Talent Talks supported by Scottish Widows

Have you ever thought about changing direction during your career, moving into a completely different role or industry? In this episode, Sarah chats to Kevin Doran, CIO at Lloyds Banking Group about pivoting with purpose. The conversation covers finding your golden threads, how to craft a story that connect the dots and what it really means to be authentic. A self confessed failed math teacher, Kevin has a passion for investing and...

In this latest episode Sarah dives into a topic that can truly transform your career - professional networking. Whether you're early in your career or looking to level up, the right network can open doors you didn't even know existed.

Our guest, Jill Henderson, is Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships at Scottish Widows and new sponsor of Her Wealth Network. She was until recently, the Co-Chair for Women in Banking and...

Every been in a role where you feel like you're going nowhere or perhaps you're just not 'feeling' the role any longer. So what do you do? In this episode Sarah Sandle is joined by Jess Harvey, the founder of the Female Mentoring Alliance to talk about why so many women feel trapped in their careers, bust a few myths that might be holding you back and explore what it really takes to move forward.

Jess Harvey is a...

Have you ever found yourself out of a job unexpectedly? In this episode we welcome Paul Chapman to talk us through how to coach yourself through redundancy, allowing your self space to breath and make the best decisions for your next move. Paul is a board adviser to Her Wealth Network and a seasoned recruiter with almost 20 years of experience placing top talent in financial services roles. He jointly runs HornbyChapman and is here...

Shakaila Forbes-Bell is a Fashion Psychologist, consultant, TV commentator, founder of the platform 'Fashion is Psychology' and best-selling author of the book “Big Dress Energy”. Shakaila talks to Chimmy Ngoma about the connection between psychology and what we choose to wear, how that gives us confidence and how we can celebrate our identity through our personal brand.

She uses scientific research to uncover ‘the why beh...

In this latest episode we welcome Akua Opong, a multi-award-winning speaker, who has over 15 years of experience in the financial and tech industries. A Chartered IT Professional with the British Computer Society, she is a recognised thought leader in Social Impact, CSR, ESG, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Gender Equality. She talks to our host Chimmy Ngoma about the importance of allyship and sponsorship and giving back to others.

A...

In this episode, we are excited to chat with Gill Whitty-Collins, the author 'Why men win at work...and how we can make inequality history'. Our host, Chimmy Ngoma talks to Gill about finding your 'confident core' and how the sooner we find our super-powers, we ensure we reach happiness faster!

Gill was born near Liverpool in 1970, the youngest of three sisters. After attending the local comprehensive high school...

In this first episode of the new season for 2025, we are joined by Mary Agbesanwa, who is passionate about how technology is transforming the financial services industry, especially wealth management. Listen to her chat with host, Chimmy Ngoma about being your authentic self and super-connectors. How looking to help others when you're networking should come before self-promotion and how to use your emotional intelligence.

Mary ...

In this episode we are joined by the superpower that is Samantha (Sam) Secomb, Founder of Women’s Wealth, an innovative unbiased financial advice and coaching service that specialises in empowering women to create fabulous financial futures for themselves. 

Laura chats to Sam about her career, where are all the female advisers, what the profession can offer in terms of career and what drives her passion for helping women unlock thei...

In this episode we are joined by Faith Reynolds, a strategic adviser, experienced NED, chair and speaker. She is an adviser to the board at TISA and a non-exec director at Fair4All Finance. She's led a series of initiatives to improve communications and break down barriers to financial services and talks to us about getting women investing, what other women are doing in this space and 

Resources:

Website links for the research a...

In this episode we talk to Susan Hope, Pension Specialist at Scottish Widows about taking control of your pension. Susan is a Chartered Financial Planner and is passionate about closing the gender pension gap. Her day job is helping individuals understand the tangible benefits of workplace savings and frequently talks on topics such as the financial implications of life events, particularly for women. This is not just a fun listen ...

In this episode, we are joined by Laura Burridge from Hargreaves Lansdown for over 8 years, starting a content writer and now marketing leads for Financially Fearless, share trading and value. Financially Fearless is an initiative which empowers women with their money. Laura wants to empower the next generation of female investors as it's predicted that 60% of the UK's wealth will be in the hands of women by 2025. She cha...

Join Dr. Bijna, a banker-turned-venture capitalist and global business leader, as she delves into her inspiring career journey. From starting her career at firms such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to advising monarchies and startups, Dr. Bijna shares the pivotal moments that shaped her success. In this episode, she emphasises the importance of mentorship, overcoming challenges in male-dominated industries, and empowering othe...

In this episode, we chat to Victoria McLean, founder and CEO of City CV, an international career consultancy firm specialising in banking and financial service. With over 20 years of experience and a background in recruitment at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, Victoria's skills span CV/resume writing, interview and career coaching, and recruitment, including creating and directing international corporate career development, h...

In this episode, Holly Chate, COO of Future Dot Now, shares her inspiring journey from biochemistry student at UCL to a diverse career spanning the public, private, and third sectors across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. After facing burnout, Holly followed her passion which led to her joining Future Dot Now, a charity dedicated to closing the UK's digital skills gap. In this episode Holly reflects on her experiences and t...

Nitika shares her inspiring journey from a successful career in investment banking and hedge funds to co-founding a fintech startup focused on empowering women with their finance. Driven by her passion for psychology and helping others, Nitika pursued a counselling qualification and volunteered with mental health charities. Nitika discusses the career transition that led to the creation of Aila Money, a personal training app for yo...

This episode features Cynthia Poole, Director of Relationship Management and Business Support at Raymond James. Cynthia began her career in the U.S., but after the birth of her first child, she faced a pivotal decision—leaving her job to prioritise family. She discusses the challenges and rewards of stepping away from her career to raise her children, and her eventual journey back into the workforce. Cynthia also offers valuable in...

In our keynote episode, we're joined by Stefanie Sword-Williams, the author of "F*ck Being Humble" and a industry leader in the world of public speaking. Stefanie shares her journey, offering a wealth of actionable advice for those wanting to be brave enough to speak in front of any audience. From finding your ‘thing’ to conquering nerves, Stefanie provides practical tips that listeners can implement immediately. Ste...

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Freed, co-founder of E2W and founder of Men for Inclusion. Despite early academic struggles due to dyslexia, Mark has become a powerful advocate for gender equality in the financial services sector. He shares his journey from a young working-class boy to a change-maker in London's financial district. Mark discusses the critical role of male allies in achieving workplace diversity, the cha...