In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Denise Ho, Head of Operations & Technology Risk at ClearBank, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, purpose, and redefining what success really looks like.
From her unexpected pivot from game design to banking, to leading with authenticity in a high-stakes industry, Denise shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and personal truths that shaped her journey.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’ve ever felt like your path wasn’t following the “plan,” this episode will remind you that the detours are often where the magic happens.
Denise’s story is an honest look at growth, resilience, and leading with purpose, proof that your voice and perspective matter more than fitting in.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders sits down with Sandhya Kawar, Chief Risk Officer at The Cambridge Building Society, for an honest and insightful conversation on leadership, resilience, and the power of backing yourself.
From navigating the evolving world of risk to shaping a leadership style rooted in authenticity and inclusion, Sandhya shares the pivotal moments, lessons, and mindsets that have guided her journey to the top.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’ve ever felt unsure of your leadership style, questioned whether you belong in the room, or wondered how to lead through change, this episode is for you. Sandhya’s story is filled with grounded advice and powerful takeaways for women ready to lead with confidence.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders sits down with Harriet Wright, Chief of Staff at Saffron Building Society, for a candid and empowering conversation on self-belief, leadership, and owning your voice in the room.From redefining her role to embracing discomfort and advocating for others, Harriet shares the real, unfiltered version of what it takes to grow, not just professionally, but personally too.
Key Topics:Career progression, leadership, mentorship, self-confidence, women in finance, growth mindset, imposter syndrome, career discomfort, strategic communication, women in leadership
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Dane Pedro, Head of UK Compliance and MLRO at Mollie, for a powerful conversation on confidence, leadership, mentorship, and the courage it takes to show up boldly, both in your career and your life.
From overcoming imposter syndrome to breaking into leadership as a woman in compliance, Dane shares real, actionable insights on trusting the process, embracing the journey, and lifting others along the way.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’ve ever second-guessed your potential, hesitated to go for a role, or wondered how to balance ambition with authenticity, this episode will speak directly to you.
Dane’s story is packed with motivation, vulnerability, and powerful takeaways you won’t want to miss.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Tanja Gihr, former Head of Sustainable Banking EMEA at Barclays Investment Bank, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, authenticity, and building a career rooted in purpose.
From tackling imposter syndrome to creating space for women at the table, Tanja shares how she’s blended toughness with empathy, built teams that thrive and championed sustainability at the highest levels of global banking.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’ve ever wondered how to thrive in competitive industries without losing yourself, or how to balance empathy with assertiveness as a leader, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders sits down with Lucy Morley FCICM, Chief Credit Officer at Tint Financial, to explore the reality of building something from the ground up and doing it with purpose.
From winding down a bank to launching a fintech, Lucy shares what it really takes to scale with integrity, lead through uncertainty, and stay grounded in values.
Why Watch?If you are navigating leadership, launching something new, or just looking for real talk on growth and grit, Lucy’s story will speak to you.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Ellen Watson-Hicks, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at Railpen, for an inspiring and grounded conversation about leadership in regulated industries, embracing compassionate leadership, and building cultures of trust and inclusion.From navigating constant change to challenging outdated norms, Ellen shares her career journey, from accountant to executive, and the mindset shifts that helped her lead with both impact and empathy.
🔥 Why Watch?If you're leading a team, navigating career change, or building a culture of trust and inclusion, this episode is packed with wisdom and real-world insight to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Raluca Efford, COO at Vemi Money, for a powerful conversation on leadership, risk-taking, and reshaping how we define success, especially in fast-moving industries like fintech.From hiring based on potential, to creating inclusive spaces where every voice is heard, Raluca shares the real-life lessons that have guided her journey through executive roles, career pivots, and building high-performing teams.
🔥 Why Watch?If you're ready to rethink how leadership really works, and how to build a career without waiting for permission, this episode will give you the push (and the perspective) you didn’t know you needed.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Clare Pearson, Strategic Advisor at Finexer and Panel Member at the Payment Systems Regulator, for an honest and inspiring conversation about leadership, mentoring, and building a non-linear career in fintech.From transforming struggling teams, to mentoring young girls in STEM, to leading regulatory turnarounds, Clare shares how curiosity, assertiveness, and compassion have fueled her journey, and why she believes there's no one-size-fits-all path to success.
🔥 Why Watch?If you're curious about what real leadership looks like in action, and how to grow a career by staying curious and human, this one’s for you!
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders talks with Indhira Mani, Chief Data Officer at RSA, about her career journey and what real leadership looks like.From mentors who believed in her, to embracing failure as a teacher, to building diverse and inclusive teams, Indi shares lessons that every leader can learn from.
🔥 Why Watch?If you want real insights on leadership, resilience, and diversity in action, this episode is for you
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Layla Hamidian, Head of Property Finance Sales & Servicing, and Emma Bilan, Head of Property Finance at NOMO, to explore what it really means to lead with empathy, build inclusive teams, and balance ambition with authenticity.
🔥 Why Watch?
Whether you're rising in leadership, raising a family, or navigating both at once, Layla and Emma bring honest reflections, practical advice, and a fresh take on what modern success really looks like.
This episode is your reminder that you don’t have to choose between career and life, you can make both happen.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders sits down with Vicky Stubbs, M.D. Compliance at Barclays UK, non-executive director, mentor, and seasoned leader in risk, compliance, and corporate governance.
Together, they dive into how compliance has evolved from a legalistic, tick-box process into a data-driven powerhouse, why building teams around strengths unlocks performance, and how Vicky’s career path, spanning small building societies, fintech, and big banking, shaped her leadership style.
With candour, clarity, and a passion for developing people, Vicky shares her journey from transforming risk functions in small firms to combining compliance expertise with technology in fintech, all while championing authenticity, adaptability, and collaboration.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you want real-world insight into leading authentically, creating strong teams, and turning compliance into a strategic advantage, this episode is for you.
Vicky’s story is rich with practical advice, inspiring career lessons, and strategies you can apply right away.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Victoria Sena, Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee at Truspine Technologies, and Founder of Cherrybank Consulting, to explore how a career built on curiosity, courage and strategy can shape industries and drive impact.From writing policy in Whitehall and representing the UK on energy reform, to leading AI conversations in financial advice and empowering new talent, Victoria shares the mindset behind her multifaceted success.
🔥 Why Watch?Whether you’re early in your career, considering a pivot, or leading change from the top - Victoria’s story is packed with practical lessons and fresh perspective.This episode is your guide to making bold moves, trusting your instincts, and creating space for others to rise.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Helen Bierton, Everyday Banking Director at Lloyds Bank and former Olympic archer, to uncover what it truly takes to balance high performance in sport, leadership and life.With over 25 years in banking and a life shaped by elite competition, Helen shares the mindset and habits that fuel her journey, from the archery field to the executive table.
🔥 Why Watch?If you’ve ever wondered how to bring Olympic-level focus to your everyday work, or how to lead with impact without losing your authenticity, Helen’s story will move you.This episode is packed with practical insights, powerful reflections, and the kind of inspiration that sticks with you.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders sits down with Nidhi Agarwal, Chief Model Risk Officer at Virgin Money and a trailblazer in financial services, AI and inclusive leadership.
Together, they dive into what it takes to stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry, why stepping out of your comfort zone is non-negotiable, and how Nidhi’s love for innovation is shaping the future of banking.
With candour, clarity and a real passion for progress, Nidhi shares her journey from automating analytics at HSBC to reimagining the next generation of model risk, all while championing inclusion and cheering on the next wave of STEM talent.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’re curious about what the future of banking looks like, how AI is reshaping decision-making, or how to lead with both purpose and precision, this episode is for you.
Nidhi’s story is packed with insight, honesty and a serious dose of inspiration.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Claire Barratt, Executive Director at BCB Group, to explore what it really looks like to evolve your career across traditional banking, fintech and crypto, without losing your sense of direction.
With two decades in financial services and a passion for continuous growth, Claire shares how she’s navigated career pivots, championed diversity and embraced the fast-paced world of digital assets, all while staying grounded in her values.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’ve ever felt unsure about making a career change or questioned if your path makes sense, Claire’s story will hit home.
She brings clarity, curiosity and a refreshingly honest take on leadership in a fast-changing industry.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Sue Saunders makes her debut with none other than Kym Hudson, MD of KCH Consultants Ltd, an executive leader with a remarkable track record in banking, operations, and transformation.
Together, they unpack what it really takes to thrive in senior leadership, the power of mentorship, and the personal resilience behind a career built on grit, heart and hard-won wisdom.
With humour, honesty, and insight, Kym shares how she navigated a promotion, pregnancy, and an MBA and why building diverse, values-driven teams is non-negotiable in 2025.
🔥 Why Watch?
If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with impact while staying true to yourself, or how to balance your ambition with the rest of life, this episode will speak to you.
Kym’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention and leadership that lasts.
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Sophie Dupré-Echeverria, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at GIB Asset Management, for a refreshingly honest conversation about bold career moves, authentic leadership and what inclusion really looks like behind the scenes.
With a career spanning global institutions and a deep commitment to purpose-led leadership, Sophie shares how she navigated ambition, broke through barriers in financial services and built a career rooted in growth and integrity.
🔥 Why Watch?
Join Anna Massey in this eye-opening episode of Women Who Make It Happen, featuring Vikki Greatorex, General Counsel at NIBC Bank and a legal leader with deep expertise in cross-border finance, corporate governance and regulatory compliance.
With a career spanning top-tier law firms and in-house leadership, Vikki brings sharp insight, and refreshing honesty, about what it really takes to lead in today’s fast-changing business world.
🔥 Why Watch?
In this episode of Women Who Make It Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Kym Routledge, Group Head of Compliance & UK MLRO at BCB Group, for a candid, powerful conversation about what it really means to lead, empower and grow, without sacrificing who you are.
With decades of experience in financial services and people management, Kym shares the mindset shifts that shaped her career, how she champions diversity from the inside out and why empowerment starts with trust, not control.
🔥 Why Watch?