Caroline Renouf ǀ Rossborough Guernsey
I began my career in Insurance in 1995 when I left school. I went to work for a small family run firm that specialized in Personal Lines products.
In 1997 I became one of the youngest people in the Channel Islands to hold the then titled Certificate of Proficiency and now hold the Certificate in Insurance.
I joined Rossborough in 2000 as a Directors Broking Assistant in the Commercial team, this role allowed me to grow as an individual. I was in charge of certain in house schemes and this made my confidence grow. In 2006 I became a Commercial Account Handler dealing with a portfolio of clients.
In 2009 I was asked by the Commercial Director to become his Personal Assistant. I jumped at the chance as we already had such a good working relationship. It is a role that I thoroughly enjoy and I am still able to do broking as part of my job to assist him.
At nearly 36, I have had nearly 20 years working in the Insurance Industry and this experience enables new staff members to shadow me and I often find myself as a referral point for colleagues.
In 2015 I began assisting my friend as a coordinator of a local PA network, Guernsey PA Connect. This is a venture I am extremely proud of. I am not naturally a confident person and it takes me out of my comfort zone. The PA Network has been set up to allow the PA`s of Guernsey from all organizations, to connect with each other, develop closer relationships, learn from each other and also all take away valuable skills to assist us in our future endeavors.
Dominique Liberto | Aon UK Ltd
I derive from a multicultural background, belonging to diverse nations including Italy, Malta, South Africa, England and Greece. I received an eclectic education in the United States, Rome and London. I have a four year BA degree in Communication and Marketing and an MA in Creative Writing Studies. I have obtained substantial work experience within Non Profit International Organizations (organizations under the UN umbrella) in Rome and London, especially in the fields of communication, marketing, public relations and risk management.
In 2009 I moved to London to obtain my Masters Degree and at the beginning of 2010, I joined Aon as a placing broker and then moved in the claims department where I have acquired vast experience in Financial Lines, Power, Property and Crisis Management.
I love mentoring the junior colleagues who have the passion and hunger for career development. I am also highly involved in the Woman’s network and charity events within Aon.
Nicola Ruane | EY
Nicola firmly believes that the finance sector has a responsibility to create a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world. From 2007 whilst working on a trading floor, Nicola began to question the negative impact of complex financial products on the wider economy. Following a career break in 2010 to work on a sustainability project in Peru, she studied part time for a Masters in CSR focusing on corporate governance, ethics, sustainability and human rights, achieving first class honours. Since 2012 she has been pioneering the EMEA CSR programme of MUFG, a major Japanese bank, developing a regional community investment programme leading to the bank’s shortlisting for a prestigious Lord Mayor of London Dragon award. At a global level, she initiated a materiality analysis to identify the bank’s most important social and environmental issues in order deliver value to the business and stakeholders. Ready for a new challenge, she has recently joined EY’s EMEIA financial services office as Corporate Sustainability Operations Lead.
A change agent, Nicola is passionate about inspiring, educating and learning with and from others to move the dial in a collaborative way; through mentor and mentee relationships, as a co-founder of the women’s network at MUFG, as an active One Young World ambassador and with a blog on the Huffington Post. Consequently, she has been invited to speak in New York at the B Team forum, a collection of business and world leaders led by Richard Branson, who have come together to advance the wellbeing of people and the planet through business. Committed to be part of changing the sector for the better - Nicola advocates for more women in senior roles, more long-term and ethical decision making and a financial services sector that responds to the needs of our society.
Kerryn Johnstone | EY
Kerryn believes that the key to success is setting a strategy for yourself, and then working hard to implement it. This includes creating a continuously evolving Personal Stakeholder Map, finding the right mentors for guidance and utilising any courses and training on offer to add to her toolkit of skills. Leaving school with no idea of what she really wanted to do with her career, Kerryn decided to find experience in the world through life events. Before she set off, Kerryn lined her ‘Career Toolkit’ with an Executive Secretarial course, knowing that whatever career path she eventually chose; the world would always require Admin. It’s frequently been beneficial, especially when recession hit and the only people being hired where administrative staff.
Kerryns career began on a well-known London reception desk in 1998. Since then she has worked in many different sectors, including blue chip, banking, government and charity organisations. Through sheer hard work and determination, utilising networks and working her career strategy over the years, she now creates Methods and Tools to underpin the Deployment Approach for large Global Programs. Kerryn also juggles being a Mum to two busy boys, with challenging work hours, being a commuter and the on-the-job travel required of her role in a large City Firm.
Kerryn grew up in Zimbabwe and Malawi, leaving at the age of 21 for Europe. Having lived in many countries around the world since, from 3rd world through to 1st world she has seen first-hand, and understands how tough it can be, for young women to find a voice to allow them that first ‘foot in the door’. Actively involved in charities and philanthropy, Kerryn strives to always find a way to give of both her time and experience to help others believe in themselves too!
Jo Sweetland ǀ Green Park Interim & Executive Resourcing
I can't tell you that I deserve to be shortlisted for this award and the outcome is not for me to decide, but what I can tell you is what I have learnt and how I try to pass on these lessons to the people I meet.
It's never sat comfortably with me being labelled, for example I've been called an entrepreneur, a strategist, a leader of people. My father was an entrepreneur and I saw the risks and tribulations he had to go through to grow his business and the difficult times he experienced. His journey in the business world taught me a lot and helped me build a really deep respect for business people as individuals as opposed to their title and the roles that they play.
I always try to be true to myself and live through my values and beliefs in all circumstances.
As a mother of two young children, having to juggle a highly pressurised, demanding career while maintaining a consistent and supportive home life for my family, I have developed a great respect for all working mothers. This by far has been my greatest challenge to date!
