100 Women in Insurance

100: Sandra’s story, journey and plans beyond 100th episode

Summary
In this special 100th episode of 100 Women in Insurance, the roles are reversed as Laura Witcher interviews founder Sandra Lewin about the journey behind the podcast, the movement it has become, and why the next chapter is only just beginning.
Sandra reflects on her path into insurance, from trying to avoid the industry entirely to building a career across broking, consulting, project management, and ultimately founding one of the most recognised communities for women in insurance.
She shares how the original idea for the podcast was planted years earlier during a leadership coaching session, where she realised that many of the most valuable career conversations only happened once people reached senior positions. The podcast became her way of making those insights, stories, and role models more accessible earlier in people’s careers.
Together, Laura and Sandra discuss the evolution of 100 Women in Insurance from a simple idea into a powerful community that has connected thousands of women through storytelling, networking, events, and honest conversations.
Sandra also opens up about the moments that nearly made her quit, the reality of building a business alongside a full-time career, and the messages from listeners that reminded her why the platform mattered.
The conversation explores the recurring themes that have emerged across 100 episodes, including taking risks before feeling ready, having difficult conversations, creating your own opportunities, defining success on your own terms, and learning who you truly are.
They also reflect on the future of leadership, visibility, and gender equality in insurance, challenging outdated assumptions around ambition, flexibility, and career progression.
This is a conversation about courage, community, and what becomes possible when people feel seen.
Key Takeaways
Career success rarely follows a perfectly planned path.
Taking risks often creates the biggest opportunities for growth.
Difficult conversations are usually necessary for meaningful progress.
Creating opportunities is often more powerful than waiting for them.
Defining success for yourself is more important than following traditional expectations.
Knowing your strengths also means understanding what is not aligned to you.
Networking and relationships remain one of the most valuable parts of the insurance industry.
Leadership and workplace culture are being redefined by future generations.
Visibility matters, but authenticity matters more.
Communities thrive when people feel welcomed, supported, and seen.
About the Guests
Connect with Laura Witcher on LinkedIn.
Laura is an insurance recruiter and advocate for amplifying women’s voices across the insurance industry.
She will be joining Sandra as a co-host for the second series of 100 Women in Insurance series.
About the Host
Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn.
Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and more.

099: Breaking Gender Myths and Barriers at Work with Emma Eccles and Dr Abbey Atkinson

Summary
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Dr Abbey Atkinson and Emma Eccles about breaking gender myths and barriers at work, and why many of the conversations around women’s careers still feel surprisingly familiar.
Together, they explore the hidden assumptions that continue to shape progression in corporate environments.
Emma shares her journey of becoming one of the first part-time partners, challenging the idea that flexibility means reduced ambition or lower value. She reflects on the comments she received after becoming pregnant at 29, and why she refused to delay either her career or her family plans to fit outdated expectations.
Abbey brings insights from her PhD research into gender imbalance and organisational culture, unpacking concepts such as tokenism, hypervisibility, and the pressure women often feel to change themselves in order to fit leadership environments designed around traditional norms.
Sandra, Abbey and Emma also discuss:
Why assumptions are one of the biggest blockers to female progression
The “Queen Bee” effect and why some women struggle to challenge systems they had to survive themselves
Why organisations need to stop “fixing women” and start redesigning systems
How flexibility is not about doing less, but doing work differently
Why role models matter, especially male role models when they show vulnerability and authenticity
And why the future of work must be designed around humans, not outdated structures
This is an honest conversation about culture, leadership, ambition, and what it really takes to create workplaces where people do not feel they need to shrink themselves in order to succeed.
Key Takeaways
Flexibility does not mean reduced ambition or commitment.
Organisations often lack imagination when designing roles around real life.
Women frequently adapt their behaviour to fit workplace expectations.
Leadership should not require people to change who they are.
Diverse organisations create stronger ideas, better culture, and better outcomes.
Vulnerability and authenticity from senior leaders create psychological safety.
About the Guests
Connect with Emma Eccles on LinkedIn.
Emma is a Partner at Waightmans specialising in large loss litigation and is a passionate advocate for flexible working and inclusive leadership.
Connect with Dr Abbey Atkinson on LinkedIn.
Abbey is founder of Insight Change and a researcher specialising in gender imbalance, workplace culture, and organisational change.
About the Host
Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn
Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and more.

