In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Nisrin Abouelezz, Managing Director and Head of Africa Group at SMBC.Nisrin shares her incredible journey from a background in psychology and journalism to leading a multi-billion-dollar portfolio in global banking. She reveals how curiosity, persistence, and a "non-linear" perspective helped her rise through the ranks over 18 years at one of the world's largest financial institutions.What’s Inside: ⬩ How a background in psychology and journalism became a competitive edge in finance ⬩ The reality of leading the Africa Group and managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio ⬩ Why "internal networking" and building your own mental board of directors is vital ⬩ Leading through crisis: How to remove emotion and solve complex global problems ⬩ Nisrin’s advice on visibility, productivity, and why women shouldn't wait for opportunities🔥 Why Watch? If you feel limited by your current background or degree, Nisrin Abouelezz’s story is a masterclass in how curiosity and ambition can rewrite your career path. This is an essential watch for anyone looking to build influence and lead with impact in the financial sector.Key Topics: Nisrin Abouelezz, SMBC, Head of Africa Group, Managing Director, Women in Finance, Career Pivot, Leadership Philosophy, Global Banking, Emerging Markets, Diversity in Finance✨ Subscribe for more conversations with the women shaping the future of global business.#WomenWhoMakeItHappen #NisrinAbouelezz #SMBC #WomenInFinance #CareerPivot #GlobalLeadership #BankingCareer #AfricaFinance #Podcast

In this episode of our Women Who Make It Happen series, we are joined by Stephanie John, Senior Risk and Controls Manager, OKX, to discuss her career journey, leadership philosophy, and her experiences navigating the financial services and technology sectors.Stephanie shares her unique perspective on the importance of building authentic relationships, the value of diverse thinking in high-growth environments, and how she has approached pivotal transitions throughout her professional life. Whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive, Stephanie’s insights into resilience and staying true to your core values offer powerful lessons for anyone looking to make their mark.

🔥 Why Watch? Whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive, Stephanie’s insights into resilience and authentic leadership offer powerful lessons for anyone looking to make their mark. This episode provides practical advice on staying true to your values while navigating the complexities of high-growth tech and finance sectors.

In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders talks to Tanya Retter, CEO of the Chartered Banker Institute, about the future of professional standards in a digital-first banking world.Tanya shares her journey to the top of a historic global institution, offering a rare look at the strategic leadership required to drive innovation while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and ethics.

🔥 Why Watch? As CEO of the Chartered Banker Institute, Tanya Retter sits at the very heart of the industry’s professional standards. This episode is essential viewing for anyone in financial services looking to understand where the sector is heading and what it takes to lead at an institutional level.

Most women in leadership still navigate a challenging path filled with stereotypes and outdated perceptions. Sue Hayes, CEO of Nottingham Building Society, shares the insider strategies that helped her rise from sales roles to top executive, breaking barriers along the way. Her journey is proof that authentic leadership and resilience can reshape industry norms if you know where to focus your energy.In this episode, Sue reveals how she leveraged her curiosity and strong external networks to transition smoothly between large banks, challenger banks, and smaller institutions like Nottingham. She breaks down simple, effective strategies for building leadership credibility, fostering a positive culture, and navigating organisational change, even during turbulent startup phases.

📌 Why this matters: The banking industry has long been a battleground for gender equality and leadership innovation. Missing these insights could mean missing out on how to turn obstacles into opportunities, especially amid rapid change and digital disruption. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or spearheading change in your organisation, Sue’s lessons in authenticity, adaptability, and purpose-driven leadership provide a blueprint for success.

Ready to take a chance on your career? Hear Hazal Muhtar’s real story of growth, from self taught coder to leading a nearly 300 person analytics function at Wise.

In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, Sue Saunders sits down with Hazal Muhtar, Senior Director of Data at Wise, to explore leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build a meaningful career.

From studying mathematics, economics, and psychology to teaching herself coding and analytics, Hazal shares the unconventional path that led her into leadership. Along the way, she reflects on the mentors who took chances on her, the strong female role models who shaped her outlook, and the lessons she's learned while scaling one of the largest analytics functions in fintech.
✦ Perfect for aspiring leaders, data and analytics professionals, fintech talent, people managers, and anyone looking to build a career with purpose.

What does it take to lead across global corporations, high-growth startups, fintech, and boardrooms spanning 110 international markets?In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, Michelle Khan sits down with Sarah Clark to explore leadership, scaling businesses, and building high-performing teams across rapidly changing industries.From leading strategy at PayPal and overseeing growth across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, to running venture-backed startups and advising businesses at board level, Sarah shares the lessons she’s learned from operating in some of the world’s fastest-moving environments.
Sarah also shares honest perspectives on women in leadership, tokenism in boardrooms, and the importance of creating cultures where people can genuinely thrive.

Perfect for leaders, founders, fintech professionals, operators, and anyone navigating growth, leadership, and career progression in fast-moving industries.

In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Fleur Hicks, Founder, Advisor, and twice exited entrepreneur.They explore what it really takes to build businesses, challenge outdated thinking in finance, and lead with confidence in high-stakes environments.

🔥 Why Watch?If you are building a business, navigating your career, or making big decisions in complex environments, this episode offers clear, practical insight. Fleur shares honest perspectives on leadership, mindset, and how to take action when you see an opportunity to do things better.

In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan speaks with Anna Maxim, Group Chief Risk Officer at Wallester.

They explore leadership, fintech, and how compliance is shifting from a rule-enforcer to a true business partner.

🔥 Why Watch?

If you are building a career in financial services or leading teams in fast-moving environments, this episode offers practical insight into what good leadership really looks like.

Anna shares honest reflections on growth, confidence, and how to create teams that perform under pressure.

In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders speaks with Alexandra Winward, Finance Data & AI Executive at Lloyds Banking Group, about building a career beyond the traditional path.

Alexandra shares her journey from an apprenticeship into senior roles across manufacturing, retail, and financial services, and how varied experience shaped her leadership approach.

The conversation explores modern leadership, from building diverse teams and supporting returning talent to the growing importance of authenticity and empathy in an AI-driven world.

🔥 Why Watch?

If you are building or leading teams in financial services, this episode offers a grounded view on how leadership is evolving. Alexandra shares practical insight on decision making, team dynamics, and why different perspectives lead to better outcomes.

In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders speaks with Lorraine Solway about her career journey from early roles straight out of school to becoming a Chief Risk Officer in financial services.

Lorraine shares how curiosity, instinct, and varied experiences shaped a career that never followed a straight line. From internal audit and risk roles to leadership positions across financial services and social housing, she reflects on the lessons learned along the way.

The conversation also explores leadership growth, the importance of self reflection, and why trusting your instincts can open doors you did not expect.

🔥 Why Watch?

If you are building a career in leadership, finance, or risk management, this episode offers honest insight into how experience, resilience, and curiosity shape long term success. Lorraine shares practical lessons about confidence, career decisions, and growing into senior leadership roles.