Rising Star: Lauren Peel, Aviva UK digital

How did you get into insurance?

I joined Aviva on a marketing graduate scheme in 2013, straight from a journalism degree. I’d always been interested in marketing, and I really liked the Aviva people I’d met at the assessment centre. I didn’t know anything about insurance previously and it’s been fantastic to work in a company with such a broad range of roles.

What achievement are you most proud of?

I’m the chair of Aviva Pride, Aviva’s LGBT network. In 2016, we gave away more than 20,000 pairs of rainbow laces to our colleagues, customers and sponsorship partners to tackle homophobia in sport and I was so proud to see so many people showing their support. It’s fantastic that we’re able to make a difference on important issues.

Do you have a role model or mentor and what have you learnt from them?

I have had some fantastic mentors throughout my four years at Aviva. I keep in touch with as many of them as I can, even if I just bump into them in the coffee shop and have a quick chat about what they’re up to, it’s a really good way to have a wide view of what’s happening in a large business like ours.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving as a rising star than someone who so clearly lives the Aviva values both in and out of work.”
Martin Fletcher, head of digital customer propositions, Aviva

Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

I don’t have a set role in mind, I’ve always moved in to new roles because they seem exciting, or to work with great people, and that’s been a good strategy so far. I’m about to go on a 12-month secondment to Aviva Canada in Toronto, so who knows what might happen next?

If I wasn’t working in insurance, I would be…

in the music industry. I have spent four years as a music journalist, a couple of years in artist management when I was at university. Now I’m a stage manager at a few events across the UK in the summer as a hobby. Working at a festival when you’ve got lots of drunk people shouting at you is very different to the insurance role in the week.