"People said I was ambitious. I didn't see that in myself. I just had that thirst for understanding the industry." Rebecca has advice for those seeking an insurance career: believe in yourself, trust that you can do it, be prepared to take chances, and keep your mind open to alternative views. She is also quick to point out that understanding AI wi…

"For me, one of the real opportunities for us as an industry is to shape the future of Australian communities." Scott is not someone who believes that AI robots will take over all our jobs, but he thinks we will need to work differently in the future. Key to that will be our ability to learn to interact with people who have different personality ty…

"If you see me on the weekends, it's not at your standard nightclub. It'll normally be at a youth centre or something along those lines." Adopting the first of five children when he was 28 years old, Sam Ratcliff concedes it meant big changes in his life, particularly balancing his private life as a single parent and his career. That said, it also …

"Ultimately, a leader is recognised by the outcome, not the path to how you get there." Every successful career has a price tag attached. Nigel Fitzgerald discusses the impact that long hours have had, both positive and negative, on his work and personal life. He is the first to acknowledge that he is no martyr and chose that path even to the exten…

"I think you deliver great results if you can develop a great culture". David Leach attributes his success to six key aspects he has had to develop to add value in his CEO roles: Communication, Professional Relationships, Knowledge and Expertise, Tools, Time Management, and on-time delivery and attitude. Based on his experience in other industries,…

"Success comes when you proactively embrace and lead with integrity and passion." Suzie White is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusivity. Having helped shape women's careers over many years, including her own, Suzie has made it her mission to foster, mentor, and support career growth for both women and men.…

"Coming in with a really open mind and an eagerness to listen and learn has served me well, and it still does." Prue Monument spent 20 years in government roles, but nothing could have prepared her for the profound impact of supporting Syrian refugees. This work deeply shook her confidence and worldview for a time. Reflecting on her journey, Prue c…

"That's one great thing about our industry: people will always give you the time no matter who they are, how high up they are or wherever they are." Considering the enormous risk of purchasing a brokerage, Jonathan Lam didn't realise how many hats he would wear as a business owner, knowing that the buck had stopped with him. One significant advanta…

"You're at work for a long time, so if you don't enjoy it, go and find somewhere else." Discussing the varied roles in his working life, Mike Edmonds has always had a strong desire to win, whether swimming, rugby or playing in a pipe band. In this podcast, Mike says that one of his key learnings, as he has developed his career, is that, these days,…

"I’ve always been motivated and largely happy at work." Having seen the evolution of insurance claims for over 30 years, David Gow is still amazed at the education his role gives him. He cites one learning that he was unaware of: that Easter eggs are made all year round. He also notes the privilege of being able to assist people in their most diffi…

"It's natural to be nervous in certain circumstances, but you have to be fearless at the same time." When Kerryn moved from a country town in Victoria to Melbourne at the age of 21, she knew she would have to prove herself. Kerryn has seen her career grow and develop by focusing on a positive mindset, educating herself, learning from mentors, and l…

"We're here to serve, and you serve by leading, but you also lead by serving." Moving from South Africa at the age of 12, Richard always believed that resilience was at the core of his survival. Speaking of life’s challenges, Richard says, "What you can control is how you respond, and what you can control is how you prepare."…

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand something. What's important is that you want to understand it!" Adapting constantly to change since the age of 2 has given Oren Jacobi a unique view of what is required to become truly resilient. His career journey highlights just that and is also reflected in what he feels is essential in his personal lif…

"I’ve seen favouritism in businesses before, and it acts like a virus!" Meg Long has firm views on what Diversity should and shouldn’t mean, what Ai is likely to do to the industry and why she loves seeing people build their businesses within the business she works in.By with Anita Lane

"Purpose and passion are important in anything you get to do, whether it's your work role or a side interest." Paul's desire for financial independence started early—at the age of 14. He started in insurance at 18 and, in addition to his day job, is a huge influence on the insurance community when it comes to making a difference for the LGBTQIA+ an…

"So (ESG) is not all about minimizing the risk; it's actually about seeing and seizing some of these opportunities, and that needs leadership that sees beyond the quarter-by-quarter reporting cycles." Having worked in various areas, including market research, teaching English, TV ratings, local government, ethical funds manager, and elite sportspeo…

"When I started out originally, I said to myself, ‘How awesome would it be to be in every major state I wanted to be in?’." By his own admission, Franz Du Plessis has made quite a few mistakes in the last few years, but that has not stopped him from acquiring multiple businesses in various industries. Driven by his mantra of just being happy and en…

