E144 - Amanda Blanc: Finding your voice and speaking up

This episode is the start of our CEO Series, in which we will be deep diving into what it takes to be a CEO.

Amanda Blanc is a Welsh businesswoman and the current CEO of Aviva, stepping into the role in July 2020. Amanda grew up in Rhondda valley in Wales, both her grandparents were miners. In this episode she shares how her childhood in Rhondda instilled in her the importance of community, freedom, happiness and fun. 

Amanda discusses what she has learnt from her role as CEO and how she approaches leading a million pound company. Communication is key for Amanda, she approaches every conversation with an open mind, wanting to learn how she can improve her work and in turn, the company. During Covid, Amanda would hold virtual town-halls in which she would invite colleagues to share their thoughts with her directly. A key learning for Amanda is, “be your own customer”. You need to use your own service, see how it functions as a user - the good and the bad parts. 

In this episode Jake, Damian and Amanda also discuss emotional intelligence, why she will always choose the hard option and how she dealt with being told she was not “the man for the job”.

Thank you to PwC for sponsoring this special CEO Series. PwC’s purpose is to build trust and solve important problems, and their global strategy - The New Equation - is bringing this to life for their clients, people and society. By combining technology with human ingenuity, passion and experience, PwC works with organisations to deliver more intelligent, sustained outcomes.

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###Summary of the Podcast Episode###

In this episode, Amanda Blanc, the CEO of Aviva, shares her insights on leadership, communication, and the importance of resilience in the corporate world.

1. **Defining High Performance:**
- For Amanda Blanc, high performance is achieved through effective execution of strategies.
- She emphasizes the need for clarity in communication and breaking down goals into measurable components.

2. **The Secret to Effective Execution:**
- Blanc stresses the importance of real clarity of message and setting three simple goals that investors, colleagues, and the board can get behind.
- She believes that what gets measured gets done, and regular monitoring of targets is crucial for successful execution.

3. **Origins and Resilience:**
- Blanc grew up in the Rhondda Valley in Wales, where both her grandparents were miners.
- She credits her upbringing with instilling in her the values of community, freedom, happiness, and fun.
- She highlights the importance of resilience, which she learned from her family and the challenges faced by the mining community during the miners' strikes.

4. **Communication and Feedback:**
- Blanc emphasizes the significance of open communication and being a good listener.
- She encourages leaders to approach every conversation with an open mind and a willingness to learn and improve.
- She acknowledges the challenge of dealing with negative feedback, particularly online comments, but stresses the need to focus on constructive criticism and not take it too personally.

5. **The Importance of Resilience:**
- Blanc believes that resilience is essential for CEOs, as they are constantly under scrutiny and face criticism.
- She emphasizes the need to be able to take feedback and learn from mistakes, rather than letting negativity hold you back.

6. **Choosing the Hard Option:**
- Blanc often chooses the harder option in her career, even when it means taking risks and putting her reputation on the line.
- She attributes this to her confidence in her abilities as a leader, communicator, and problem-solver.
- She believes that having a strong support system, including her family and colleagues, helps her take calculated risks.

7. **Mitigating Risk and Playing to Win:**
- Blanc mitigates risk by surrounding herself with a strong team of talented individuals.
- She emphasizes the importance of having the right attitude and core values in team members, even if it means compromising on certain skills.
- She believes that investing time in building a strong team is crucial for long-term success.

8. **The Importance of Emotional Intelligence:**
- Blanc discusses the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership.
- She believes that leaders need to be self-aware and able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
- She emphasizes the importance of empathy and the ability to connect with people on a personal level.

9. **Dealing with Being Told She Was "Not the Man for the Job":**
- Blanc shares an experience where she was told she was "not the man for the job" due to her gender.
- She felt offended and used this experience to motivate her to work harder and prove her capabilities.
- She encourages women to stand up for themselves and not let stereotypes or discrimination hold them back.

10. **The Overall Message:**
- Blanc concludes the podcast by emphasizing the importance of authenticity, resilience, and the ability to learn from mistakes.
- She believes that leaders should strive to be their own customers and use their own services to understand the customer experience.
- She encourages leaders to be open to change and to continuously improve their skills and knowledge.

# Episode Summary:

This episode of the podcast series focuses on the role of a CEO and leadership qualities. The guest speaker is Amanda Blanc, the CEO of Aviva, who shares her insights and experiences.

