100 Women in Insurance

• 089: What could you achieve if you stopped downplaying your ambition with Allia Khan

  In this episode, Sandra speaks with Allia Khan about what happens when you decide to treat your ideas as choices you are allowed to make, rather than chances that happen to you. Allia shares how she moved from a legal role in logistics into the Lloyd’s market, why she trusted her gut when everything felt unfamiliar and how insurance became a space for growth. She also talks about launching Mansion 28, the luxury fashion brand inspired by her travels to the Middle East, and why she sees it as a second career rather than a “side hustle”. Sandra and Allia explore what it means to walk into rooms where you are the only woman or the only person from an ethnic minority background, and how visible difference can become a source of strength. Allia also reflects on the impact of LinkedIn, building an employee resource group with purpose, and the mindset that stops her from reaching old age thinking, “I wish I had tried”. Key Takeaways Your choices shape how you tell your story. Gut feel is data, and paying attention to how people, culture and opportunity make you feel can be a useful guide when you change sectors or roles. Your job is not your life, and allowing yourself more than one professional identity can protect your sense of purpose and keep your spark alive. How you label your business matters, and moving from “side hustle” to “my business” can shift both your confidence and how others take it seriously. Difference can be a value proposition, especially when you choose to stand out in a room rather than shrinking yourself to fit an unspoken norm. Authenticity has levels, and you can be true to yourself at work without sharing every part of your life with every person. Inclusive cultures need visible action, through ERGs that invite people in, open conversations on topics like menopause, and genuine allyship from across the organisation. About the Guest Connect with Allia Khan on LinkedIn. Mansion 28 fashion. About the host Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all 100 Women In Insurance and more.

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• 088: What if the opportunity you think you missed is still waiting for you with Rebecca Apps

  Summary In this episode, Sandra speaks with Rebecca Apps about what happens when you stop writing yourself off and decide to try. Rebecca shares how she fell into insurance by chance after leaving university, why a family-run brokerage shaped her career for nearly two decades and what finally pushed her to believe she could make a move she once thought was “too late”. They talk about the moment Covid changed everything for working parents, how flexible working opened doors she had already closed in her mind, and what it took to step into a major broking house after years of assuming the opportunity had passed. Rebecca talks openly about rebuilding confidence later in her career, moving from part-time to full-time after 16 years, and learning how to walk into rooms where assumptions can follow women who work around school hours. She reflects on how organisation, resilience and a strong work ethic grounded her through each transition, and why naming non negotiables can often be the first step towards change. Key Takeaways You often realise what you want by naming what you will not compromise on, whether that is your hours, your boundaries, or your life outside work. Experience can outweigh job titles, especially when you have spent years juggling clients, deadlines and family life with consistency. Visibility comes from speaking up, even if your instinct is to sit behind someone else and let them take the lead. Sometimes one conversation shifts everything, especially when someone says, “I’ll put your name forward” and you suddenly see yourself differently. Confidence grows when you try, not when you wait for certainty to appear. The skills you build outside work count, especially the organisation and focus that come from being a parent. Most people want honesty, even when the message is difficult, and trust is built through clear explanations rather than perfect outcomes. You can reconnect with ambition at any age, and the right environment can remind you that your story is not finished. About the Guest Connect with Rebecca Apps on LinkedIn. About the host Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all 100 Women In Insurance and more. Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective, private LinkedIn Group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and much more.

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• 087: How do you turn complex risk into a career you love with Catrin Townsend

  Summary In this episode, Sandra speaks with Catrin Townsend about making actuarial work accessible, navigating career pivots with purpose, and building confidence in a field that is often misunderstood from the outside. Catrin shares how a chance role at Lloyd’s sparked her interest in actuarial science, what pricing looked like when risks were printed on a mouse mat once a year, and how the rise of machine learning has transformed the way insurers understand risk. She explains why statistics only reflect the past, why underwriters still play a critical role in shaping decisions, and how education becomes essential when you want people to trust new tools and approaches. Sandra and Catrin explore her transition from practitioner to educator, the process of writing Risky Business Book during maternity leave, and how motivation, rather than pressure, is what sustains big projects. They discuss how to test new career paths without taking big risks, why LinkedIn can feel human rather than performative, and how boundaries help you manage ambition alongside family life. Catrin also reflects on visibility, representation, and why she hopes the next generation will grow up seeing actuaries reflected in places they never expected, including in children’s storytelling and culture. Key Takeaways Actuaries quantify risk, turning ambiguity into something that can be priced, managed, or transferred. Technology has transformed pricing, moving from annual updates to fast, data-driven iteration. Education drives adoption, because people trust what they understand. Test new paths early, through internal networks, shadowing, and low-risk learning opportunities. Know your “why”, because motivation sustains difficult work longer than pressure ever will. LinkedIn works when it is conversational, not overly curated or robotic. Boundaries shift over time, and children adapt quickly when they understand the purpose behind your work. Representation matters, because seeing a role is often the first step to believing it is possible. Visibility builds community, and sharing achievements can strengthen confidence and connection. About the guest Connect with Catrin Townsend on LinkedIn Resource Catrin is the author of *Risky Business: Actuaries Quantifying and Managing Risk* and a recent Women in Insurance Awards winner. About the host Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all 100 Women In Insurance and more. Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective, private LinkedIn Group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and much more. Learn more about the 100 Women in Insurance Collective: www.100womenininsurance.com/collective

