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 the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Chris Barclay, CEO of Superscript, for one of the most candid career conversations the show has delivered. Chris traces 20+ years across claims, loss adjusting, commercial leadership, and insurtech including stints at Norwich Union, Crawford & Company, Thistle, and Marsh before joining Superscript as Chief Commercial Officer and being appointed CEO just over a year ago.

Chris opens up about the Glassdoor review that triggered genuine anxiety, the imposter syndrome that hit when he became CEO, the six months he spent trying to be someone else, and what pulled him back to himself. He also shares his take on AI in digital broking Superscript's mantra of "enabled by tech, powered by people" along with his three-year growth roadmap and a frank view on the talent and work ethic challenges facing insurance today.

Key topics include: non-traditional career paths in insurance, claims as a leadership foundation, turnaround leadership, CEO transition, mental health and resilience, insurtech strategy, and AI in broking.

If you work in insurance technology, broking, or insurtech or you're an ambitious leader trying to figure out what the next step looks like then this one is for you.

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 executive leadership.

Sally shares how embracing opportunities, rather than following a rigid career plan, helped shape her journey into one of the most unique leadership roles in the insurance market.

The conversation explores leadership, company culture, mentoring, diversity, flexible working, AI's impact on talent, and why saying "yes" before you feel completely ready can be one of the most powerful career decisions you'll ever make.

Whether you're leading teams today or aspiring to leadership tomorrow, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest reflections.

• Why you don't need a five or ten-year career plan.
• How sideways career moves often create the best leaders.
• The difference between management and leadership.
• Why confidence grows after saying yes not before.
• How Apollo approaches culture and flexible working.
• The role HR should really play in shaping a business.
• Why communication is leadership's most important skill.
• How AI is changing talent development in insurance.
• Why mentoring and coaching can accelerate your growth.

Careers don't have to follow a straight line embrace opportunities that stretch you.

Great leaders listen more than they speak.

Culture isn't created by HR alone it's everyone's responsibility.

Flexible working works best when it's built on trust rather than rigid policies.

Confidence comes from doing difficult things, not waiting until you feel ready.

AI won't replace great people but it will change the skills organisations need.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe to Beyond the Desk, leave a review and share it with someone in your network.

You can connect with Mark Thomas and Sally Peace on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

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 than replace them.

John shares his fascinating journey from developing software for Rolls-Royce jet engines and military systems to leading one of the insurance industry's most innovative technology teams.

Together, they discuss AI, machine learning, cyber insurance, leadership, communication, and what it really takes to build products that solve meaningful problems.

Whether you're interested in technology, insurance, engineering or leadership, this episode offers practical insights into the future of work and innovation.

• How John transitioned from aerospace engineering into insurance.
• Why Envelop Risk has built its own AI-powered underwriting platform.
• How AI is changing software development and insurance.
• Why technology should help people make better decisions—not replace them.
• The biggest opportunities AI presents for insurers.
• Why communication is an underrated technical skill.
• What makes a great Chief Technology Officer.
• How to build high-performing technical teams.
• Why solving the right problem is more important than solving it quickly.

Great technology starts with understanding the problem—not the tool.

AI will increase productivity by helping people do more, not simply replacing jobs.

Communication is one of the most valuable skills technical leaders can develop.

The best CTOs stay close to technology while empowering their teams.

Innovation comes from combining technical expertise with deep industry knowledge.

Long-term career success comes from choosing interesting problems rather than chasing titles.

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-scale operational transformation across one of the insurance industry's leading organisations, Karis shares how curiosity, calculated risk-taking and a commitment to continuous learning shaped her career.

They discuss why leadership isn't about having all the answers, how AI is transforming insurance operations, and the qualities that separate great COOs from good ones.

Whether you're aspiring to senior leadership, navigating career decisions, or interested in the future of operations and AI, this episode is packed with practical insights.

• Why the best careers rarely follow a straight line.
• How stepping outside your comfort zone accelerates growth.
• The lessons Karis learned managing teams outside her technical expertise.
• Why adding value matters more than chasing job titles.
• How AI is changing the role of the modern COO.
• Why Markel rolled out Microsoft Copilot across its workforce.
• The balance between strategic thinking and operational execution.
• The leadership qualities Karis believes every executive should develop.
• Practical advice for anyone aspiring to a C-suite role.

Take opportunities that help you learn even if they don't make perfect sense on paper.

Great leaders don't need all the technical answers; they need to ask the right questions.

AI should empower people, not replace them.

Career progression isn't about climbing a ladder it's about building experience.

Humility, curiosity and a willingness to get your hands dirty remain some of the most valuable leadership traits.

From a working-class upbringing in South Derbyshire to Chief People Officer at Howden, Kirk Southern shares the experiences, lessons and leadership principles that have shaped his career.

