Women Who Make It Happen: Journeys to Success – Details, episodes & analysis

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

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?

• This episode is a must-watch for anyone navigating leadership in complex environments, especially where regulation, innovation, and people all collide.
• Whether you’re in legal, tech, or team leadership, Vikki’s take will challenge and inspire you to rethink control, collaboration, and trust.

How do you build and evolve the culture & values in your business? We talk through all the strategies, successes and pitfalls with Geraldine Butler-Wright, who have been there and done it!

Geraldine Butler-Wright, Chief People & Culture Officer at Your.MD

Geraldine has developed her People career across multiple geographies to include EMEA and The United States. Most recently, her focus has been in the start-up and scale-up world, building and leading People functions in FinTech companies such as YoyoWallet and PayPal. Geraldine is also an executive coach who enjoys supporting the leaders and founders of tomorrow - both in the workplace and through her advisory role with global VC and start-up generator, Antler. Creating and driving innovative People programmes is a constant feature of her work and was core to her role leading transformative People initiatives at Imperial College.

Geraldine is originally from the North East of England and now lives in south west London with her husband, daughter and two spaniels. She adores swimming with her daughter, skiing and running with the dogs.

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?

• If you’ve ever wrestled with self-doubt, wondered how to lead authentically, or questioned if you can “have it all” without burning out, this episode is for you.
• Kym brings warmth, honesty and hard-won insight to a conversation that’s as real as it gets.
  

In this episode of Women Who Make it Happen, host Michelle Khan sits down with Heidi Physick, Chief People Officer at Oodle Car Finance, for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about what it takes to lead with authenticity, empathy and purpose; and why true diversity in leadership still requires daily commitment.

With decades of experience in people strategy and organisational culture, Heidi shares the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership journey and the lessons she’s now using to champion the next generation of women leaders.

🔥 Why Watch?

If you’ve ever questioned whether your style of leadership fits the mould, or whether you belong in the room, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Heidi brings both heart and strategy, offering a blueprint for leading teams and building cultures where everyone can thrive.

Join Anna Massey in this dynamic episode of Women Who Make it Happen, featuring Natalia Lyarskaya, VP of Data Science & Risk at Billie, and a global leader in AI, machine learning and fintech innovation. With over 15 years of experience turning data into business impact, Natalia shares the mindset and strategies that set high-performing teams apart.

🔥 Why Watch?

This episode is a masterclass in strategic data leadership. Whether you're leading a tech team, navigating the fintech landscape, or just curious about how to turn insights into action, Natalia’s perspective will leave you thinking bigger.

Join Michelle Khan in this powerful episode of Women Who Make It Happen, featuring April Clark, Chief People Officer at Nest Pensions. With roots in therapy and a career forged across leadership, talent, and culture, April shares her deeply human approach to building workplaces where people feel seen, heard and empowered.

🔥 Why Watch?If you care about building people-first workplaces, creating inclusive teams, and leading with empathy, this conversation is for you.April’s honesty, clarity, and strategic mindset will leave you rethinking what it truly means to be a leader today.

Join Anna Massey in this energizing episode of Women Who Make it Happen, featuring Alexandra Rivas-Gale, VP of Product at ClearBank and a powerhouse voice in fintech innovation and people-first leadership. From building out a bank across Europe to mastering the art of patience, Alexandra shares the pivotal lessons that shaped her career and the mindset that keeps her grounded.

🔥 Why Watch?

• This episode is packed with real talk, practical insights, and the kind of vulnerable leadership we don’t hear enough of.
• Whether you’re scaling a team, pivoting your career, or navigating your next big move, Alexandra’s story is a blueprint for leading with heart and ambition.

Key Topics:Leadership, product strategy, fintech, career growth, emotional intelligence, mentorship, user experience, women in tech

Join Michelle Khan in this thought-provoking episode of Women Who Make It Happen, featuring Katherine Waller, Co-Founder of Six Degrees and a bold voice in purpose-led leadership and financial innovation. With a background in both Finance and Philosophy, Katherine brings a rare blend of analytical sharpness and human-first thinking to the world of wealth management.

🔥 Why Watch?

• Learn how to lead from a place of clarity, compassion, and conviction, whether you're growing a team, building a business, or navigating your own leadership journey.
• Get inspired to rethink how we hire, mentor, and grow in industries that are long overdue for change.