Business Made Personal

"It’s not about me. It’s about how good we are as a team". Having had just 2 jobs in over 40+ years in the insurance sector, Rick Wolozny understands the meaning of patience, persistence and perseverance. He has firm views on the advancement of technology, it’s contribution to diminishing technical insurance knowledge and the instant turnaround requirements expected of us 24/7.  However,...

"Never accept what you are told. Ask another question to clarify." 56 years in loss adjusting has taught Bob Richards a thing or two about working with and helping people. In fact, his enormous community focus culminated in him receiving an Order of Australia Medal and volunteering in India to eliminate polio. His contribution to the Loss Adjusting sector of the insurance profession and...

"Invest in yourself. Don’t adopt a mindset that whoever you work for has to do all your development." Stephen Jones, as a first-generation immigrant, found out the hard way that if you want to develop yourself and your career, you have to do the hard yards. Apart from gaining his insurance knowledge, Stephen committed to long-term part-time study culminating in his obtaining his MBA. In...

"What got you here today, may not get you there tomorrow… you have to continually learn to adapt!" Being pushed by his Dad to ‘get a real job’ so he didn’t come home with black eyes and bruises to recognizing his wife as his most influential support, Anthony Pagano is eternally grateful to have found his way into the Insurance industry. Having been the recipient of enormous mentoring sup...

"I couldn’t even list the (amount of) learnings I’ve gained from working in the insurance industry." “It’s taken me 30 years to find the job that I really enjoy” and now that he has, Executive Search Consultant Graeme Young has some sage advice for career development in the insurance market. Foremost is that a career in claims could be the best career you could ever choose because he bel...

"We’re a very, very valuable and important industry and occupation and yet we just don’t take it seriously ourselves, and we kind of put ourselves down a bit." From commencing his own insurance broking career to saving the Melbourne Football Club, Don McLardy is an exceptional relationship developer and visionary. He speaks of the difficulties he has experienced in an acrimonious split f...

"The only way forward and the only person who can keep me going forward is myself." The one emphatic point made by Kirk Cheesman, is that treating staff as family is the way to retain staff, keep clients happy and develop a successful business. Having lived with his grandmother since 13 years of age, it is clear that he is a product of the motto work hard, do the right thing and be grate...

"Your personal brand and your reputation is something I’ve learnt is critically important." Darren O’Connell encourages those in the industry to be curious and ask why do we do things this way? He believes that is one way we can advance the insurance sector and our own careers.  A staunch advocate for developing people, he also holds the opinion that the push for digital experience and a...

"When I’m at my best is when I’m being myself!" As one of Australia’s youngest CEO’s, Kim Jonsson understands well the fact that you have to invest in yourself through the way you are spending your time at work. A firm believer in education as a way to underpin experience, she has said, “It's not your boss’s or Organisations job to be developing you.” In this podcast, Kim discusses...

"If you lose relevance then you’re probably out the door!" With his first insurance sale earning him $7.94c, Tim Considine knew that he was going to do everything he could to be successful as an insurance broker. He attributes his business growth and success to his ability to develop relationships, having a great team around him and being fortunate to have been in the right place at the...

"You can’t build a Company if you don’t build the People!" The entrepreunerial, inspirational nature of Matthew Denehy is apparent from the minute he starts talking. Raised in an insurance family, the high school dropout took out a loan for $1 million at the age of 27 during the Global Financial Crisis because of his innate belief that he wanted to help people and make a difference in th...

"If you can see there’s a challenge coming up, you’ve just got to get in front of it!" The one thing that comes through when we speak to Lyndon Turner is his passion for the industry and an unshakeable commitment to what he does. In this podcast, Lyndon speaks about the personal challenges he faced in growing a business from 7 employees to 70 and what he has had to do to reinvent himself...