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Kirk discusses his unconventional route into HR, why curiosity and humility have been the biggest drivers of his success, and how the role of the Chief People Officer has evolved from operational HR into a strategic business partner.

The conversation explores the future of leadership in an AI-driven world, why insurance remains one of the City's best-kept secrets, and what tomorrow's leaders need to succeed.

Whether you're aspiring to the C-suite, leading teams today, or simply interested in the future of work, this episode is packed with practical insights.

• Kirk's journey from recruitment consultant to Chief People Officer at Howden
• Why taking a step backwards can sometimes be the fastest way forwards
• The importance of mentorship, curiosity and learning throughout your career
• How the Chief People Officer role has evolved into a strategic leadership position
• Why insurance is one of the most rewarding industries to build a career in
• How AI is changing work and why human judgement will become even more valuable
• The leadership skills organisations will need over the next decade
• Practical advice for anyone aspiring to reach executive leadership
• Why commercial understanding is essential for future leaders
• The leadership trait Kirk believes matters more than any other: humility

• Great careers are built through patience, not shortcuts.
• AI should enhance human capability not replace it.
• Commercial awareness is one of the biggest differentiators for aspiring executives.
• The best leaders remain curious, humble and open to feedback.
• Strong organisational cultures are built by investing in people first.

Guest: Kirk Southern

Chief People Officer at Howden

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-southern-mcipd-01788118/

Host: Mark Thomas

Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Invecta Group

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markthomas0/

Subscribe to Beyond the Desk for conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance.

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Nigel Walsh, Global Head of Insurance at ServiceNow.

Nigel shares his journey from writing 210 letters trying to secure his first position at the start of his career to key leadership positions at some of the world's leading firms, including Capgemini, Deloitte, Google and his current position at ServiceNow.

The conversation explores Nigel’s early route into technology, his move into insurance, the lessons he drew from consulting and global technology organisations, and what it was like to help shape Google Cloud’s approach to the insurance market.

Mark and Nigel also discuss the next phase of AI in insurance, why the industry is moving beyond isolated pilots, and how agents, workflow orchestration and automation could reshape underwriting, claims and operations over the next 12–18 months.

Guest: Nigel Walsh

Global Head of Insurance at ServiceNow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelwalsh/

Host: Mark Thomas

Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Invecta Group

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markthomas0/

Subscribe to Beyond the Desk for conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance.

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Chris Pearce, Chief Data Officer at esure.

Chris shares his fascinating journey from a childhood love of video games to leading one of the UK’s most advanced data and AI transformations in the insurance industry.

We explore Chris’s academic path from mathematics to a PhD in epidemiology, his early career spanning banking, automotive, and aggregators, and his progression into insurance leadership. Along the way, Chris gives a brutally honest view on the evolution of the CDO role, the hype and reality of AI in production, and how esure has embedded over a dozen generative AI use cases into the frontline of its business.

Key topics discussed:

• Why video games sparked Chris’s interest in problem-solving and led to a career in data
• What a PhD in epidemiology taught him about resilience, research, and learning how little you know
• His early career in banking, Mercedes-Benz, and MoneySuperMarket and how each built his leadership toolkit
• Entering insurance with Hastings Direct and building data science teams across pricing, fraud, and claims
• Becoming CDO at esure and building an enterprise-wide data and AI capability
• The differences between 1st-gen and 2nd-gen Chief Data Officer roles
• What most people misunderstand about driving value from data science
• How to thrive as a leader without losing your technical edge
• What 16 GenAI use cases in production actually looks like in practice
• Where the CDO role is heading, and why agentic AI is next

This is a brilliant insight into the mindset and career history of a modern, new CDO and what's next for data leaders in the insurance sector.

Connect with us:

• Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect Here
• Follow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow Here
• Watch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube Here
• Chris on LinkedIn: Connect Here

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧

Sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams.

In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by David Clamp Founder of The Camelot Network, a network of independent consultants serving the insurance sector.

From apprentice electronic engineer to insurance transformation leader and founder of a thriving network of 150+ independent experts, David Clamp’s career path has had some key milestones and changes in direction. In this episode, David shares the pivotal moments that shaped his journey, the birth of The Camelot Network, and his mission to reinvent what it means to be an independent advisor in insurance.

We dive into:

• Leaving corporate life and embracing risk at 50
• Building The Camelot Network from a pub meetup to a market force
• Bridging the gap between insurance and insurtech
• What makes a successful independent consultant
• The future of AI, data, and operating models in insurance

Connect with us:

• Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect Here
• Follow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow Here
• Watch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube Here
• David on LinkedIn: Connect Here

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧

Sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com