Man Bites Dog

It was our pleasure to welcome ISC Group members to our lunch & learn “Define Your Why, Build Your Brand: Thriving in the Digital Age.” Claire Mason and Lauren Street led the discussion on how women across the insurance industry can elevate their personal profile and support their organisation’s brand. Together, they shared practical advice on visibility, confidence and authenticity in today’s digital world. At Man Bites Dog, it’s part of our purpose to increase the representation of women and diverse experts, and as we found through our research on the Gender Say Gap, women are disproportionately the experts in the room. Given the insights of insurance leaders into the major forces shaping our lives – from climate change to geopolitical risk – it’s critical that diverse perspectives are represented. We asked our guests to reflect on this and the ways in which they currently have influence in their organisation. We discussed existing opportunities to step forward and champion change – online, through their social platforms, in-person at events, and via the media.  • Your voice matters: don’t hesitate to step forward and share your achievements.  • Own your expertise: speak on topics that energise you and showcase your authentic perspective.  • Visibility can feel daunting, but progress always beats perfection. A heartfelt thank you to ISC Group and to Natalie Gillespie from The Fidelis Partnership for hosting us, and everyone who joined us to contribute to the conversation. Carmen Powell, Ayes Amewudah MSc, Emma Corbett, Hollie Stephen #ISCGroup #InsuranceCareers #WomenInInsurance #PersonalBrand #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth

We had an inspiring evening last week at the LSEG, joining forces once again with Liz Dimmock and the brilliant team at Moving Ahead for a powerful conversation on the new era of inclusion - the realities of modern leadership and the cultures shaping today’s workplaces.  Our very own Claire Mason chaired the event, which explored the findings from the new Headwinds and Tailwinds report with Hult Ashridge Executive Education, which delves into the real experiences of women in the executive pipeline. A huge thanks to our incredible speakers - Jennifer Thomas - Global Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the LSEG, Megan Reitz - Associate Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Adjunct Professor of Leadership and Dialogue, Hult International Business School, Ghassan Karian - Chairman, Ipsos Karian and Box, Pavita Cooper - UK Chair, 30% Club UK campaign, and Kate Goodger PhD, C. Psychol. The research shines a light on the persistent headwinds still holding women back, from gendered cultures and inflexible working norms, to invisible barriers that intensify at senior levels. But it also highlights the tailwinds that can propel change, such as mentoring and storytelling - to challenge bias and reshape culture, and pushing for more female representation at all levels. Key takeaways to help shift the dial: 🎧 Leaders need to listen up – real progress starts when we stop trying to ‘fix’ women and start truly listening to their lived experiences. 🕰️ Create space to grow – leadership isn’t just about pace and performance; it’s also about making room for reflection, connection, and learning. 🌍 Social mobility matters – it may be the common thread that connects every aspect of diversity and inclusion. 🤝 Mentoring moves the dial – structured, sustained mentoring and sponsorship programmes are powerful levers for change. ⚙️ From good intentions to action – winning hearts and minds is important, but real impact comes when inclusive leadership is built into the mandate from the top. Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion and to Moving Ahead for continuing to push the conversation, and the action, forward. Lauren Street Vanessa Rushton Claire Cooper Jago Lock Duncan Sparke #Leadership #Inclusion #WomenInLeadership 

The built environment is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions – a hugely significant ‘contribution’.    But it’s also one of the most powerful levers we have for taking decisive climate action. In her new article talking about the countdown to 2030, Danielle Anderson argues that sustainability comms isn’t just about purpose - it’s about performance too.     She talks about climate action as a catalyst for economic opportunity, with climate resilient infrastructure being more insurable and investable. As regulations tighten and expectations shift - those in the built environment sector are uniquely positioned to shape a sustainable future. However, to do that they need to communicate it clearly, consistently, compellingly...and quickly.    Read Danielle’s full article on the link in the comments below. #SustainabilityLeadership #SustainableConstruction #SustainabilityComms #GreenInfrastructure #NetZero2030

We’re looking forward to hosting an ISC Group Aspire Members Lunch & Learn this Thursday at Fidelis Insurance Group, London – in partnership with ISC Group.   🗓️ Define Your Why, Build Your Brand: Thriving in the Digital Age  🕛 Thursday 16 October | 12PM BST   In an industry where reputation and expertise drive success, how can women in insurance amplify their voices, strengthen their personal brands, and drive commercial impact? Claire Mason and Lauren Street will explore how to become a thought maker, not just a thought follower, and share practical frameworks and strategies to build visibility, influence, and confidence.   A big thank you to Carmen Powell, Ayes Amewudah MSc, Emma Corbett, Hollie Stephen and the fantastic ISC Group team for their partnership in making this event possible.   ISC Aspire members can sign up via the member hub.  Non-members – please contact [email protected] to join us.  #ISCGroup #WomenInInsurance #ThoughtLeadership #PersonalBrand