098: The career advice that we all need to talk about with Lindsey Davies

Summary
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Lindsay Davies about the kind of career advice that is often shared quietly, but rarely said out loud.
Lindsay reflects on her 30-year career in insurance, sharing how her journey was shaped not by perfect planning, but by consistent action, visibility, and a willingness to keep moving forward, even when the timing did not feel ideal.
Together, they unpack a conversation many women face early in their careers. The question of whether to slow down in anticipation of future life changes, particularly around family, and the hidden impact that decision can have years later.
Lindsay shares the advice she once gave Sandra, and still stands by today. Don’t step back before you need to. Build your career, keep going, and trust that you will find a way to make it work when the time comes.
Sandra and Lindsay also explore what happens when you spend a long time in one organisation. The strength of building deep expertise and reputation, but also the challenge of putting yourself back into the market after years without interviews, CV updates, or external visibility.
They talk openly about confidence, feedback, and the discomfort of speaking about your own value. As well as the importance of networks that are built on genuine relationships, not just transactions.
This is a conversation about timing, self-belief, and making decisions based on what you want, not what you assume might happen.
Key Takeaways
Don’t slow down your career for a future that hasn’t happened yet.
Career progression is often built through consistency, not perfect timing.
Long-term roles can build strong reputations, but visibility outside your organisation still matters.
Talking about your value is a skill, not a personality trait.
Feedback is essential, and often needs to be actively asked for.
Networks are built through genuine relationships over time.
Transparency at work creates stronger, more sustainable careers.
You don’t need to have everything figured out to keep moving forward.
About the Guest
Connect with Lindsay Davies 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 things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and more.

097: How to build career opportunities before they are even advertised with Becs Smith and Charlotte Kleeman

Thank you to BCH for sponsoring this episode.
Summary
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Becs and Charlotte, co-chairs of GIN, about how career opportunities are often created long before a role is ever advertised, and what that means for how we show up at work today.
Sandra, Becs and Charlotte unpack how to build that visibility in a way that feels natural, not forced. How to articulate your value without ego, and why networking is less about events and more about consistent, meaningful relationships.
They also challenge one of the biggest misconceptions about career progression:
That opportunities are applied for, rather than created.
This is a conversation about being intentional, building trust, and positioning yourself for opportunities before they even exist.
Becs and Charlotte, also share the behind the scenes of the amazing network GIN, including its future plans.
Key Takeaways
Many career opportunities are shaped before a role is ever advertised.
Visibility is no longer accidental, it must be intentional.
Relationships should be built before you need them.
Networking is about consistency, not one-off interactions.
You can communicate your value clearly without ego or self-promotion.
About the Guest
Connect with Becs Smith on LinkedIn.
Connect with Charlotte Kleeman on LinkedIn.
Find out more about GIN Gender Inclusion Network.
About the Host
Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn
Sign up to ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and more.

096: How to Move Forward in Your Career Without Feeling Ready with Mandy Hunt

Thank you to BCH for sponsoring this episode.
Summary
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Mandy Hunt about what it really takes to move forward in your career when you don’t feel ready.
Mandy shares her journey through the insurance industry, reflecting on the moments where she chose to step outside of her comfort zone, even when confidence had not yet caught up. Her story is a reminder that progression is rarely about having everything figured out, and more often about being willing to take the next step anyway.
Together, they explore the tension many women experience in corporate environments. The desire to grow, paired with the hesitation to put themselves forward before they feel fully prepared.
Mandy shares how some of her biggest opportunities came not from certainty, but from saying yes and figuring things out along the way.
Sandra and Mandy also discuss the reality of confidence at senior levels, challenging the idea that confidence comes first.
Instead, they reframe it as something that is built through action, experience, and exposure.
This is a conversation about courage, self-trust, and redefining what “ready” really means in your career.
Key Takeaways
You do not need to feel ready to take the next step in your career.
Confidence is often built after action, not before it.
Growth happens outside of your comfort zone, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Saying yes to opportunities can open doors you did not expect.
Waiting for perfect timing can delay progress unnecessarily.
Career progression is shaped by action, not just preparation.
Backing yourself is a skill that develops over time.
About the Guest
Connect with Mandy Hunt 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 things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and more.

095_Are you waiting to feel ready or will you put yourself forward anyway? with Caroline Wagstaff