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• 086: Underwrite Your Career: From London to Bermuda with Hannah Greenwood

  This episode is sponsored by Fidelis Insurance Group Summary In this episode, Sandra speaks with Hannah Greenwood, Group Chief of Staff and Chief Underwriting Officer (Bermuda) at Fidelis Insurance Group, about how curiosity, courage and consistency shape a global career. Hannah shares how a Lloyd’s of London internship led her into insurance, how broking taught her the value of team culture and ego-free leadership, and how curiosity opened doors to strategy and M&A. She reflects on staying long enough in one firm to build goodwill, taking on stretch roles that expanded her perspective, and moving from London to Bermuda to help drive underwriting strategy and partnerships. They discuss how sponsorship grows through consistent delivery, the benefits of taking calculated risks, why you should “underwrite” your own career by gathering information, testing fit, and adjusting as you learn. Hannah also talks candidly about balancing leadership and motherhood, the myth of the perfect time for big life decisions, and the advantages of Bermuda’s concentrated, senior market. Takeaways Deliver excellence first. Strong performance in your current role builds credibility and sponsorship naturally Consistency earns trust. Sponsors appear when people see you deliver results repeatedly Curiosity opens doors. Asking questions and exploring projects beyond your remit expands your perspective Longevity creates advocacy. Staying with one organisation long enough builds goodwill and career champions Take calculated risks. Growth often comes from stepping into roles before you feel fully prepared Listen widely, decide independently. Advice helps, but only you know what’s right for you Build layered networks. Supportive relationships sustain you, and transactional ones advance you Leadership without ego scales influence. The best leaders invest in others and create room for growth Mobility accelerates learning. Working abroad, especially in smaller markets, can deepen exposure to strategy and leadership Balance is ongoing. There’s never a perfect time for big life choices, but structure and support make it possible. Career progression often follows a narrow path; seek diverse experiences Great leadership invests in people and keeps ego out of the room About the Sponsor About the sponsor Fidelis Insurance Group Fidelis Insurance Group is a global specialty insurance and reinsurance company focused on creating value through strategic capital allocation, expert risk selection and a network of long-term underwriting partnerships. We have built a strong foundation for scale and profitable growth, underpinned by our disciplined approach to risk selection and our financial strength, which is reflected in our insurer financial strength ratings of A from AM Best, A- from S&P and A3 from Moody’s. Our network of underwriting partners and highly diversified portfolio enable us to proactively navigate market cycles, offer innovative and tailored solutions, capitalize on favorable risk-reward opportunities and produce superior returns for shareholders. Our network of underwriting partners and highly diversified portfolio enable us to execute our strategy of proactively navigating market cycles, offering innovative and tailored solutions, capitalizing on favorable risk-reward opportunities and producing superior returns for shareholders. For additional information about Fidelis Insurance Group, our people and our products, please visit our website at www.FidelisInsurance.com. About the guest Connect with Hannah Greenwood on LinkedIn. Hannah currently serves as Group Chief of Staff, Bermuda Chief Underwriting Officer and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Prior to joining the company in 2023, Hannah served as Business manager for Ardonagh where she worked with the CEO of their Capital Solutions arm. Hannah started her career at Lloyd’s before becoming an energy broker at independent NMB, latterly renamed Ed. In 2020, she took on a more strategic role supporting the CEO of the business, with a focus across Specialty lines. Hannah holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Durham, an MBA from Warwick Business School and is ACII qualified. About the host Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn. Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ to stay up to date with 100 Women in Insurance. Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective, a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance with mentors, speaking opportunities, and community. Learn more about the 100 Women in Insurance Collective: www.100womenininsurance.com/collective.

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• 085: How to Achieve the Career You Want, Not the One You Need with Rebecca Fuller

  This episode is sponsored by Full Circle Communications. Summary In this episode, Sandra Lewin speaks with Rebecca Fuller, about choosing the career you want, staying curious at senior level, and why courage comes before confidence. Rebecca shares how moving from fitness to insurance shaped her approach to leadership, why motherhood helped her step into bigger roles, and how knowing your strengths and gaps builds better teams. Together they discuss public speaking, preparation, and self-reflection. Rebecca explains why women’s networks matter, how to build professional networks in male-dominated rooms, and why you should stop “breaking into the boys’ club” and create your own. Be courageous and confidence will follow. Stay curious. Make deliberate choices that fit the life you want. Takeaways Growth does not stop at senior level. Keep learning, keep testing yourself Motherhood can be a catalyst for leadership and clearer choices Choose the career you want, not the one you think you need Courage comes before confidence. Action builds belief Preparation improves performance. Script, rehearse, use the mirror, and practise silence Know your strengths and weaknesses. Hire, listen, and delegate accordingly Do not chase the “boys’ club”. Create your own spaces and shared interests Show up for networking with presence. Diversify how you connect Lead your priorities. Reassess quarterly, refocus, and let some things go Feeling valued and heard keeps talent engaged more than pay alone About the guest Connect with Rebecca Fuller on LinkedIn About the host Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all 100 Women In Insurance and more. Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective, private LinkedIn Group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and much more. Learn more about the 100 Women in Insurance Collective: www.100womenininsurance.com/collective

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