"How do we get out of our own way so we can be transformational leaders?" Speaking of the insurance industry, Lyle Steffensen says, “We're an industry of mavericks. We're an industry of people who don't fit other places”. She follows that up with, “But I don't think I've met many people who know that.” It is clear that Lyle has a passion for the in…

"I've never been good at being a specialist at anything so I became a generalist at everything." Like many people in this podcast series, mine is a migrant's story infused with the generous support of so many people, particularly from within the Insurance Industry. The ability to develop relationships and create a career working across so many dive…

"I look back now, and I think this (insurance) industry has made me a better person. That, to me, is the value of this industry; it gives as much back as you put into it." An accounting background allowed David Cook to work in retail. In his words, “Accounting wasn't for me. It just didn't suit me and my style. I loved the retail side of it, but si…

"Insurance was never on my radar. It didn't strike me as a career." Eradicating doubt is imperative in clearing the first hurdle to a successful career, and Kara McInnes discusses how she managed to do that in her life and career. In dealing with clients suffering significant stress during major catastrophes, she believes that using emotional intel…

"You've got to put the hard yards in, and there’s no easy path, no shortcut; you have to do the hard work!" Jonathan's first foray into insurance was with the Nottingham City Council In England. He felt he had found his calling in their insurance claims department. He then moved to Australia in 1994 and met some great people. His love affair with l…

"I always wanted to be better for myself. It was never that I wanted to be better than somebody else." Migrating from Ireland with a background in banking meant that Shaneika had to take a step back and start from the beginning in the insurance world. Her thirst for learning has seen her escalate her career in a very short time frame, and in 2023, …

"I found it (Antarctica) the most incredible place to be (for work). The scenery, the shades and the colours and the vastness of where you change your whole mindset" Complex, interesting, major losses helped pave the way to become the loss adjuster and person Nick is today. In his own words, “When I left the farm, I never ever imagined I would be d…

"Your footprint should be bigger than yourself." Influenced by a grandmother and father, both of whom devoted their time to public service, Katrina Shanks has established a huge presence public presence in New Zealand and, as a recent migrant to Australia, hopes to continue that work in her new role as CEO of ANZIIF.…

The Business Made Personal team wishes to thank all those who have supported the podcast series, including our fabulous guests, our awesome listeners, and those wonderful people who have taken the time to provide us with their suggestions. How to Connect with Mark: Email: [email protected] with Mark Silveira

"I learnt pretty quickly when I was young that nothing great comes without hard work." A professional rugby player for 13 years, Tim looks back on that time - a time when he says, “You earn really good money, you don't even have to buy running shoes or lunch”, what it taught him and how he was able to apply it in his business journey.…

"I think women have a tendency to need to feel confident about what they do before they step into an opportunity." Sitting in law school, going to lectures, and learning about the law, Isabell was uncertain as to what her career would look like. She knew she was not interested in attending Court, and that’s when fate stepped in. A brief experience …

"I wasn't going to let anyone prevent me from getting to where I wanted to be." Being challenged as a young female by a plethora of difficult personalities, Heather has had to learn the sometimes difficult art of standing up and calling people out. Having now worked out her own strengths and immersed herself in education, Heather believes she is in…

"One of the biggest challenges for me was being made redundant because the world economy had collapsed." Finding herself as a solo parent in London with two small children caused Deborah to reevaluate life. Most would have moved back home to New Zealand for the safety of family and friends, but Deborah decided to pack up and move herself and her tw…

"I was never going to let the wheelchair define my life!" With a strong belief that being number 1 amongst a cohort of inconsistent performers is not something to aspire to, Tim’s number one priority and belief is that if we change the speed at which we settle insurance claims, we would change the perception of insurance for the general public.…

"It changes your DNA when you have to build and grow your business with no safety net." Working as a box girl at Lloyds, taught Anita that being young and female was something to be proud of and embrace wholeheartedly. It was also instrumental in developing her power of observational behaviour and becoming intuitive and resilient, which has stood h…

"Get in front of people and ask stupid questions!" A career in insurance means Nick is able to indulge his passion for traveling as well as expand his capabilities within the business environment. To date, his biggest challenge has been that of managing people - he is quick to add that it is a good challenge.…

