Lisa Rampley
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MEET Lisa Rampley
Client Services Manager
(former Level Three apprentice)
Team Willis Re
Segment Investment Risk and Reinsurance
Programme duration 18 months
Location Ipswich, U.K.
Program Level Three Apprenticeship programme (Professional Development programme)
Lisa Rampley recently completed our Level Three Apprenticeship programme (Professional Development programme) which is designed for experienced professionals who are looking to change their career and develop skills that can help them grow as a professional at Willis Towers Watson. As well as completing this programme, Lisa came second in the ‘Level Three’ category of the BPP Apprentice of the Year Awards in 2020. Discover her insights here:
Tell us a bit about why you decided to join our Professional Development programme. What made you take this next step and change the course of your career?
I joined Willis Towers Watson’s Professional Development programme because I wanted to acquire new knowledge and skills in order to grow as a leader within the company. Also, it really helped that the application process was seamless and quick to complete.
What can you say you learnt from the programme’s participants and vice versa?
My fellow apprentices came from diverse professional backgrounds; some were teachers and others worked in the retail industry or the financial sector just like me. It was very rewarding to learn from such a varied array of Willis Towers Watson professionals.
During the programme we would always bounce ideas off of each other. This helped us obtain different perspectives on each topic. Also, Willis Towers Watson’s Professional Development programme is designed in a way that easily accommodates the professional experience of all participants so that everyone can learn something new and interesting regardless of their background.
What training and development opportunities have you enjoyed as a result of the Professional Development programme?
After completing the programme, I was involved on the Willis Re Mentoring Initiative and I was also selected to collaborate in the Operations Learning & Development project taskforce in order to identify operational training needs.
What were the highlights of your Professional Development programme experience? Do you have a favourite memory that you wish to share?
The highlight for me was being awarded a Distinction Award at the end of the programme and being nominated for the BPP Apprentice of the Year award where I came in second place out of 600 nominations.
Has anything surprised you about your experience on the Professional Development programme?
I was pleasantly surprised by the additional activities made available on Willis Towers Watson’s Virtual Learning Environment platform that aims to aid self-study. It helped to cement the learnings I had obtained from the online tutorials and offered a way to complete the training hours required from all apprentices in the U.K..
How has your experience been of Willis Towers Watson’s values and culture? Tell us about a moment where you were able to live by our values or when you saw a colleague do so
I am a strong advocate for Willis Towers Watson’s values. My team thrives on teamwork, and with that comes integrity and respect in taking a collaborative approach by helping colleagues develop and progress within their roles. There is no better time than now to uphold our core value of teamwork and our supportive and welcoming culture; whether that be virtual coffee catch-ups or more structured team calls. Everyone has and continues to support each other as we continue to navigate through the global pandemic and work from home.
Willis Towers Watson has an unwavering commitment to Inclusion and Diversity (I&D). Were you able to participate in our different I&D colleague-led initiatives?
I was involved in the Willis Re Mentoring initiative during 2020. In addition, I was chosen as one of the members of the Wills Re Global Sponsorship 2020 initiative which is part of the Willis Re Global I&D platform aimed at strengthening senior leadership diversity. This is a long-term commitment which I am very excited about!
How did you feel when you came second in the level three category of the BPP Apprentice of the Year Awards 2020?
I was overwhelmed as I did not expect to achieve this. At the same time, I was very pleased as I had put in a significant amount of my own time during evenings and weekends in order to deliver quality work.
You were part of the Team Leader programme for Wills Re, is there a specific challenge in this area that you wish to tell us about? How did the Professional Development programme help you overcome this challenge?
One of the challenges I found was balancing the time needed to fully focus on the programme’s learning activities and assessments while continuing to perform my role, as well as bringing up two children as a single parent. However, the programme was instrumental in teaching me new skills and tools that help me balance my trainings, work and being a parent.
What would your advice be to someone considering the Professional Development programme who has not come straight from school and is worried that ‘apprenticeships’ are only for ‘young professionals’?