Summary
Thank you to BCH for sponsoring this episode.
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Caroline Wagstaff, about accidental careers, bold decisions, and why putting yourself forward often matters more than feeling ready.
Caroline shares her journey into insurance from a marketing background, describing it as a mix of choice and serendipity. From building her own successful business to stepping into one of the most influential leadership roles in the market, her career is a reminder that not every step needs to be perfectly planned.
Together, they unpack what leadership really looks like at the senior level. The shift from “doing” to listening, influencing, and creating space for others. And why many people struggle with this transition, often feeling like they are not adding value when in fact, that is the role.
The conversation also dives into one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today:
Talent.
Caroline shares honest insights on the imbalance between supply and demand. From overwhelming volumes of applications to a lack of structured entry pathways and an ageing workforce creating a future gap.
They challenge the idea that the problem is simply attracting talent, and instead explore whether the real issue is what happens after talent arrives.
This is a conversation about confidence, curiosity, and building a career that is intentional, not accidental.
Key Takeaways
You don’t need to feel ready to take the next step.
Careers are often shaped by opportunity and action, not perfect planning.
Leadership at senior level is about listening and influencing, not just doing.
The insurance industry may have a demand problem, not just a supply problem.
Community is one of the strongest retention tools in the industry.
Flexibility and trust are essential for modern ways of working.
Social media is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools to attract talent.
You either trust your team or you don’t. There is no middle ground.
About the Guest
Connect with Caroline Wagstaff 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 things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and more.

094: Why are women still hesitating to talk about ambition and family at work? with Zoe Davenport

Summary
Thank you to BCH for sponsoring this episode.
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Zoe Davenport, Head of Customer and Brand at BCH, about the question many women still quietly navigate:
Why are women still hesitating to talk about ambition and family at work?
Zoe shares her unexpected journey into insurance, from qualifying as a quantity surveyor during the 2009 financial crisis to building a 14-year career that evolved from surveying into marketing and customer leadership. Her story is a reminder that career paths are rarely linear and that transferable skills often matter more than we realise.
Together, Sandra and Zoe explore the tension many women feel between career progression and family planning. They discuss the unspoken calculations that happen in your late twenties and early thirties, the fear of being “written off” before anything has even happened, and why open conversations still feel risky for many.
Zoe reflects candidly on pregnancy, returning to work, nursery chaos, and the emotional reality behind what looks like a seamless transition on LinkedIn. They examine how return-to-work programmes are only as effective as the culture behind them and why genuine support cannot simply live on paper.
The conversation also dives into networking dynamics, from golf days to manicure meetings, and challenges the idea that you must emulate existing norms to earn your seat at the table.
This is an honest discussion about ambition, authenticity, culture, and building a workplace where women do not feel they have to shrink, hide or pre-emptively slow down their careers.
Key Takeaways
Career paths evolve, and transferable skills are often underestimated.
It is easy to climb a ladder you never consciously chose.
Many women still self-edit ambition when family planning becomes part of the picture.
Open conversations require cultural safety, not just policy.
Return-to-work support depends on manager mindset and company ethos.
You do not have to change who you are to build influence.
Networking can (and should) evolve beyond traditional formats.
Culture is experienced through people, not just written in handbooks.
Insurance offers diverse, fascinating career opportunities that many women have yet to fully see.
About the Guest
Connect with Zoe Davenport on LinkedIn.
Zoe is Head of Customer and Brand at BCH, a leading provider of reinstatement cost assessments, and a passionate advocate for equity, inclusion and sustainable career progression within insurance and construction.
About the Sponsor
BCH is a multidisciplinary Chartered Building Consultantancy.
Visit the website.
Follow on LinkedIn.
About the Host
Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn.
Sign up to the ‘Coffee with Sandra’ newsletter to stay up to date on all things 100 Women in Insurance.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective, a private LinkedIn community connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and much more.

093_We found the reason why women are not reaching senior roles (and is it not lack of confidence) with Elizabeth Charlesworth

100 Women in Insurance Summit 26th March 2026
A day and evening event to celebrate 100th podcast episode. Expect plenty of learning, networking and celebrating opportunities.
Get your tickets here.
Thanks to this episode sponsor Avencia Talent Solutions
In this episode, Sandra Lewin speaks with Liz Charlesworth, Managing Partner at Avencia Talent Solutions , about accidental exposure, intentional visibility, and why assumptions are quietly holding female talent back.
Together, they unpack what really happens behind senior hiring conversations, especially long before a job is even advertised.
They explore the concept of “accidental exposure”, which can be challenging in a remote working environments, and how to increase it.
Visibility is intentional. Relationships should be nurtured before you even need them. And your value can be articulated clearly without ego and arrogance.
Sandra and Liz also challenge one of the biggest barriers to progression:
Assumptions.
Assumptions about ambition.
Assumptions about flexibility.
Assumptions about parental responsibilities.
Assumptions about who is “ready.”
And in doing so, they arrive at something simple but powerful:
If organisations stopped assuming and started asking, the pipeline would change.
Flexibility, they argue, does not mean less ambition. It means rethinking how and when work gets done so careers are sustainable.
This is a conversation about risk, visibility, advocacy, and building leadership pipelines intentionally, not accidentally.
Key takeaways:
Accidental exposure has reduced in remote environments, so visibility must now be intentional.
Hard work that is not seen is often mistaken for silence.
Visibility is not ego it is clarity about your value.
Reactive hiring often defaults to familiar networks, narrowing diversity.
Flexibility does not equal reduced ambition. It is about sustainability.
Assumptions are one of the biggest blockers to female progression.
Transparent policies remove the need for uncomfortable conversations.
About the guest
Connect with Liz Charlesworth (Liz Langford Archer) on LinkedIn.
About the sponsor
Avencia Talent Solutions a strategic talen solutions that evolve with your business . Connect 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 — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and much more.