We’re so pleased to share that on 13th October we’ll be hosting more than 100 business leaders and DEI champions at the London Stock Exchange for what promises to be an inspiring day of insight, connection and collaboration.    In partnership with Liz Dimmock and the fantastic team at Moving Ahead, our Founder & CEO, Claire Mason, will be taking to the stage to host an incredible panel including Jennifer Thomas, Global Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the LSEG, Megan Reitz - Associate Fellow, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Adjunct Professor of Leadership and Dialogue, Hult International Business School, Ghassan Karian - Chairman, Ipsos Karian and Box, Pavita Cooper - UK Chair, 30% Club UK campaign, and Kate Goodger PhD, C. Psychol. Together, they’ll dive into the realities of modern leadership, the cultures we create, and the forces that truly shape the employee experience.    Guests will also be the very first to hear findings from brand-new research with Hult Ashridge Executive Education, exploring the unique headwinds and tailwinds facing executive women today.    If you’ll be joining us, we look forward to seeing you.    Vanessa Rushton Claire Cooper Lauren Street     #WomenInLeadership #WomenInFinance #Inclusion 

Last week saw the Man Bites Dog team and friends take to the Shard for our latest ‘Don't Overengineer It’ breakfast roundtable series for CMOs.   The objective? To work out how companies can deliver global sustainability campaigns with purpose, in an uncertain world.    Our expert speaker, Alicia Kedzierski, Head of Sustainable Finance at the Financial Conduct Authority, led a thought-provoking session where we discussed the lessons senior marketing and communications leads in the engineering, built environment and infrastructure sectors can learn from the world of finance.     Our key takeaways from the group discussion were:    1️⃣ Language matters more than ever 🗣️ From greenwashing becoming a regulatory issue, to net zero becoming overly technocratic for some audiences, terminology (and the impact it has) is evolving quickly. CMOs must stay on top of this shift, and ensure their organisations speak the language of sustainability in a way that resonates. 2️⃣ Show how sustainability helps the bottom line 📈 It’s not enough to communicate purpose alone - performance can unlock greater engagement to ensure messages resonate with investors and markets to make change happen.   3️⃣ Understand your audience 👩💻 Across sectors and roles, there’s a significant perception gap - terms are interpreted in varied ways, leading to misalignment and confusion. Establishing a shared, consistent language is essential to unify understanding and drive meaningful action.   4️⃣ Time is running out ⏳ 2030 is less than five years away, but many organisations are losing sight of the timeline. Reframing communications to highlight this urgency, without overwhelming audiences, is both a challenge and a necessity. 5️⃣ Specificity is the key to standing out 🎯 Choosing a clear, focused theme, brands can communicate with greater credibility and achieve stronger engagement and impact.    Business has a critical role to play in enabling the sustainable transition. The task ahead is clear - build messages that connect across geopolitics, investors, and communities, whilst communicating urgency and fostering trust.     Thanks again to our fantastic speaker and to all our attendees. Stay tuned for a more detailed write up coming soon.    What are you seeing in your sector? Let us know in the comments below. 

And that’s a wrap on another incredibly insightful, thought provoking and all-round successful The Lawyer Events Marketing Leadership Summit.    In hosting ‘The Growth Department’ roundtable in the company of the legal profession’s brightest marketing and BD minds, Claire Mason and Alison Sharpe discussed the power of thought leadership to bring sales and marketing functions closer, to become true growth drivers for their firms.    Thanks so much to Sonja van Linden Tol, Ellie Street and the rest of The Lawyer team – and of course all of the wonderful attendees for your passion, engagement and conversation.    See you again next year!    #marketingleadershipsummit2025 #MLS2025 #thelawyerevents  

We've been hosting Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Mornings every day this past week. This was to mark the charity’s 35th annual Coffee Morning Day (which just so happens to be today).    The week has seen members of the team donning their aprons and producing spectacular (and wonderfully varied) baked goods. We’ve been tucking into delicious homemade cookies, blondies, cheesecakes and banana breads, all in the name of a fantastic cause.    In the process, we’ve raised over £150 for Macmillan Cancer Support, money which will go towards helping people across the UK living with cancer.    Did you host a Coffee Morning this week? We’d love to see your baked goods if so! 

We’re hosting a roundtable The Lawyer Marketing Leadership Summit on Friday, a fantastic event that we’re proud to be sponsoring. Our founder and CEO Claire Mason, together with our Professional Services Director Alison Sharpe, will talk about how law firms specifically can transform their marketing and BD into a growth engine. The session will delve into how Partners, marketing and business development teams can unite around a shared vision to accelerate firm-wide success, and how sales and marketing can use game-changing thought leadership as a bridge from brand to sales to become ‘The Growth Department’ of their firm. It’s a discussion those in attendance definitely won’t want to miss, so do be sure to add it to your agenda for Friday. We look forward to seeing you there! #MarketingLeadership #ThoughtLeadership #LegalMarketing #MarketingTransformation #RoundtableDiscussion

It was fantastic to see our very own Ellie Dobner and Alison Sharpe present at the 30th annual PM Forum Conference last week.    Ellie joined us as a Junior Exec back in 2019, and to now be speaking on the main stage at such a prestigious event in the professional services world is testament to the power of big ideas in helping to shape the Thought Makers of tomorrow.    In keeping with those themes, Ellie talked about how professional services firms must be bolder, braver, and more human when it comes to creating content to tell the right stories and fully engage C-suite prospects.    It was one of a number of truly inspiring discussions throughout the day, and we’re looking forward to continuing those conversations.    And if you missed it, may we suggest taking a look at our Thought Makers report Ellie mentions, packed with even more actionable insights for professional services leaders.    Link in the comments 👇