“It’s about knowing what to do, doing what you say, being authentic, working hard and asking for help when you need it. What’s hard about that?”

From her corporate life in broadcasting, telecommunications and financial services sectors to establishing her own successful advisory practice, Jenni Smith has some fascinating insights that she shares with us in this podcast. Jenni also discusses women in business, diversity and inclusion, the opportunities in the insurance sector and her mantra of ‘giving it a crack’. Having dropped out of school when she was younger, listening to Jenni speak, you can’t help but be impressed by her tenacity and resilience to improve her knowledge and by default, her value to any organisation that she is a part of.

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]

“I’ve had some life challenges and whilst I don’t think they’ve changed me, I would definitely have to say that they’ve shaped me!”

Very few people commence with an Organisation in 1987 and 35 years later are more passionate and driven than they were back then. Maria Parry the COO of QIB Group is just such an individual! In fact, she says that, “(after) getting into the insurance industry, I have to say I’ve never been disappointed”.

A process and procedures driven leader, she set her business and life goals at the age of 16 and has rarely deviated from what she saw as her future. That’s not to say Maria has not faced challenges along the way – her major one being serious life-threatening health issues not once but twice in the last 15 years.

Maria is a strong believer in and proof that a positive attitude really is everything.

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]

“I realised that I had done everything for everyone else and got a lot of personal satisfaction. But what was I doing for society?”

As a multi-potentialite entrepreneur, Clim Pacheco has a history of reinventing himself and his business life. His career (apart from his Senior Executive role at ANZIIF), has spanned that of an Author, Engineer, Educator; Privatisation and rationalisation of Victoria’s Train, Tram and Bus, V/Line infrastructure; Leadership coach and mentor and student at Harvard. His model for business life includes Earning: Learning: Giving and he believes that 3+1+1=10 is the ideal life work model. Listen to his podcast to find out why and find out how he is using mentoring, messaging and thought leadership to reduce unemployment and under-employment!

Links:

https://businesstransformationsolutions.com/profile/

https://booksonlineaustralia.com.au/shop/dare-to-be-different/

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]

Claims people are…the most critical part of the insurance process where clients get to test the strength and the relevance of the money they’re spending in making sure they are properly insured.

David Wyner is the ex-President, Chairman and Board Member of NIBA and one of those rare individuals who has worked for one Insurance Organisation for over 20 years. In this podcast, he discusses loyalty, learnings and how the profession has changed over the 40 years he has been involved in it.

His views on Authorised Representatives as a very real opportunity in the profession and gaining equity in business were forged from his personal experiences – both good and bad.

 Key Takeaways:

•  Product development, Customer service and Public speaking can set you apart

• Good Claims personnel are highly respected and in high demand

• Claims people are the most critical part of the insurance process

• Dealing with stress and pressure is critical in our industry

• Keeping Customers happy and doing the right thing is a common aim across all insurance sectors

• Having a purpose and making a difference is key

• Bad culture = Bad business

• Reversion to personal service is the future

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]

“We have to be innovative and create really great solutions and stay on the front foot, but we can’t lose sight of the things that really matter on a day to day basis and high service is going to matter!”

Many people work overseas but very few have the fortitude to back themselves in to take on roles for which they have had no formal training or experience. Janelle Greene the Chief Customer Officer for NTI has done just that in her early career. Janelle’s unshakeable belief that she will be able to master any role provided she is surrounded by the right people is an inspirational account of how teamwork and varying skillsets within a team creates success. Janelle is a living example of the fact that taking risks and seeking challenges outside your comfort zone can pay off if you are prepared to put in the work and commit to learning and bettering yourself.

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]

“Without a doubt, the most valuable thing you can be armed with in (business) life is a half a dozen really good questions!”

How does a scientist with an environmental focus transition into leading one of Australia’s major Cluster Groups? Richard Crawford, CEO of Community Broker Network (CBN) discusses his varied career progression including the challenges he encountered in running his own SME business. In this podcast, he provides sage advice for leaders and aspiring leaders and the core attributes that are important in empowering people and developing careers.

One of Richard’s key mantras is that we should all be encouraged to ‘create a space for others to step into to grow and thrive!’

Richard also references: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/immunity-to-change.htm

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]

“There’s no one out there advocating for all the stuff you can learn (in insurance) whether it be risk, underwriting, actuarial, HR, compliance and you can do all of that through one Insurer if you really want to.”

Angela Fitzpatrick loves claims. In her words, it is ‘where the rubber hits the road’ and the point at which you can make a real difference in people’s lives. Over her career, she has stuck to the philosophy of ‘take a risk and find a good mentor.’ Angela shares with us how she has managed to do just that and create a successful career whilst navigating the challenges of raising a family, being true to her personal integrity and not settling for second best even when the chips were down.

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’m really impressed with the younger, new entrants to the Industry. I think they’ve got a great thirst for knowledge.”

A dyslexic, high school dropout, Dr Allan Manning is now one of the most technically knowledgeable and highly sought after influential insurance persons of our times. Having attended most major catastrophes throughout Australia including the Queensland floods, the Victorian bushfires and the Port Arthur massacre, Dr Manning is exceptionally well placed to comment on what we, as a profession are doing well and where we need to improve. That said, in this podcast, he also shares with us the personal impact of attending such devastating tragedies and the joys and challenges of running a family business.

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 key is that you keep up to date and relevant. The other thing(s) are that you’re enquiring and more importantly, that you’re reinventing yourself!”

Veronica Grigg the President of Crawford Asia has the knowledge and experience that has transcended multiple industries and Countries. In this podcast, she shares with us how she managed to propel her career to the levels she did including where and how she devoted her energies as well as the impacts on her personal life as a single parent of a young child.

Veronica’s career diversity has encompassed working on rural properties, artificial insemination on farms, consulting to financial services businesses, being an employee of a major Insurer and dealing with Claims at an executive level. Her lived experiences has meant that she is able to understand and empathise because as Veronica puts it, “Nothing comes in an organised kit for you just to assemble”.

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]

Leadership lessons from failure sit at the centre of Robert Kelly’s extraordinary business story.

In this episode of Business Made Personal, Mark Silveira speaks with Robert Kelly, Co-founder of Steadfast Group, about the setbacks, second chances and personal decisions that shaped his approach to insurance and leadership.

Long before Steadfast became one of Australia’s most influential insurance groups, Robert built an insurance business while young, ambitious and inexperienced. It grew quickly, but financial mistakes and inadequate controls eventually left him owing $114,000.

The consequences were personal as well as professional.

Robert lost his business, damaged relationships and found himself driving taxis and cleaning while trying to repay what he owed. At one of the lowest points of his life, rugby league coach Jack Gibson gave him something many others would not: a second chance.

That experience changed the way Robert treated people for the rest of his career.

In this conversation, Robert discusses:

•  Why leaders must admit their mistakes 
•  How failure exposed gaps in his business knowledge 
•  Why he studied accounting and risk management 
•  The importance of understanding the rationale behind decisions 
•  How Steadfast began as a survival strategy for independent brokers 
•  Why collective purpose mattered more than personal recognition 
•  How mentors and candid advice shape better leaders 
•  Why listening is one of the most valuable career skills 

Robert’s journey is not a story about succeeding without failure.

It is about becoming accountable enough to learn from it.

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]