002: The Power of Networking with Bamishe Alao

Why is it so important to build a personal network within your company and across the industry early in your insurance career? What steps should you take to overcome a fear towards networking events? How can graduate schemes facilitate steady career progression? In this episode, we’re thrilled to be speaking with Bamishe Alao, who is currently enrolled on the WTW CRB Graduate Programme, in the Director and Officers Liability team. In conversation with  Sandra Lewin, Bamishe explains the innerworkings of her graduate scheme and her reasoning behind pursuing an insurance career. Furthermore, she highlights the profound importance of establishing a broad network early in your career, thereby cementing professional connections that will follow you across your progression in the industry.   Quote of the Episode “I think everyone should be networking at any point in their career. Whether you're trying to change industry, move into insurance, move your way up insurance, you have to just know how to… not market yourself, but put yourself out there. Because if no one knows who you are, how are you going to find opportunities for volunteering, or leadership roles, or anything besides your day-to-day role.” Throughout the episode, Bamishe elucidates the importance of networking to cement your reputation in the industry. She also notes that networking will remain a vital skill across your insurance career, particularly if and when you decide to change roles or companies. The connections that you establish within your own company or at external networking events may prove to be vital if you later decide to pursue a new role. Immersing yourself in these networks will automatically open a lot of doors for you that you may otherwise not have even known existed.   Key Takeaways During Bamishe’s three-week-long graduate induction, she attended three talks demonstrating how to conduct oneself at networking events. She argues that this training was fundamental to building her own personal network and in encouraging her to take up leadership positions in company networks. She highlights that joining a network early in one’s career is key, as this is when you have the most time to get involved in events and to build new connections. By immersing yourself in these networks whilst simultaneously cultivating your own personal network, your name becomes more broadly known across the industry, establishing your presence, after which it’s much easier to take a step back and embrace the opportunities that these connections can unlock. Cultivating an extensive network in this way can sound daunting. If you have very few, or even no connections within the industry, it’s easy to feel like an outsider when attending networking events, or that your hierarchy within your company disqualifies you from making connections higher up the chain. However, Bamishe suggests that it’s crucial not to conflate your industry title or position with your individual value. She argues that the best way to approach networking events is to try and find common ground with whoever you might be speaking to. ‘How did you get into insurance?’ is always a great icebreaker, and asking general personal questions can be a great way to establish something in common with someone before veering into more business-oriented conversation. Focusing on who they are as a human being, first and foremost, is much more likely to lead to a fruitful personal and business relationship. That being said, you might not always be able to identify something in common with everyone, and that’s okay. You don’t need to overthink every networking attempt you make. Your seniority (or lack thereof) within a company is never as important as your passion and commitment to your career. Bamishe argues, ‘don’t let anyone tell you that your experience is too little’ with regard to the goals you are pursuing. The connections you forge across your career may later become instrumental, and being headstrong and