Through consulting with organisations in helping them acquire the kind of talent that will drive their businesses forward, I have learnt that agility and flexibility throughout the partnership is essential for achieving long term outcomes. As a female who aspires to lead in a male dominated industry, my core values of customer centricity, inclusion, good manners and hard graft are central to not just how I work, but how I motivate others around me to work. More than anything, I believe humility is one of the key factors to success within the industry. Through my experience, it is the more challenging of customers that I have had to consult with who have demonstrated consistency and loyalty, and in some cases even becoming friends, as a result of using my softer skills of influencing and helping them come to decisions which are beneficial for their business.
As a Managing Partner and one of the original members of Green Park Interim & Executive Search, I head up the HR Practice consulting with a range of businesses across the Private sector helping them solve some of their most challenging people problems. Being seen as a trusted advisor to my clients is paramount to mine and Green Park's HR brand.
Naomi Bowman ǀ HSBC
Naomi leads Governance & Operations within HSBC’s Monitor Liaison Office. She is responsible for maintaining an efficient and effective interface at all times between HSBC and the Monitor.
Prior to commencing this role in June 2014, Naomi was Head of Business Management & Strategy for the Global Standards Programme where she successfully designed and built the function responsible for financial management, vendor management and resourcing strategy.
Before joining HSBC in January 2013, Naomi was Senior Manager at EY specialising in operations and regulatory advisory and has achieved notable career success to date having worked on some of the most prominent banking administrations, integrations and mandatory regulatory changes during the past decade.
Naomi holds an ACA (ICAEW) and is currently studying for the ICA’s Postgraduate Diploma in Governance Risk and Compliance.
Outside the office, Naomi is Governor for Tonbridge Federation and delivers a number of speeches to students throughout the South East. An active diversity champion and public speaker, Naomi was key note speaker at the ICAEW’s prize giving ceremony 2015 and gave a TEDx talk at Imperial College in June 2015 on career acceleration.
In June 2014, Naomi was announced as the national Women in the City's "Future Leaders Award" winner
Sara Sherwani | Telefonica UK
Sara Sherwani, a driven Service Designer whose predominate focus is centred on delivering excellent customer experience and delivering the best technology solutions through Service Management principles. Ensuring that the customers’ expectations are met and they are delighted with the digital experience that they have with O2. Through her contributions, she was sponsored and chosen to represent Telefonica UK Operations at the One Young World conference. One Young World is a global organisation about bringing together bright, young leaders to discuss and bring change to a number of global issues with high profile members like Bob Geldolf, Kofi Annan and Sir Richard Branson. Presently, Sara operates as an Ambassador for One Young World outside of her day to day role.
Having always developed the curiosity on how to make a positive impact through the work that she carries out, Sara has been involved in educating over 100 young people in digital skills and exploring digital careers. Through delivering Digital Skills workshops up and down the country with the backing of Telefonica. I have spoken at schools and conferences about the other opportunities outside the traditional routes available to young people, giving them an opportunity to speak to someone who’s ‘been there done that’. She is heavily moved by the third sector and often gives pro-bono advice to charities around define, managing and improving their processes and utilizing the efficiencies of technology. Currently, she is working closely with a Charity called Josh who sponsor over 500 girls in India to go to school.
Dawn Kelly ǀ Oliver Wyman
Dawn Kelly has cemented herself as a top performer and integral office character at the leading global consultancy firm, Oliver Wyman, since joining as a graduate just two years ago: working with top tier clients on some of their most demanding projects, whilst actively contributing to – and being the driving force behind – a variety of firm initiatives and activities.
Dawn’s most recent consulting accomplishments include redefining a bank’s credit card strategy, contributing to a globally published report and engaging with >15 top Asset Managers on their key concern, conduct risk. At the same time Dawn led the OW Enabling Enterprise community partnership, aiming to inspire children to succeed, developed and implemented the recruiting strategy for an OW target University, and launched the OW Teach First volunteer partnership, running >10 employee-teacher coaching relationships as well as classroom/insight days for students. She also seeks to inspire and develop new talent from all backgrounds through running training sessions, being involved in the internship programme and fully advocating the buddy/mentor system.
Her passion for, and commitment to, inspiring young people to succeed extends beyond the office, mentoring underprivileged 16/17 year olds and female university students, as a Springboard and School-student mentor. This has always been important to Dawn: during school she was a Youth Ambassador, inspiring young people to interact with businesses, organisations and the police to make Essex a better place for themselves; and during University volunteering as National Youth Science Ambassador, guiding young people through investigations, inspiring interest in science and learning.
Dawn’s enthusiasm and passion for collective achievement through inclusion and involvement (of herself and all around her) stems from her unexpected offer to study Natural Sciences at Cambridge University. Working three part time jobs, volunteering 5-10 hours a week, and sporting just as much, she was elated to secure such an opportunity. Dawn propelled herself into all the University had to offer: working with the greatest scientific minds in the world; developing University-wide enterprises through her election to JCR President and holding other CUSU positions; and flourishing in College life, from rowing 1st Boat with LMBC to Captaining the Netball team and running the L’Armor Society. These unimaginable experiences, along with her first class degree, inspired the energy and fervour with which Dawn has entered life at OW, and with which she hopes to inspire many others to do the same.
Jacqui Braganza ǀ Accenture
I joined Accenture as a Technology Consulting Analyst in February last year. I have been working at one of the largest CMT accounts since Day 1, but have had the opportunity to work across a couple of different technology projects – the experience gained here has allowed me to develop not only my business acumen and analytical capability, but also my ability to work with and lead both internal teams and external stakeholders. My interest in Digital has primarily developed from being submersed in the Digital world as I have grown up – the way Digital is shaking up businesses is endlessly interesting. Watching huge corporations reshape, evolve and adapt the way they work means it is an extremely exciting time to be working in the Consulting arena.