**Key Points:**

1. **Communication and Openness:** Amanda emphasizes the importance of effective communication and maintaining an open mind in leadership. She believes in creating a culture where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, even if they differ from her own.

2. **Be Your Own Customer:** To truly understand the customer experience, Amanda suggests that leaders should use their own company's products or services. This firsthand experience can provide valuable insights into areas that need improvement.

3. **Emotional Intelligence:** Emotional intelligence is crucial for successful leadership. Amanda highlights the ability to read and understand the emotions of others, as well as managing one's own emotions, as essential skills for navigating the complexities of leadership.

4. **Making Tough Decisions:** When faced with difficult decisions, Amanda emphasizes the need for decisiveness and the willingness to make tough choices. She stresses that while these decisions may be challenging, they are necessary for the long-term success of the organization.

5. **Dealing with Controversial Feedback:** Amanda shares her experience of receiving negative feedback, including being told she was "not the man for the job." She emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to learn from criticism, rather than letting it hold one back.

6. **Values and Behaviors:** Amanda discusses the importance of establishing and communicating clear values and behaviors within the organization. She believes that these values should guide decision-making and actions at all levels of the company.

7. **Coaching and Development:** Amanda views coaching as an essential part of leadership. She regularly engages in performance conversations with her team members, providing feedback and support to help them grow and develop.

8. **Diversity and Inclusion:** Amanda acknowledges the lack of diversity in leadership positions, particularly for women and minorities. She calls for more action and accountability from organizations to address this issue and create a more inclusive workplace.

9. **Role Models and Imposter Syndrome:** Amanda emphasizes the importance of role models, especially for young girls and women, to see themselves in leadership positions. She also discusses her own experiences with imposter syndrome and how she overcomes it by focusing on her strengths and contributions.

10. **Community and Background:** Amanda reflects on her upbringing in the Rhondda Valley in Wales and how the values she learned there, such as community, freedom, happiness, and fun, have influenced her leadership style.

**Overall Message:**

Amanda Blanc's leadership philosophy centers around effective communication, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to values and behaviors. She emphasizes the importance of being open to feedback, making tough decisions, and fostering a culture of coaching and development. Amanda also highlights the need for greater diversity and inclusion in leadership positions and the role of role models in inspiring young people to pursue leadership roles.

# Podcast Episode Summary:

**Title:** The CEO Series: Amanda Blanc - The Aviva CEO

**Guest:** Amanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva

**Host:** Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes

**Sponsor:** PwC

**Key Points:**

1. **Early Life and Influences:**
- Amanda Blanc grew up in the Rhondda Valley, Wales.
- Her upbringing instilled in her the importance of community, freedom, happiness, and fun.
- Her grandparents were miners, and she learned the value of hard work and resilience from them.

2. **Leadership and Communication:**
- Amanda Blanc emphasizes the importance of communication and openness in her leadership style.
- She approaches every conversation with an open mind and seeks to learn and improve.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, she held virtual town halls to invite colleagues to share their thoughts and concerns directly with her.

3. **Customer-Centric Approach:**
- Amanda Blanc believes in the importance of "being your own customer."
- She uses Aviva's products and services herself to understand how they function from a user's perspective.
- This approach helps her identify areas for improvement and deliver better customer experiences.

4. **Emotional Intelligence and Decision-Making:**
- Amanda Blanc highlights the significance of emotional intelligence in leadership.
- She values the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
- She believes that emotional intelligence helps leaders make better decisions and build stronger relationships with their teams.

5. **Overcoming Challenges and Stereotypes:**
- Amanda Blanc has faced challenges throughout her career, including being told she was "not the man for the job."
- She has overcome these challenges by being resilient, persistent, and focused on her goals.
- She encourages others to challenge stereotypes and to never let anyone tell them what they cannot achieve.

6. **Importance of Work-Life Balance:**
- While Amanda Blanc is dedicated to her work, she also values her personal life and family.
- She believes that it is important to find a balance between work and personal commitments.
- She enjoys activities like cycling and spending time with her family to recharge and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

**Overall Message:**

Amanda Blanc's journey as CEO of Aviva highlights the importance of strong leadership, open communication, emotional intelligence, and resilience. She emphasizes the need for leaders to be customer-centric and to challenge stereotypes. Blanc also stresses the significance of work-life balance and personal well-being for high-performance individuals.