Her Money. Her Work. Her Power: From Survival to Independence

Her Money. Her Work. Her Power: From Survival to Independence

Sarah chats to Lily McNally about her experience with money, what it means to be truly financially independent and how a frog and an elephant both feature!  Lily is the design lead for the Scottish Widows app at Lloyds Banking Group. She’s all about designing experiences that are straightforward, engaging and delightful. To meet users where they are, help them do the things they want to do easily, and leave them feeling lighter.  In the last few years, Lily has used her own lived experience and storytelling superpowers to really focus in on the unique barriers women face when it comes to financial independence - to support women in the UK to reach a better financial future. Lily is also a strong advocate for greater representation in decision-making. She believes we need more women - and more lived experiences - “in the rooms where big decisions are made”, ensuring financial products and services truly reflect the people they serve. Connect with Lily on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-mcnally-27b109a7/].

Her Money. her Work. Her Power. Money 101 for your first payslip

In this first episode of season 7 Sarah chats with Rebecca Leiper, who is an Engagement Consultant at Scottish Widows, specialising in Workplace Pension engagement. She talks through getting her first payslip and why it pays to understand all of those different calculations, the importance of saving early into your pension and making and sticking to budget! Rebecca  works closely with employers, advisers, and internal teams to design and deliver impactful campaigns, digital journeys, and member experiences that improve financial outcomes. Rebecca is particularly passionate about women’s financial wellbeing and closing the gender pension gap, contributing to industry reports, events, and thought leadership. Externally, Rebecca is involved in various networks within the industry including Scottish Financial Enterprise Young Professionals and Gender Equality Networks, Women in Banking and Finance, Future Asset and Her Wealth Network. Scottish Widows Women & Retirement Report 2025 [https://www.scottishwidows.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/reports/women-retirement-report.html] Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-leiper-025b34237/]

Finding the bravery to be the change you want to see: How do we protect the future

In this episode, Laura chats with Kate Monserrate, founder of Simplify Consulting, who shares her journey of building a values-led consultancy through risk-taking, resilience, and a strong commitment to people and culture.  She reflects on personal challenges—including leaving an abusive relationship and navigating cancer treatment—and how these experiences shaped her mindset, driving her to lead with courage, prioritise wellbeing, and create a more inclusive workplace for women.  The conversation highlights the importance of bravery, adaptability, and continuous learning in a fast-changing industry, encouraging listeners to embrace discomfort, leverage their networks, and actively shape their careers and the future of financial services. Kate Monserrate is an accomplished leader and experienced consultant with over 20 years’ experience in financial services helping businesses deliver and embed large scale transformational change across the value change from asset managers, technology and platform providers to administrators and advisor networks.  In 2014 Kate co-founded Simplify Consulting [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplifyconsulting.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.sandle%40lloydsbanking.com%7C6870118de9ce4188bac008de6364d598%7C3ded2960214a46ff8cf4611f125e2398%7C0%7C0%7C639057481972434746%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=R7XVCVVJmzkn0Yn3akb54%2BgF5ZmMVxCkxfF1J0Unya0%3D&reserved=0] to deliver maximum value to clients including several key players within the wealth industry applying core values of simplicity, professionalism, and tenacious delivery.  Using her personal experience as a female leader and business owner, Kate understands and advocates for diversity and inclusion to break down barriers and promote fairness in workplace opportunities.  Kate’s LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemonserrate/]  Simplify LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplify-consulting/]  Gender Gap Whitepaper - PowerPoint Presentation [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplifyconsulting.co.uk%2Fcontent%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F12%2FGender-Gap-White-Paper.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.sandle%40lloydsbanking.com%7C6870118de9ce4188bac008de6364d598%7C3ded2960214a46ff8cf4611f125e2398%7C0%7C0%7C639057481972497645%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PkQjLftIdZPqemrFl6utxB562MPd4eH%2BsKjS7byYLdI%3D&reserved=0]

Preserving human values in the dawn of a new tech era: How do we protect the future

This episode explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace, with Annabel Gillard emphasising the importance of preserving trust, ethics, and human value in an increasingly digital world.  She talks to Laura about how AI is a powerful but imperfect “prediction generator,” highlighting both its opportunities and risks, including bias, job disruption, and the potential for dehumanisation if not carefully designed and governed.   Ultimately, the conversation is a call to action - encouraging individuals and organisations to engage with AI proactively, using curiosity, community, and courage to shape a more human-centred and positive future. Annabel Gillard is the co-founder of LSE LSE FORGOOD [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fconversationsonai.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.sandle%40lloydsbanking.com%7C56a1a16dfbcf447193f608de63639c74%7C3ded2960214a46ff8cf4611f125e2398%7C0%7C0%7C639057476924527115%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=F8YAOmsOucQ2iZCQz1ptYcEgi7c5tHGbCQ5iJURBznk%3D&reserved=0] initiative advising corporate clients on ethical applications of behavioural science, and 'Conversations on AI' [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forgoodframework.com%2Fabout&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.sandle%40lloydsbanking.com%7C56a1a16dfbcf447193f608de63639c74%7C3ded2960214a46ff8cf4611f125e2398%7C0%7C0%7C639057476924552824%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=b%2B0koZTLG7UAqhCBI9mc0Kj9ODrPAwHByKsHp6LUmII%3D&reserved=0], a cross-sector tech ethics network. She also leads on AI ethics, organisational culture and ethics-by-design for Brave Governance [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brave-governance.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.sandle%40lloydsbanking.com%7C56a1a16dfbcf447193f608de63639c74%7C3ded2960214a46ff8cf4611f125e2398%7C0%7C0%7C639057476924581309%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Vs3Gi3KBcSbqJkor9%2FcSKJuHqFAtNuHc3i%2FOg5Ny0wc%3D&reserved=0] and Co-Labs Global [https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.co-labs.global%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.sandle%40lloydsbanking.com%7C56a1a16dfbcf447193f608de63639c74%7C3ded2960214a46ff8cf4611f125e2398%7C0%7C0%7C639057476924606711%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mglArUqrr7vVoKALsjCN1Ik2ICNeq9%2B4bgd2WuoVr8Y%3D&reserved=0].   Previously she spent over 20 years building institutional businesses in asset management and she serves on the City of London Corporation's 'Women Pivoting to Digital' taskforce, the Trustee Board of Clore Social Leadership, and the advisory committees of Blueprint For Better Business and the Institute for Business Ethics. She has an MA in Philosophy and AI, an MSc in Behavioural Science and is a CFA charter holder.  Resources: Stuart Russell Reith Lectures [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001216k] 4 x podcasts   Rachel Caldicutt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelcoldicutt/] and the Society [https://www.careful.industries/blog/2025-4-survey-society-for-hopeful-technologists] for Hopeful Technologists (survey closed but there's a link to the newsletter)  Jon Alexander [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-alexander-11b66345/][http:///] and Citizens [https://www.newcitizenproject.com/]  Anthropy [https://anthropy.uk/] - Inspiring a better Britain   Conversations on AI website [https://conversationsonai.org/]: - come and join the conversations!

Behind the Mic: Reflections From the Hosts - Growing in Your Career Journey

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.