The Key Learning Points: 

1. Tips for companies on how to promote social mobility and give young people a realistic insight into working life 

2. The role culture plays in determining the experiences employees have in the workplace

3. The positive impact authenticity can have on how employees view their leaders

In this episode of the Risky Mix podcast we’re joined by Alan Thomas and Hasani Jess, two of the leading men at Simply Business, a digital insurance broker with a great culture around diversity and inclusion. A successful career in the insurance industry has led to Alan recently taking on the UK CEO role at Simply Business, while Hasani has held senior tech roles in a variety of tech and financial services businesses. He’s now CTO at Simply Business, as well as being a diversity champion. 

Alan explains the steps that Simply Business has taken to promote social mobility. The first being an apprenticeship program which helps to support young people from a range of different backgrounds in getting that initial career foothold. The insurtech has also run different intern and summer programs, providing the opportunity for young people to observe what working in the City looks like. Alan explains that they work with a charity which supports schools in Barking and Dagenham, and statistics showed that the pupils had very little idea of what a City job looks like and there was absolutely no expectation that they could get a job at a City business like Simply Business. For Alan, it’s all about taking away some of the mystery around City jobs and breaking down those barriers to entry.

We spend some time hearing about the career paths that both men have taken. Alan explains that he has held a number of senior positions at insurance businesses over the years, including RSA and Hiscox, and it was in these senior roles that he observed just how important company culture is: “The bit that really excites me is the amount of impact you can have through the culture that you help define. By setting the criteria in the right way you can really make it a different experience for the people that work there, and the outcomes can be completely different.” Hasani, after finding the world of journalism rather “boring”, made the transition into technology after his mum purchased a PC. He started his tech career as a consultant at BT Syntegra before moving into financial services. 

As a B Corporation, Simply Business takes a broad approach to business, placing weight on company culture and values. As a result of this, Alan explains that they currently have 60% women in leadership positions. They believe that diverse teams are better-performing and for Alan: “It’s really important to show up and have a bit of fun at work. You’ve got to make the environment a fun place to be and frankly the most fun teams to be a part of are the most diverse teams where you get different viewpoints.” 

What can other businesses looking to evolve culturally, do? Hasani says it’s about the leadership being authentic. It’s important to acknowledge that those leaders may be parents, they may be caring for elderly parents, some may have dependents. Ultimately, they all have lives outside of work. “Sharing part of their lives with their people will change the dynamic. Because then they will stop looking like the CEO or CTO, the super-being who has no challenges.” Hasani encourages business leaders to show some vulnerability with their people.