I would say look past this mindset. Apprenticeships (or Professional Development programmes) are not just for school leavers and young people. If you are thinking of changing your career path or moving into a new role that requires you to take on new responsibilities and develop new skills, I would recommend embarking on a programme like this.
Willis Towers Watson’s Professional Development programme has opened new opportunities for me and it has greatly assisted my progression to the next career level within the company.
Learn more about our early careers programs here.
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#MyWTW: Becoming part of the High Performers Club
Willis Towers Watson India’s High Performers Club recognizes those colleagues who have made an outstanding contribution to our company’s growth while upholding our core values of teamwork, excellence, respect, client focus, and integrity.
Risk Management Analyst, Gautami Kamath, shares her experience on finding out she had been chosen to become part of the High Performers Club and how this has encouraged her to continue growing as a professional at Willis Towers Watson.
Where are you based?
I am based in Mumbai, India.
How long have you worked at Willis Towers Watson?
I’ve been at Willis Towers Watson for over six years.
What are you responsible for at Willis Towers Watson?
I am responsible for training the Know Your Client Team in performing quality checks and enhancing the due diligence of financial crime sanctions.
How would you describe your experience working at Willis Towers Watson?
My journey at Willis Towers Watson has been a growth story ever since I started. Every day has brought a new opportunity to learn and grow as a professional.
What is your proudest achievement since joining Willis Towers Watson?
In 2020 I became part of Willis Towers Watson’s High Performers Club, which recognizes colleagues in India that have made outstanding contributions to our company’s growth. Being part of the High Performers Club comes with a lot of joy and responsibility. We’re the flag bearers of our company’s core values, which I will proudly continue to role model in order to positively influence new colleagues.
What was your initial reaction when you realized that you had made it to the High Performers Club?
It definitely took a few minutes for the news to sink in and to truly comprehend that I had finally made it to the High Performers Club. I was very grateful to see that my hard work had been recognized in such a unique way. I also felt a mixed bag of emotions, particularly happiness, pride, gratification, and of course encouragement to continue delivering excellent work.
What do you think helped you become part of the High Performers Club?
I followed the footsteps of colleagues who were already part of the High Performers Club. They helped me to identify growth opportunities and showed me how to align my work with the vision of Willis Towers Watson.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or who was integral to your experience?
My parents! They have supported and inspired me to stay on my toes and make the most of opportunities at first sight. I am also grateful to my mentors at Willis Towers Watson. They have guided and coached me so that I’m able to excel at my responsibilities.
Would you like to share any positive feedback that you have received at Willis Towers Watson?
I felt incredibly honored when one of my senior colleagues commended my excellent work and out-of-the-box thinking. I’ve also received feedback from fellow colleagues praising my collaborative ways of working.
What is your favorite part about working for Willis Towers Watson?
The healthy, collaborative, and transparent work culture at Willis Towers Watson motivates me to give my best and challenge myself every day. Also, the never-ending learning opportunities and recognition of our colleagues’ efforts truly inspire me to go above and beyond in everything that I do.
When you’re able to find extra time in your role, what do you do to further your professional growth?
I spend my extra time expanding my knowledge and building my skillset by researching about the latest regulatory guidelines on anti money laundering and sanctions as well as reading financial crime journals. I also like to study from the rich source of knowledge available on the Willis Towers Watson Intranet.
Based on your experience, do you have a message for colleagues aspiring to get to the High Performers Club?
Align your efforts and work with the company’s overarching vision.
Learn more about our different roles and business areas here.
En WTW, creemos en la igualdad de oportunidades de empleo, y estamos comprometidos a desarrollar una fuerza laboral diversa y crear un ambiente de trabajo inclusivo donde todos sean respetados, valorados y apreciados. No toleramos ninguna forma de discriminación ilegal, ni apoyamos ninguna acción o iniciativa que infrinja ningún derecho humano.
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