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Beyond the Desk with Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas
Artificial Intelligence
Insurance
Leadership
Insurance Industry
Howden Group
Envelop Risk
Superscript
Nate Silver
Cyber Insurance
Marsh
Human Resources
Culture
Insuretech
Technology In Insurance
Google Cloud
Operations
Apollo
LAS

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... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes29Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessManagement

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Artwork for Beyond the Desk

Latest Episodes

What does it actually take to go from growing up in one of Glasgow's most deprived areas to becoming a CEO in the insurance industry without a university degree, without a clear plan, and without ever making CEO your goal?

In this episode of Beyond ... more

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Sally Peace, Chief of Staff and HR Director at Apollo, to discuss an unconventional career that has spanned actuarial science, catastrophe modelling, operations, business planning, HR and e... more

Episode Description

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by John Wingate, Chief Technology Officer at Envelop Risk, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming insurance and why technology should enhance people rather... more

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Carys Lawton-Bryce, Chief Operations Officer at Markel International, to explore her unconventional journey into executive leadership.

From growing up in South Africa to leading large-sc... more

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Recent Guests

Chris Barclay
CEO of Superscript, digital insurance broker
Superscript
Episode: From Claims handler to CEO with Chris Barclay
Sally Peace
Chief of Staff and HR Director at Apollo (Lloyd's of London Syndicate, Skyward Group)
Apollo / Skyward Group
Episode: Why Great Leaders Say Yes Before They're Ready with Sally Peace
John Wingate
CTO at Envelop Risk
Envelop Risk
Episode: How Technology Is Transforming Insurance with John Wingate
Karis Lawton-Bryce
Chief Operations Officer, Markel International
Markel International
Episode: The Unconventional Road to COO with Carys Lawton-Bryce
Kirk Southern
Chief People Officer at Howden Group
Howden Group
Episode: What It Really Takes to Become a Chief People Officer with Kirk Southern, Chief People Officer at Howden
Nigel Walsh
Global Head of Insurance at ServiceNow
ServiceNow
Episode: Why the Future of Insurance Will Be Orchestrated, Not Built with Nigel Walsh, Global Head of Insurance at ServiceNow

Host

Mark Thomas
Host of Beyond the Desk, a senior appointments search executive focused on insurance leadership.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 6 ratings
  • Flows well

    Great first episode. Looking forward to the next.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paolo C London
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Flows well
Great first episode. Looking forward to the next.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Great Leaders Say Yes Before They're Ready with Sally Peace
Q: What advice would you give someone aiming for leadership in insurance?
Take opportunities when offered, seek mentors, be willing to take lateral moves to broaden experience, and develop strong communication and listening skills to engage others and drive change.
Why Great Leaders Say Yes Before They're Ready with Sally Peace
Q: You've moved through many roles and eventually into HR and Chief of Staff. Was that intentional or did opportunities pull you forward?
Mostly opportunistic and experiential; she followed prompts from leaders and trusted colleagues, grabbed chances to learn, and gradually built a cross-functional skill set that supports executive leadership and governance.
Why Great Leaders Say Yes Before They're Ready with Sally Peace
Q: How did you find your way into insurance and what was your first role?
She fell into insurance after a math degree, started in Ipswich in the finance department at a managing agency, and moved to London a few years later, handling actuarial and forecasting tasks before shifting into capital modelling and other areas.
The Unconventional Road to COO with Carys Lawton-Bryce
Q: How do you view AI in your role as COO?
AI is a major catalyst for changing operational capabilities, and the focus is on empowering staff with AI tools, integrating AI into processes, and ensuring it serves the business goals rather than simply cutting costs.
The Unconventional Road to COO with Carys Lawton-Bryce
Q: What was the turning point that pushed you toward COO-level responsibilities?
Taking on broader leadership responsibilities at CNA Hardy and then at Markel, where I could shape end-to-end operational strategy and demonstrate how to drive cross-functional execution, were pivotal moments that aligned with my COO aspirations.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Desk

What is Beyond the Desk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A leadership-focused series featuring senior executives and tech-forward leaders shaping the insurance industry. Common threads include career journeys through claims, operations, HR, and technology, plus candid discussions on leadership, culture, transformation, and the evolving role of AI and data in insurance. Episodes frequently highlight mentorship, resilience, strategic execution, and the balance between growth and people-centric leadership, often with practical takeaways for aspiring leaders and industry practitioners. A standout aspect is the strong emphasis on authentic leadership and real-world pivots from traditional insurers to tech-enabled, people-led organizations. This mix offers listeners practical insights for executive adv... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond the Desk?

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1. The High Performance Podcast
2. The Good, The Bad & The Football
3. The News Agents
4. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Beyond the Desk are there?

Beyond the Desk launched 2 years ago and published 29 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Desk?

Recent guests on Beyond the Desk include:

1. Chris Barclay
2. Sally Peace
3. John Wingate
4. Karis Lawton-Bryce
5. Kirk Southern
6. Nigel Walsh

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