EPISODE · Sep 2, 2025 · 1H 4M
Barbara Schonhofer & Carmen Powell: Empowerment, Leadership, Inclusion & Future Growth
from Scouting for Growth · host Sabine VdL
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Barbara Schonhofer and Carmen Powell, two influential voices who have navigated and thrived in the ever-evolving insurance industry. In today’s conversation, we explore the sector’s evolution, the future of work, and best practices for continuous networking and development. KEY TAKEAWAYS When I started my career in 1972, men didn’t know how to behave as women came into their own in business and took frontline roles. It wasn’t so much misogyny that I faced; it was more like old geezers having a laugh; they didn’t know how to welcome women into their workplace because it was less usual. I found my way by being more humorous and smarter in my responses, so I sidestepped a lot of the banter in my early career. There were only a few predatory men; most just didn’t know how to behave in front of women. I have always celebrated being different. Anything that was an idiosyncrasy was put down to the fact that I was Spanish, and that suited me fine! That served me well because I didn’t have to follow the norms. However, when I interviewed for a very large organisation in the UK, the HR director asked me how I would cope with men making a pass at me. I said that I was coming here to work and that if anybody crossed the line, I knew how to deal with that. BEST MOMENTS ‘The men that were kindest to me didn’t help me, and the ones that gave me a tough time did business with me. I learned to keep my friends close and my enemies closer.’ ‘The most wonderful boss I had was a woman, the rest have been men, but, like Barbara, they gave me a hard time and pushed my boundaries enough, so I knew I was resilient enough.’ ‘With everything, you take two steps forward and one step back.’ ABOUT THE GUESTS Barbara Schonhofer’s career in financial services covers four decades, operating as a business leader and later as an executive search consultant to the insurance markets. When she began her career, she set out to better understand the complexities of much-needed culture change in insurance. During her years in financial services as an executive search consultant, Barbara challenged conventional practices and identified the need to bring together women leaders in the London Market to network. Alongside ISC-Group, Barbara co-founded and co-Chaired GAIN, a non-profit membership organisation that encourages a better understanding and inclusion of neurodiverse individuals in the insurance industry. She is a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, where she co-founded its female network, iWIN. LinkedIn Carmen Powell is an experienced international marketing and business development professional whose strategic expertise is underpinned by a practical, positive approach to achieving challenging goals, including establishing new markets and reversing declining revenues whilst successfully navigating large, complex organisational matrices. Carmen has a passion for building societal prosperity and strengthening the ethical behaviour of organisations through making a difference to their bottom line. Ethics matter. Carmen constantly strives to deliver value in ever-changing corporate environments while also making a positive difference in our world. LinkedIn ABOUT THE HOST Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet. If this episode sparked your thinking, follow Sabine VanderLinden on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram for more insights. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the podcast, reach out to the team at [email protected]
What this episode covers
On this episode of Scouting For Growth, Sabine VdL speaks with Barbara Schonhofer and Carmen Powell — two influential voices who have not only survived the insurance industry’s evolution, but helped shape it. This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and relationships—and why the future of work in insurance will reward the people who keep learning, keep connecting, and keep showing up with courage (and a little humour). Breaking in when the room wasn’t built for you Barbara reflects on starting her career in 1972, at a time when women stepping into frontline business roles were still an unfamiliar sight. Her experience wasn’t defined by constant hostility—more by men who simply didn’t know how to behave when women began taking space in business. Her strategy? Be sharper, stay composed, and use humour as a shield and a tool. She navigated the awkwardness, sidestepped the banter, and built credibility through performance. Carmen adds her own perspective on what it takes to thrive inside complex organisations: she learned early to celebrate being different. As a Spaniard in international markets, she turned her “idiosyncrasies” into an advantage—giving herself permission not to follow outdated norms. And when faced with the kind of question too many women still recognise—how to handle men crossing boundaries—her response was direct: she came to work, and she knew how to deal with anyone who crossed the line. A leadership lesson with bite: “keep your enemies closer” One of the most memorable insights in this episode is Barbara’s reframing of mentorship and career growth: The men who were kindest didn’t necessarily help her. The ones who challenged her often did business with her. It’s a sharp reminder that comfort doesn’t always equal opportunity. Growth often comes from friction—handled with intelligence and boundaries. Carmen echoes the theme: some of her toughest bosses pushed her limits, but that pressure became proof of her resilience. Progress, as she puts it, is rarely linear. Two steps forward. One step back. Repeat. The future of work: networks will be your career infrastructure Beyond personal stories, this episode is a masterclass in what builds longevity in insurance: relationships, reputation, and continuous development. Barbara’s work as a business leader and later an executive search consultant gave her a front-row seat to culture change in the London Market. She spotted early what many underestimated: women needed trusted spaces to connect, learn, and build power through community. That instinct led her to help create and support networks that drive real inclusion and progress across the market, including initiatives focused on female leadership and neurodiversity. Carmen brings the commercial lens: navigating complex matrices, establishing new markets, reversing declining revenue—and doing it with a strong ethical compass. Her message is clear: results matter, but how you achieve them matters too. Why this episode matters now For enterprise leaders and rising talent alike, this episode is a timely reminder that insurance is changing—but some success principles remain timeless: resilience is built through experience, not titles humour can be a strategy, not a distraction ethics are a differentiator networks create opportunity before you “need” them and career growth is still a contact sport In a sector reinventing itself through technology, regulation, and workforce shifts, Barbara and Carmen show what enduring leadership looks like: Stay sharp, stay human, and keep building the relationships that will outlast the change.
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Barbara Schonhofer & Carmen Powell: Empowerment, Leadership, Inclusion & Future Growth
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