Hélène Stanway on the Leap from Leadership to Independent Advisor
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Hélène Stanway independent advisor and former Head of Digital & Innovation at AXA XL. With a career spanning more than 30 years across reinsurance, operations, digital innovation, and data, Hélène has carved a truly unique path through the insurance industry.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we unpack her zigzag career journey, how curiosity led her into the world of insurtech and emerging tech, and why she's convinced insurance doesn’t have a technology problem but an adoption problem. From reinsurance recoveries in Farnborough to spearheading global innovation strategies and now advising organisations across the market, Helene shares wisdom on leading transformation, creating space for change, and making the leap to work independently.
Key Topic Discussed:
- How Hélène intentionally chose insurance (yes, really!) and started in outwards reinsurance
- The pivotal moment RPA sparked her passion for innovation
- Transitioning from global operations to a digital innovation leadership role at AXA XL
- Why success in innovation starts with structure, not just ideas
- The secret to driving adoption in legacy-heavy environments
- What most insurers are getting wrong about AI and talent strategy
- Why insurers must think beyond efficiency and start solving for growth
- The reality of becoming an independent advisor - and the challenges of BD without playing golf
- The power of breadth over linear career paths
- Hélène’s call for insurance to become service-led, not just product-led
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New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. 🎧
