22 Years, One Company: The Career Strategy No One Talks About

In this episode of Make Minutes Matter, Karen Gilhooly sits down with Sarah Murrow, President & CEO of Allianz Trade Americas, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a meaningful, long-term career in a world that often rewards constant movement. Sarah shares her 22-year journey with one company, spanning continents, roles, and leadership levels, not as a story of staying put, but of constantly evolving. From saying yes to uncomfortable opportunities to leading a major IT transformation she initially got wrong, her experience offers an honest look at growth, missteps, and the mindset required to lead at the highest level. Karen and Sarah explore the hidden “equity” professionals build over time; credibility, relationships, and influence, and why walking away from it isn’t always as simple as it seems. They also unpack the tension between stability and ambition, the reality of leading through constant change, and why caring deeply about your work remains one of the most underrated competitive advantages. Throughout the episode, they reflect on navigating leadership as women in traditionally male-dominated industries, focusing less on barriers and more on what it actually takes to earn, and own, your seat at the table. This episode is for anyone questioning whether to stay or go, push forward or pivot. Because building a career isn’t about following trends, it’s about making intentional choices that compound over time. Be sure to subscribe to Make Minutes Matter for more conversations about leadership, reinvention, and making every minute count. Dive deeper and check out Karen Gilhooly’s book, The Three Bucket Leader:https://a.co/d/08vuNA9 This show is Produced by Rainbow Creative (https://www.rainbowcreative.co/)  with Matthew “MoJo” Jones as Executive Producer, and Nathan Wheatley as Editor. For sponsorship opportunities email [email protected]  0:00 – Introduction: IT transformation failure & the people lesson 0:26 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 0:49 – Building a career at one organization for 22 years 2:49 – Advice for choosing the right company 10:13 – Advice for new joiners: say yes, stay curious, take risks 17:52 – Breaking the glass ceiling in insurance & trade finance 20:52 – The importance of caring about your work & finding purpose 23:51 – Leading through disruption, change fatigue & new joiners 26:22 – The biggest career failure: people-first transformation 30:49 – The power of admitting mistakes & storytelling as a leader 32:41 – Your first 6 months in a new role: ask every question 34:25 – Outro & Follow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices