Sree joined Admiral on the Future Leaders Program in September 2020 after completing her MBA at INSEAD. Pre-Admiral she worked in the oil and gas industry in India.
Sree joined Admiral on the Future Leaders Program in September 2020 after completing her MBA at INSEAD. Pre-Admiral she worked in the oil and gas industry in India.
What made Admiral the right choice for you?
Pre-MBA I had worked in the oil and gas industry for seven years, primarily in operations and project management. I wanted a more strategic career in the long-term, so decided to pursue an MBA to allow me to make this shift. My goal after the MBA was to get into a P&L management role.
I focused my search on companies that would provide this and soon realised that the Future Leaders Program at Admiral fit this criterion. Admiral is looking for strong leaders to pioneer multiple projects and business ideas so it seemed like the perfect fit for me.
I also understood the importance of coaching and support. Managing P&L is a huge responsibility and I felt that I would want support to get it right. Admiral offered this, with a direct reporting line to our Group CEO Milena Mondini, as well as regular contact with the CEOs of our international operations, I was assured about my career development and progression.
How did you find the recruitment and induction process?
The recruitment process with Admiral stood out to me for its speed and comprehensiveness. The process was tied up in weeks and it was well-designed, in terms of the people I interacted with. I was able to meet managers from across the business and get a feel for the people and projects that I would be working with on the Future Leaders Program.
Something that I admired was the company’s commitment to the agreed start-date. In a period of deep uncertainty and confusion for businesses globally, Admiral kept their word and I started when promised, working remotely from India until it was possible to relocate.
The induction period was very thorough. At times I felt overwhelmed with the amount of new people and new information, but I am reaping the rewards of this now that I am working on my project and have contacts in all areas of the business to collaborate with.
Did anything surprise you about the company or the industry when you joined?
I was pleasantly surprised by the agility of the company. Coming from oil and gas where the pace was slower and the culture was far more corporate, this was a refreshing change.
I’ve also really enjoyed finding out more about Admiral Pioneer – I had some vague awareness of the diversification of the business but since joining I have seen how much more the business is doing. Both within and beyond insurance, there is so much on the horizon that I am excited about.
I was also blown away by the customer centricity of the business at every level. Insurance is all about the customer: we exist for them and because of them. Working on projects that directly impact the customer has allowed me to put into practice everything that I learned during my MBA.
At the end of the day, what matters is whether we are satisfying our customers and seeing the impact of my work on them is something that my career before Admiral never fully offered.
How did you find joining Admiral as a woman?
I joined in a cohort with two other women, which I was pleased to see. At Admiral having women in leadership is totally normal.
I can approach colleagues at all levels and can be more confident compared to previous companies I have worked for. Seeing diverse role models in the business is extremely motivating. The company is breaking barriers in many ways and this gives me a lot of confidence in the future of my career at Admiral.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on defining Admiral’s long-term (10 year) mobility strategy. We are not just focusing on insurance but also adjacent business models that could be interesting for us.
There are a few exciting projects in the pipeline and it is likely that I will take on some of these before transitioning to other areas of the business.
How have you found working directly with our CEO Milena Mondini?
This is the biggest blessing of the FLP. Not only do we work together closely on my project, but she also takes a keen interest in my personal development. Milena is very skilled at coaching, taking time for it and helping me and the other MBAs develop. I also have a sponsor (CEO of conte.it) who is extremely talented and good at coaching. These regular coaching sessions make a great difference not only to the outputs of my project but also to my career progress.
How did you find the move to Cardiff?
Cardiff is a beautiful city. I absolutely love the location, but it has definitely been a challenge moving to a new city in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Lockdowns and quarantines created interesting obstacles, but I was well-supported by the business and by colleagues who had also moved to the city from overseas. Although we weren’t able to meet in person, I have reached out to employees for useful tips and found their first-hand advice and expertise so valuable.
How have you found the work / life balance on the Future Leaders Program?
I am the social representative for the Future Leaders Program, which shows how seriously the team takes fun. It’s one of the company pillars and we have one or two social events together (albeit virtually for now) every month. It has really reinforced the importance of enjoying the job and taking time to unwind after our hard work and get to know each other.
The Future Leaders Program is definitely not a simple 9-5 job. We are required to stretch ourselves at times, but I have not felt stressed out at all. I feel that I am just outside my comfort zone, which is a nice challenge but is sustainable and isn’t having a negative impact on my life outside of work. I feel like we’ve found the sweet spot!
What advice would you give to MBAs considering Admiral?
Read up on the company thoroughly. On the surface, it is an insurance company. It may seem like a traditional industry with a corporate environment. But on the inside, it’s agile and tech-focused and there is so much more happening beyond the insurance projects. Talking to people in the business and getting a true feel for the company is a great way of bringing that to life. So, my advice would be to invest time in understanding the business, the role and what it will offer you.You can find out more about the journeys our MBAs have taken or alternatively, follow our MBA Leadership page on LinkedIn.
