff – and Simone should know as she presided over turbulent times in previous roles exacerbated by the fact that those were in the public environment.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

"Having that nerve to keep persisting and taking the knockbacks has helped me a lot!"

Bob Dodd the COO of Arteva Funding has become an integral part of the insurance community through his actions and activities in insurance premium funding. Brought up in a highly successful musical family, he shares with us the why and how he created a career in financial services. His recurring message of developing resilience has never been more important than it is currently and his thoughts on trust and the responsibilities of leadership will resonate with many of us.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“The secret to any career is to be curious. Ask lots of questions because it’s the question you don’t ask that is the most important question!”

Doron Grossman is of the firm belief that the insurance industry does not come with a prescribed handbook and his view that we are neglecting our responsibility to the younger generation entering the profession has been forged by his experience of over 40 years in many countries including Australia, Hungary, Singapore and Hong Kong. A man of action, he is of the opinion that physical activity generates mental activity however each brilliant idea is nothing without the desire, ability and commitment to execute. In this podcast, he urges us to make decisions bearing in mind one key fact - that we are in the people business not the insurance business.

Takeaways:

• Things you learn through your career are skills you will use
• Leave the industry a better industry for the contributions you make in your career
• Be clear as to what you want to achieve and what your aspirational goals are
• Education is a non-negotiable
• Don’t underestimate the innate qualities that make you you.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

"We (the insurance profession) might get it right 98% of the time, but the 2% we get wrong, we get really wrong!"

Belinda Scott believes it is a privilege to hold insured’s hands through troubled times but she is critical of our increasing habit of sitting behind a computer and send emails. She believes work enjoyment is a direct result of getting to really know clients, finding common interests with them, learning from them and creating relationships. In her words, “I can’t make insurance ‘sexy’. If you want to enjoy your job,…get out and (get to) know your Clients.” That client focus has enabled her to create an extraordinarily success insurance brokerage.

Take-aways:

• Embrace the chaos
• Go easy on yourself
• Your word is your word – stand by your morals and your ethics
• Communicate, communicate, communicate!
• Have a growth mindset – if you think you know everything, you’re not going to add value!

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“I had no idea that I would find such an opportunity to build relationships, travel the world, understand different industries and for me to develop skills.”

Educated as a Plant Biologist, Simon Weaver has had quite the journey having chosen to relocate from the UK to Hong Kong and now settling in Australia. In this podcast, Simon candidly discusses the attributes that have seen him head-hunted by a number of high profile businesses throughout the world. A self-proclaimed advocate of making sure he did not have a rigid career plan, he believes that “you can afford a few side steps, you can afford a few mis-steps and you can even afford a change of direction as long as you’re willing to (embrace) diverse experiences.”

Simon is also a firm believer in transparency with Clients particularly when it comes to broker remuneration as it is, in his opinion,  critical to enabling Brokers to articulate their value to Clients.  

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]

“We will be the same person we are today in 5 years time except for the people that we meet and the books we read. Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think!”

David McKinnis (Ex Community Broker Network) has some unique views on his business life’s work and what is really important in developing a career. For example, he comments that “If you’re going to be in a Role for a while, you need to be doing something extra, something different, do the hard tasks – then you will be recognised.” A firm believer in taking personal responsibility for self-development, David advocates that “success leaves clues” and that speaking with successful people can be the key to enhancing your achievements by finding out their secrets to success.

Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira, exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond.

Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website
Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn
For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: [email protected]