"There are no barriers to what you can achieve, regardless of your upbringing!" Migrant, Wife, Mother, CEO and Mentor, Gabriele McDonald has created a career path in the industry admired by many. Her belief that life is not a competition, it’s a joyride has enabled her to back herself and take control of her business destiny. Her fervent desire is that of creating a greater awareness of...

"I think we could do it (claims) better, we can coordinate it better and then we can sell it a hell of a lot better!" From leaving school at the age of 17 to being a founder Partner of MSM Loss Management, Colin Chinner knows a thing or two about claims. In this podcast, we speak of a number of aspects in Colin’s business life including what we need to do better as an insurance community...

"You need to manage your own career. Don’t expect it to be put in your lap and don’t expect other people to do it for you. You’ve got to do it yourself!" Tony Clark speaks to us about the challenging experiences during his career that has shaped his desire to create an inclusive and empowering culture at National Transport Insurance (NTI). Having joined NTI at a time when the business wa...

“The one thing I did get right in my career is that I never moved for money!” Gary Gribbin derives satisfaction from being involved and working with people he respects – and as a legendary industry leader and academic, over the years, he has worked with the who’s who of insurance. The eldest of six children, Gary attributes his success to the drive and determination modelled to him by his mother a...

“Have the courage to do what you know is right and lead people!” A multi-generation farmer, John Dunk found it necessary to leave his farming lifestyle and develop a new career in insurance. Moving from what he had known (and loved) to establishing himself initially as an Insurance Inspector and eventually as a Broker came with its challenges. In John’s words, “I’d love people to buy into insuranc...

“You don’t have to love every single moment of what you do (for work) but love TO work! Be curious and open.” From serving at bars in the UK and driving Ubers to become the co-founder and CEO of Zemble – an Australian Insuretech business, Aurora Voss has done and seen a lot. Her worldly experience is evidenced by the very way in which she views her business life. Her self-stated mission is “to del...

“You can’t do anything without a personality and a relationship and a sales mentality.” The classic story from mail person to CEO is what Tony Walker, CEO of PSC Network Partners has reflected upon in this podcast. His passionate commitment to relationship-driven outcomes is very apparent in the outlooks he shares with us. Tony speaks of missed opportunities, being allowed to do your job, working...

“Find the opportunity to challenge yourself and look for things that are outside your comfort zone.” A staunch advocate for Women in Leadership, Simone Dossetor discusses how we need to rethink leadership and why the insurance profession should be leading the actions in diversity and inclusion as well as climate change and environmental challenges. She is of the opinion that there is no reason we...

"Having that nerve to keep persisting and taking the knockbacks has helped me a lot!" Bob Dodd the COO of Arteva Funding has become an integral part of the insurance community through his actions and activities in insurance premium funding. Brought up in a highly successful musical family, he shares with us the why and how he created a career in financial services. His recurring message...

“The secret to any career is to be curious. Ask lots of questions because it’s the question you don’t ask that is the most important question!” Doron Grossman is of the firm belief that the insurance industry does not come with a prescribed handbook and his view that we are neglecting our responsibility to the younger generation entering the profession has been forged by his experience of over 40...

" We (the insurance profession) might get it right 98% of the time, but the 2% we get wrong, we get really wrong!" Belinda Scott believes it is a privilege to hold insured’s hands through troubled times but she is critical of our increasing habit of sitting behind a computer and send emails. She believes work enjoyment is a direct result of getting to really know clients, finding common...

“I had no idea that I would find such an opportunity to build relationships, travel the world, understand different industries and for me to develop skills.” Educated as a Plant Biologist, Simon Weaver has had quite the journey having chosen to relocate from the UK to Hong Kong and now settling in Australia. In this podcast, Simon candidly discusses the attributes that have seen him head-hunted by...

“We will be the same person we are today in 5 years time except for the people that we meet and the books we read. Enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think!” David McKinnis (Ex Community Broker Network) has some unique views on his business life’s work and what is really important in developing a career. For example, he comments that “If you’re going to be in a Role for a while, you need to be do...