Beyond the Desk with Mark Thomas
Beyond the Desk with Mark Thomas
Podcast Description
THE Insurance Careers Podcast!
Hosted by Mark Thomas, one of the UK's leading senior appointments recruiters in the technology, operations, change & transformation space, this podcast brings you exclusive interviews with the most influential names and brightest minds in insurance.
Each week, Mark dives deep into the career journeys, pivotal moments, and stories of success and resilience that have shaped the careers of these global insurance technology leaders.
You will gain insights, inspiration, and insider perspectives from the leaders who are redefining the industry's future right now!
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJL5z9-RSWJj3BKCKa-MQ6g
💻 Connect with us on Linkedin for more insights and thought leadership www.linkedin.com/company/beyondthedeskpodcast
Join the conversation, follow us and explore the fascinating world of insurance careers like never before!
Website: https://beyond-the-desk.captivate.fm
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
This podcast covers themes of career progression, technology in insurance, and industry transformation through guest narratives. For instance, episodes like Andrew Passfield discussing his journey from trainee underwriter to CEO focus on the convergence of technology and insurance, while guests like Sandra Lewin talk about diversity and the impact of personal branding. Key areas of exploration include the evolving role of AI, strategic partnerships in insurance, and innovative methods of industry engagement.
The Insurance Leadership Podcast!
Hosted by Mark Thomas (and various guest hosts), one of the UK’s leading senior appointments search executives, this podcast brings you exclusive interviews with the most influential names and brightest minds leading insurance globally.
Each week, Mark dives deep into the career journeys, pivotal moments, success stories and resilience that have shaped the careers of these global insurance leaders.
You will gain insights, inspiration, and insider perspectives from the leaders who are redefining the industry’s future right now!
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJL5z9-RSWJj3BKCKa-MQ6g
💻 Connect with us on LinkedIn for more insights and thought leadership www.linkedin.com/company/beyondthedeskpodcast
Join the conversation, follow us and explore the fascinating world of insurance careers like never before!
Website: https://beyond-the-desk.captivate.fm
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Sanjeev Vegad is joined by Talbir Singh Bains, founder of Volante Global and one of the insurance industry’s most respected entrepreneurs.
Talbir reflects on a career spanning QBE, Willis Re, Swiss Re, Dual and the creation of Volante, sharing the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy and entrepreneurial mindset.
The conversation explores how to build a business that aligns with capital, why culture should be lived rather than written down, the future of MGAs, attracting the next generation of insurance talent, and why the industry’s greatest purpose is helping society recover from risk.
Whether you’re an aspiring leader, underwriter, entrepreneur or simply interested in building great businesses, this episode is packed with practical insights and thought-provoking advice.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- How Talbir’s career evolved from actuarial pricing into entrepreneurship.
- The lessons he learned from leaders at QBE, Willis Re, Swiss Re and Dual.
- Why Volante was built on a fundamentally different business model.
- How to balance growth with long-term underwriting profitability.
- Why culture is created through actions—not policies.
- What makes MGAs so attractive to underwriting talent.
- Why diversity and young talent are essential for innovation.
- The qualities future insurance leaders should develop.
- Why insurance plays a far greater role in society than many people realise.
Key Takeaways
Sustainable growth always beats growth for growth’s sake.
The strongest businesses succeed when their interests are fully aligned with their investors and capital partners.
Great cultures are built through consistent leadership behaviours, not company policies.
Innovation comes from fresh thinking, diverse perspectives and empowering the next generation of leaders.
Insurance is ultimately about helping people and businesses recover when the unexpected happens.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Beyond the Desk, leave a review and share it with someone in your network.
Connect with Sanjeev Vegad and Talbir Singh Bains on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.