Episode Guest:

James Brady is the Property Divisional Director at Hiscox, where he leads underwriting and strategy across the UK property market. With over 18 years at Hiscox, James has built teams, led growth, and championed insurance as one of the world’s best-kept career secrets.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:41 James on demystifying insurance careers

1:12 First job and early lessons in pensions

2:33 How to stand out in a competitive job market

3:28 Knowing your differentiator in interviews

4:40 When a “good vibe” job isn’t the right fit

5:28 Why you should never leave without another role lined up

6:21 The role of recruiters and how to spot a good one

8:12 Why you must drive your own career

9:41 The non-linear path to success

10:46 What Hiscox taught James about opportunity

12:22 Why insurance is the world’s best-kept career secret

13:36 The variety of careers inside insurance

14:57 How the Lloyd’s of London market works

16:58 Local vs London underwriting explained

18:56 Why James has stayed 18 years at Hiscox

20:39 What makes a great manager

22:17 The hardest and most rewarding part of managing people

22:53 Moving from London to Manchester — a career-defining opportunity

24:20 What to consider before saying yes to a big move

26:09 Rebuilding the Manchester team and brand

27:31 The power of consistency and being as good as your word

28:28 Specialising in media and technology insurance

29:49 Insuring content creators, designers, and media giants

31:07 Why join Hiscox and the insurance industry today

32:46 James’s duvet flip – what gets him out of bed in the morning

Episode Partner

Hiscox, a leading international insurer with more than 3,000 employees worldwide. The company is known for specialist insurance solutions and a strong commitment to customer service.

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