29 October 2025

Aon Pipeline Alumni Network - Launch Event

On Monday 20th September, we had the privilege of attending the first-ever Aon Pipeline Alumni Network event.

The network was created by Aon’s Pipeline alumni to connect Leadership Summit cohorts, continue meaningful discussions on how to make Aon an even better place to work – from mentoring to wellbeing – and build bridges between the Leadership Summit and Top Flight alumni communities.

At its heart, the initiative is about driving gender representation and fostering a more inclusive, connected, and productive workplace.

Inspiring speakers

We were fortunate to hear from three incredible Top Flight Aon alumnae:

Lisa Patel - Head of Health and Talent (EMEA), Top Flight 2022
Tracy Lee Kus - CEO, Global Broking Centre, Top Flight 2019
Maria Johannessen - Head of UK Investment, Top Flight 2024

Each speaker shared her journey with authenticity, honesty, and humour. It reminded us of the power of storytelling and the strength that comes from sharing both the highs and lows of a career.

Key themes and takeaways

The rise of AI at work

Human connection and people skills will become more valuable than ever.
Embrace AI as a tool - it's not "cheating." Learning to work with it can help us be more effective, not less human.

Career planning

Take time every year to actively map out your career goals. Even one focused day of reflection can help you set direction and ourpose.

Balancing caregiving and career

Ask for help before reaching breaking point.
And one particularly resonant piece of advice: choose your life partner wisely!

Our contribution

Aon also invited us to lead a short, interactive session.

Our Chair, Professor Geeta Nargund, shared key insights from our latest research, Women in Work.

Then Rhonda Martin, our Client Engagement Director, and Alice Ameerally, Senior Programme Coordinator, guided the group through two reflection questions:

How can we build confidence in women leaders within our business areas?
What purposeful choices can we make as leaders?

On building confidence

Champion each other: Be an active ally, celebrate achievements, and cheer others on.

Show vulnerability: Share your story, including failures - reframing them as growth opportunities.

Model healthy boundaries: Lead by example; even small acts (like not eating lunch at your desk) can create cultural change.

Give constructive feedback: High-quality, actionable feedback is essential for growth and confidence.

On purposeful leadership

Own your leadership style: Authenticity empowers others to do the same

Prioritise wellbeing: Model self-care and balance; it signals that boundaries are healthy, not weaknesses.

Be a sponsor: Actively open doors and create a culture of sponsorship.

Empower your team: Delegate meaningfully and trust others to lead.

Invest time in relationships: Get to know your people — it builds loyalty and shared purpose.

The discussion was full of powerful insights. Some of our favourite reflections? Sharing personal failures as learning experiences and prioritising wellbeing to set a healthy example for others.

Why networks like this matter

A huge thank you to everyone who helped bring this idea to life – Hannah Young, Emma Carpenter, Steph Drinkwater, Annabelle Sénant-Ignotus, and Olga P – to the Top Flight alumnae who shared their stories, to all attendees, and to Aon for their continued partnership and unwavering commitment to diversity and women’s leadership.