This episode is something a little bit different. As hosts of this podcast we thought it would fun to turn the mic round and chat about what we've learnt from our guests, our favourites, funny moments and building our own confidence.

This is much about pushing ourselves into our discomfort zone as it is about the podcast; so if you've enjoyed the 20+ podcast episodes take a listen and share your thoughts about it.

Welcome to another empowering episode of Talent Talks, where we spotlight the voices shaping the future of financial services. In this episode, Sarah sits down with the dynamic Anna Lane, CEO of The Wisdom Council and President of Women in Banking and Finance (WiBF). With decades of experience driving innovation in the industry, Anna shares candid insights on ambition, visibility, and the power of sponsorship. Together, they explore what it really takes to stand out and thrive in a traditionally male-dominated space.

Anna also shared the findings of the Yes She Can initiative, a movement helping women take control of their financial futures with confidence and clarity.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, this conversation is packed with practical advice and inspiration to fuel your journey.

Resources

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn

The Wisdom Council

Women in Banking & Finance (WiBF)

Women in Finance Charter Bain Blueprint

EY Report on motivation

Have you ever thought about changing direction during your career, moving into a completely different role or industry? In this episode, Sarah chats to Kevin Doran, CIO at Lloyds Banking Group about pivoting with purpose. The conversation covers finding your golden threads, how to craft a story that connect the dots and what it really means to be authentic. A self confessed failed math teacher, Kevin has a passion for investing and encouraging the next pipeline of talent.

Kevin previously held roles at AJ Bell, where he worked for six years as Managing Director of the D2C platform and investment business – also acting as Group CIO.

Prior to AJ Bell, Kevin was Group Head of Strategy and Investment Research at KBL (now Quintet) Private Bank, having previously held the role of CIO at Brown Shipley.

LinkedIn - Connect with Kevin

In this latest episode Sarah dives into a topic that can truly transform your career - professional networking. Whether you're early in your career or looking to level up, the right network can open doors you didn't even know existed.

Our guest, Jill Henderson, is Head of Workplace Strategic Relationships at Scottish Widows and new sponsor of Her Wealth Network. She was until recently, the Co-Chair for Women in Banking and Finance (WiBF) in Scotland, where she played a pivotal role in fostering a supportive community for women in the financial sector.

Jill has been vocal about the gender pension gap and co-chairs the Scottish Widows Women in Retirement workstream which is closely linked to the Women and Retirement Report; a long running initiative that highlights the financial challenges women face and advocates for change.

Resources

Connect with Jill on LinkedIn

Read more about the Women and Retirement Report

Find out more about Women in Banking Finance (WiBF)

Every been in a role where you feel like you're going nowhere or perhaps you're just not 'feeling' the role any longer. So what do you do? In this episode Sarah Sandle is joined by Jess Harvey, the founder of the Female Mentoring Alliance to talk about why so many women feel trapped in their careers, bust a few myths that might be holding you back and explore what it really takes to move forward.

Jess Harvey is a former Managing Director who specialised in Risk and Compliance and left a 20+ year career in banking to pursue a more meaningful path. After decades of mentoring and leading high-performing teams, she realised that real impact comes from people, not just strategy or spreadsheets.

Now an ICF ACC Accredited, ILM certified coach and NLP practitioner, Jess supports professional women through pivotal career transitions, helping them navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. Drawing on her own experience of change and reinvention, she takes a grounded, personal approach to growth, focusing not just on goals, but on strengthening the inner foundation needed to sustain them.

Her work blends deep insight with practical action, empowering her clients to reconnect with their values, trust their instincts, and lead with purpose.

If you would like to find out more about Jess, you can follow her via LinkedIn, and Instagram

Details about Jess’ signature programmes Career Accelerator & TransformHER as well as her 1-2-1 programme can be found here.

You can also book a complimentary discovery call to see how you can work together here.

Have you ever found yourself out of a job unexpectedly? In this episode we welcome Paul Chapman to talk us through how to coach yourself through redundancy, allowing your self space to breath and make the best decisions for your next move. Paul is a board adviser to Her Wealth Network and a seasoned recruiter with almost 20 years of experience placing top talent in financial services roles. He jointly runs HornbyChapman and is here to hep us understand what to do next, how to stay confident and bounce back stronger.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn or visit his website

Resources

The Henka Institute - https://www.henkainstitute.com/

Hogan psychometric testing - https://www.hoganassessments.com/

There's also The Williams Event - https://thewilliamsevent.com/ - to promote positive mental health via networking.

Shakaila Forbes-Bell is a Fashion Psychologist, consultant, TV commentator, founder of the platform 'Fashion is Psychology' and best-selling author of the book “Big Dress Energy”. Shakaila talks to Chimmy Ngoma about the connection between psychology and what we choose to wear, how that gives us confidence and how we can celebrate our identity through our personal brand.

She uses scientific research to uncover ‘the why behind the what’ when it comes to consumer behaviour and personal style choices. She has worked with global fashion brands, including Depop, Maybelline, Next, eBay and Calvin Klein, and is the current in-house fashion psychologist for Afterpay. She has by-lines in Mr Porter, Marie Claire and i-D, and has been featured in numerous global publications and TV shows, including Forbes, Vogue, ITV, Channel 5, Fox News 5 and many more.

In this latest episode we welcome Akua Opong, a multi-award-winning speaker, who has over 15 years of experience in the financial and tech industries. A Chartered IT Professional with the British Computer Society, she is a recognised thought leader in Social Impact, CSR, ESG, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Gender Equality. She talks to our host Chimmy Ngoma about the importance of allyship and sponsorship and giving back to others.

Akua is a prominent UK advocate, championing women in tech, neurodiversity (ADHD/Dyslexia), accessibility, mental health, and social mobility. As a STEM ambassador, she advances women in STEM. Her leadership extends to charity roles as a Non-Executive Director and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Additionally, her commitment to sports is reflected in her work with England Netball and British Athletics. Passionate about building communities that drive change, Akua inspires global audiences to join her in striving for a more equitable future for women and girls.

Reference:

Akua Opong CITP MBCS FRSA | Instagram | Linktree

LinkedIn