"For (my) family to get on to a rickety boat in the middle of the night and sail across the sea, they're doing that out of desperation and the want of something better for their children."

After qualifying as a lawyer, Suzi realised on her way to the train station that she didn't want to be a Partner in a law firm. The learning, challenge and team environment provided by insurance was a powerful pull that made Suzi a happier person. Suzi’s view that insurance is an industry of people who genuinely care - they care about each other, they care about what we are trying to do for the community means she is committed to a career in insurance because in her words, “we are the promise keepers” and have a direct impact on customers lives.  

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

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"I don't think expectations have changed but I think what goes to meeting those has."

Starting off as an insurance litigator gave Samantha O’Brien an interesting view into the world of insurance. Now as a corporate commercial lawyer in the insurance sector, she is of the opinion that the more you know about a sector, the better adviser and lawyer you become. Being authentic, being yourself, and understanding that that is enough are words she encourages others to take on board as they seek to develop their careers.

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

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"(My grandfather) had a really good strong work ethic, built a career, and still had time for family - I hope I can live up to that as well."

Shane Moore discovered that starting a business was a lot more difficult than he thought it would be. He found it challenging to develop leads and handle the client-facing role and do both well. Added to that, challenges in business partnerships, naivety and lack of obtaining advice has taught him much since he started in 2010. He credits much of his current success to his Team and their support - not just of him, but also of each other. 

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

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"Giving ‘time’ is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone."

The evolution of the industry every eighteen months (as he sees it) is something that inspires and challenges Stephen Nguyen. Having learned the value of resilience, teamwork, and gratitude as a son of Vietnamese migrants, Stephen is a living example of the new generation of insurance people making their mark and further enhancing the financial services industry in an exceptionally positive manner. 

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

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"Everyone ‘falls’ in it (insurance), but no one leaves, so we must be doing something right."

Changing the perception of insurance brokers and the industry as a whole is the underlying aim that is the lynchpin of Kirsty Macleod’s professional ambition. She gauges how well she is doing this by the number of clients that subsequently become friends and the satisfaction she gets in leading her team to perform at their best in their business and personal lives. 

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

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"I found insurance incredibly fulfilling in a way that I suppose hadn’t resonated with me in my previous marketing role."

Listening to her views as a younger person entering the insurance space on many aspects, including the challenges of COVID, the expectations of the younger generation from their employers, the ‘super power’ of being a young woman in the industry and what we can do to provide greater client value, you get the feeling that the insurance industry is in great hands if the new generation is anything like Madison Seymour.

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

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"It was a big challenge for me as a young person to go slowly."

Diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship and listening to the ‘oldies’ are some interesting topics we cover with Kate Fairley - owner and insurance broker at Macedon Ranges Insurance.

Her remarkable tenacity and superior client focus come from her belief: "If we’re not the cheapest, if we're not the most suitable option for the client at the time, that’s fine. It’s more about the relationship to me and making sure the client is well looked after.”

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

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"I remember early in my career, and I was dissuaded from taking on a front-line role because it involved working in the ‘rough and tough world of the (male) dealers’. "

Forgoing her initial dreams of being an airline Pilot, her degree in electrical engineering has assisted Shilpa Strong in taking on high-profile global roles with several first-tier global insurers and transforming companies - specifically in technology and automation. “Having been in different environments has enabled me to tell myself I can be anywhere and make it work,” she says. 

That said, Shilpa also believes that change is very difficult for most people and the challenge is that businesses focus on people if they are to succeed in implementing lasting change. 

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]

“Push yourself to learn more, do that extra bit of research, peel the covers back and get excited about what it is you’re doing. That motivation can fuel you!”

A firm advocate for self-motivation, Shane Brady started his own insurance broking business, having left a secure well paid role he had occupied for 11 years and at a time when his wife had their first child who was a few months old and during the global pandemic. Would he do it again? It's an emphatic yes from him.

His mantra, “Do extra, do more and get a good team of people around you”, enables him to do what he is passionate about - assisting his clients when they are at their most vulnerable. 

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

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"Sometimes it easy to decide where you want to go by ruling out what you know you don’t want to do".

Having researched the insurance sector before entering it at a more advanced age than many, Matt Crewe still pinches himself every time he is exposed to the multi-faceted opportunities and career paths he is presented with. Having recently left to assist his father in his business, Matt credits the experience he gained working in insurance from the ground up for the depth and width of his capabilities as a business person and a leader. 

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]