Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At one of the highest points in her career, Amanda Blanc made a decision most executives would avoid — she walked away.
In this episode of Executive Decisions, the Aviva Group CEO reflects on leaving a senior role with no safety net, the judgment required to know when something isn’t right and how that instinct shaped the decisions she’s made since.
From leading Aviva through a major turnaround to publicly calling out sexism at the top of the industry, Blanc explains how decisive action — not consensus — defines leadership under pressure.
Subscribe to "Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick" wherever you get your podcasts.
CHAPTERS:
1:24 From Rhondda Valley to Business: Amanda Blanc's Formative Years
5:10 The Big Leap: Amanda Blanc's First Career Move to Commercial Union
8:14 Confronting Sexism: Navigating a Male-Dominated Finance Industry
11:43 From Bad Decisions to Purpose: Why Insurance Matters to Amanda Blanc
15:02 Why Amanda Blanc Left Zurich: A Mismatch of Culture and Authority
18:50 The Partnership: Navigating Family Career Decisions
23:37 Taking the Helm: Leading Aviva Through Crisis and Major Turnaround
27:42 Publicly Challenging Sexism: The Viral LinkedIn Post
33:25 Driving Aviva's Success: Direct Line Acquisition and Culture of Performance
#CNBC #CNBCPodcast #ExecutiveDecisions
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At one of the highest points in her career, Amanda Blanc made a decision most executives would avoid — she walked away.
In this episode of Executive Decisions, the Aviva Group CEO reflects on leaving a senior role with no safety net, the judgment required to know when something isn’t right and how that instinct shaped the decisions she’s made since.
From leading Aviva through a major turnaround to publicly calling out sexism at the top of the industry, Blanc explains how decisive action — not consensus — defines leadership under pressure.
Subscribe to "Executive Decisions with Steve Sedgwick" wherever you get your podcasts.
CHAPTERS:
1:24 From Rhondda Valley to Business: Amanda Blanc's Formative Years
5:10 The Big Leap: Amanda Blanc's First Career Move to Commercial Union
8:14 Confronting Sexism: Navigating a Male-Dominated Finance Industry
11:43 From Bad Decisions to Purpose: Why Insurance Matters to Amanda Blanc
15:02 Why Amanda Blanc Left Zurich: A Mismatch of Culture and Authority
18:50 The Partnership: Navigating Family Career Decisions
23:37 Taking the Helm: Leading Aviva Through Crisis and Major Turnaround
27:42 Publicly Challenging Sexism: The Viral LinkedIn Post
33:25 Driving Aviva's Success: Direct Line Acquisition and Culture of Performance
#CNBC #CNBCPodcast #ExecutiveDecisions
-----
Subscribe: @cnbci
CNBC International Live: @cnbcinternationalive
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/cnbc-international
TikTok: tiktok.com/@cnbci
Facebook: facebook.com/cnbcinternational
Instagram: instagram.com/cnbcinternational
Threads: threads.net/@cnbcinternational
X: twitter.com/CNBCi
Telegram: https://t.me/cnbci
WhatsApp: bit.ly/CNBCiWhatsApp
