How important is diversity in the workplace to you, and what value does it bring?
I just love how diverse Zego is. Throughout my entire career, I have never worked in such a diverse place, where employees are not expected to fit into the same mould. A breath of fresh air! There is a real sense of belonging and that if you are different it is welcomed not rejected! At my last job, I was the ‘different’ one, the English lady in a very French team. At Zego I am not the only one with an accent. There are 30+ nationalities! Immense
As a parent, do you think Zego cultivates a culture that values your specific needs?
I work in a fully remote role so I feel that this alone creates less stress for me as I don’t have an added commute to fit into the organisation of my children and my work. I also know that I have never been judged if my child is in the background on Zoom or if they are making noise when they return home and I am still at work. I have been on Zooms where new babies are sitting on parents knees - this is a great and positive experience
What are the transferable skills you use from parenting, in the workplace?
Oh, where do I start...
Listening skills - listening attentively to their animated stories and asking questions. Even if the topic is about fairies in a tree - listening and interacting is key at work too!
Time management and organisation - every day as a parent I am making sure that they have everything they need for the school day, they have masks, snacks, pick up times arranged (French school is all over the place and my oldest has the most topsy turvy timetable in the world). Birthday parties, present buying, sports, sleepovers. It is hard to keep up. It all needs to be organised with military precision haha. Just like the working day!
Teamwork - the family is a team! We all have a part to play to keep peace and harmony and happiness in the home. It is not the responsibility of one person or the parents. Like in the workplace - we are in this together
What’s the biggest challenge of being a working parent?
For me, it was and can still be the challenge of dealing with the guilt of not being able to be there at 4:30 pm to pick the girls up. I have a lot of non-working friends so I also sometimes felt the odd one out. The feeling of missing out.
What piece of advice would you give any parent pursuing a career?
After announcing my pregnancy I had HR of a very well known and prestigious company take me to one side to ask me how I was going to manage with my current role as well as being a mother. I was, I admit, rather taken aback by this. My advice is that you can be a parent and pursue a career. Both can fit side by side with admittedly a lot of organisation and time management. Also, I would say if you decide you wish to have a short or indeed long career break it is totally possible to take some time off and then get back to the working world. There is no right or wrong way.
What’s your role at Zego and where do you sit within the organisation?
I am a Broker Sales Manager working in the French team and living in the South of France.
What did you do before you worked at Zego and where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I was a Sales Manager for AXA working with brokers across the South of France. In 5 years’ time, I would love to think I will be evolving in Zego and being able to use my 25 years of sales experience to train or help others working in the field.
What do you love about your job?
I love the fact that we are creating something almost from scratch and that each deal is a victory, each broker signed is a success story. I love that my voice and opinion count and that we are constantly pushing forward for results together as a team. There is a real energy and a real buzz even remote working
Who have you learnt the most from at Zego so far? What have you learnt from them?
I learned so much from everyone. And I am still learning every single day.
What advice would you give to a Zegon on their first day?
Contact as many people across the business as you can. Ask all your questions and don’t be shy!
How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do now?
She would be over the moon. She wanted to live in France and here I am!! Dreams can come true.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Tell us about your typical working day…
I honestly don’t have a typical day and that's why I love it! Some of my days are full of calling new brokers and signing Terms of Business. Some days are full of building files to send to our Underwriters for pricing. Some days I am out in the field at seminars presenting our offer to a room full of people or networking at an exhibition.
If you could entice one (famous?) person, alive or dead, to work at Zego, who would it be and why?
J K Rowling is a huge inspiration of mine and a great example to everyone I feel (the empire she has created from scratch and the joy she has brought to millions of people through her books and the movies).
If you had unlimited money to start your own business, what would it be?
I would open a really cool Gin bar in Cannes!!
What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?
Watching Harry Potter movies with my girls snuggled on the sofa. PJs all day long! Or if it is hot then sunbathing by the pool with a book and a cold glass of rosé.
Where’s the next place on your travel bucket list and why?
New York is my plan for next year. I have always wanted to visit this city and have somehow never managed to get around to it. Closer to home and already n the diary, I will be heading to Newcastle, Northumberland and then London with my girls soon and I cannot wait. I miss Blighty!!
What was the last thing you read?
My daughter’s spelling test text haha