092: How do you achieve the “Impossible” when you were never meant to be there with Kirat Kaur Nandra

100 Women in Insurance Summit 26th March 2026
A day and evening event to celebrate 100th podcast episode. Expect plenty of learning, networking and celebrating opportunities.
Get your tickets here.
Thanks to this episode sponsor AdvantageGo.
Summary
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Kirat Kaur Nandra about what it really means to take up space in rooms you were never expected to enter.
Kirat shares how she fell into insurance by accident and how that unexpected start turned into a successful career defined by hard work, mentoring, and legacy.
They explore the quiet work that often goes unseen, such as hundreds of Lloyd’s tours, the mentoring of young people from underrepresented backgrounds, and the belief that impact does not need applause to matter.
Kirat also opens up about becoming the first women of colour to have her portrait displayed in the historic Old Library at Lloyd’s. She shares the deeply personal story behind the pink dress in the painting and what that moment meant for her and her family.
Sandra and Kirat reflect on grief, caring responsibilities and how legacy can be shaped through resilience.
The conversation also introduces a phrase that now lives beyond this episode:
“Walk like a peacock.”
A message from Kirat’s late father about standing tall, owning your presence, and carrying confidence into every room.
This is a conversation about confidence, heritage, mentorship, and achieving what once felt impossible.
Key Takeaways
You do not need an audience for your impact to matter.
Mentoring is about listening first, advising second.
Younger generations bring courage and values led leadership that we can learn from.
Confidence is not arrogance, it is grounded self-belief.
Taking up space authentically is an act of leadership.
Your background does not define your ceiling.
Walking like a peacock means standing tall with dignity, not ego.
About the Guest
Connect with Kirat Kaur Nandra 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 things 100 Women In Insurance and more.
Join ‘The Pink Book’ Collective — a private LinkedIn group connecting women in insurance to find mentors, speaking opportunities and much more

091: Why the ‘Perfect Moment’ Never Comes (and What to Do Instead) with Donna Robertson

100 Women in Insurance Summit 26th March 2026
A day and evening event to celebrate 100th podcast episode. Expect plenty of learning, networking and celebrating opportunities.
Get your tickets here.
Summary
In this episode, Sandra speaks with Donna Robertson about what it really means to trust yourself when the timing feels inconvenient and the decision is uncomfortable.
Donna shares a moment many women will recognise. On paper, everything looked great. Seniority, experience, strong results. But while pregnant with her second child, she realised that waiting for circumstances to improve felt harder than being honest. The timing was far from ideal, yet staying silent no longer felt sustainable. Instead of waiting for certainty or the “right time,” Donna chose transparency, handed in her notice at eight months pregnant, and trusted her gut.
Together, they explore why so many women slow down mid-career, particularly after having children. Not because ambition fades or capability is lost, but because the perceived cost of getting it wrong increases. Donna challenges the way maternity leave is often treated as a career risk, despite being a predictable, manageable event.
The episode closes with what Donna chose to build instead. A brokerage shaped by values rather than volume, where trust, transparency and long-term relationships matter more than commission or incentives. She talks about leadership, flexible working and why selling does not need pressure to work when it is rooted in clarity and doing the right thing. This is a conversation about backing yourself before everything feels ready, and choosing alignment when certainty never quite arrives.
Takeaways
When the internal resistance becomes louder than the external risk, it is often a signal to reassess rather than push through
Transparency early on can save time and emotional energy later on
Waiting for certainty can keep you aligned to roles that no longer reflect who you are becoming
Values-led businesses create stronger loyalty than incentive-led models
Selling works best when it is rooted in trust, education, and long-term relationships
Flexible working succeeds when outcomes matter more than optics
Being open early on, helps see which environments are genuinely supportive, and which are simply familiar
Choosing alignment may feel uncomfortable in the short term, but it creates far more sustainable careers over time
About the Guest
Connect with Donna Robertson on LinkedIn.
Find out more about Squared Insurance Brokers. 
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.