"Do not jump into whatever you get. Think of what you love and what you want to do." With parents who were a teacher and an accountant and living in Agra (India), Tanushree and her University sweetheart (now husband) created a dream to migrate to Australia whilst they were in their 20s. Having achieved that dream but then finding that her destiny w…

"I used to think that wealth was a measure of success but you soon realise that that’s not the case." By his own admission, whilst he trained as an Accountant, Dale knew it wasn't the career for him, however, that grounding gave him insight into how numbers work and the early warning signs in business to be aware of. His trajectory from Accountant …

"It's important to be able to make mistakes." In February 2022, Tetiana’s world turned from very rosy and optimistic to a very dark place. With her home Country, Ukraine being invaded and suffering pre-natal depression, starting a new business was a struggle. Feeling she just needed to survive and find pleasure in the small things in life gave Teti…

"Step up. Step out and put yourself out there." From running a modeling school at age 25 to creating a career in the corporate world including commencing an underwriting agency at 32, Drew Schnehage has been goal-driven from a young age. She explains why and the lessons she has learned along her journey.…

"The only way you learn and grow is to push yourself into those uncomfortable situations and do it anyway." Having experienced the life insurance and general insurance industries, has given Aimee a real passion for what she does best - assisting people when they need her the most. This was never clearer to her than when, six months after joining a …

"Always make time for your passion whatever that may be." Reflecting on a family tragedy that has impacted him deeply, Peter Klemt is mindful of the fact that post-COVID, we no longer have that separation between our professional and personal lives. He speaks openly about the challenges he and his family have faced as well as the changing ‘new worl…

"You don't just renew accounts - you renew relationships!" The original Founders of insurance businesses are retiring and this is creating a sales void and sales knowledge gap. When it comes to relationship development, we have not been innovative enough. The business environment is much more complex today and the professional today needs to be abl…

"You're probably more capable than you think you are and you will probably go further than you think you can." It doesn't matter if you don't get it right the first time. You learn a lot more by not succeeding immediately says Sarah Lyons. In the early part of her career, Sarah would question if she was good enough. In commenting on her turning poi…

"There are so many pathways insurance can take you to." With a family history of hard work in labour related industries as concreters and bricklayers, Kirk Populin’s family wanted him to develop a career that was significantly different from theirs. His journey has taken him from financial planning to life insurance, insurance education, underwriti…

"I think as women we need to be more confident and believe in ourselves a bit more and push ourselves a bit more." Moving from Mt Gambier to Adelaide to Melbourne meant that Jasmin had to reinvent not just her business and personal network but most importantly herself. That journey has not always been an easy one. A love of what she does due to her…

"I truly believe this deep down that the insurance industry is the best industry to be in." As a young Managing Director, Tryan Christos has not been ‘gifted’ his position in the family business. The pressure of having the whole family put a lot of trust in him and being able to prove to people who he is and show them they can trust him is, accordi…

"You’ve got to like what you do. You can’t just go to work for the money." A self-confessed control freak, Jodi has developed a strategy to help her deal with things that are not in her control. Her coping strategy? “I just try and sit back, reflect, and think ‘How can I do something differently next time? I think you’ve just got to pick yourself u…

"I think that’s the beauty of this industry that we’re in. It can actually take you anywhere and everywhere - which is why I love it so much." Cameron made a crucial mistake in life which he is not going to repeat again - not speaking up about mental health and his deep dark spiral which was on the verge of taking over his life. In this podcast, he…

"I didn't really like school. I didn't finish school either. In class ….I wasn't focused and I was very much a distraction to other people." Family support and guidance has been an integral part of Marc developing his career. He credits the benefits, rewards, and networks he has managed to foster to the day-to-day engagement with and support of the…

"There’s so much opportunity for people to own their own business, get equity in a business… and you don't see that in a lot of other industries." Jackson accredits a lot of his success to his parents and his having developed a vital and robust network of people he can call on for assistance and advice. Developing that network was a learning experi…

"Success always has a large number of owners. Failure doesn't have any." No surprise that with an actuarial background, Blair Nicholls is keen on using big data to make life easier for clients and the general insurance industry. Being structured around delivery and expectations and changing the operational dynamics is at the very top of his To Do l…

"I don’t think there’s a role I’ve moved into that I’ve been ready for." There are a lot of fantastic people in our industry whom you can learn a lot from on a variety of topics including dealing with customers, product technicalities, or just smart business advice according to Jason Clarke. When asked the question, Jason Clarke is quick to respond…