Meet Ejiro Marandu, our brilliant 2024 Leadership Summit alumna.
Ejiro spent nearly 20 years as an actuary in the pensions industry before moving into a new challenge: Head of Total Rewards at Halma plc, a FTSE 350 company. She’s thrived in this role for the past five years, gaining valuable board exposure and stepping into a position that’s both demanding and rewarding.
At Halma, Ejiro feels her work has great impact - championing initiatives like paying the real living wage across Halma’s UK companies, the introduction of Halma’s gender-neutral parental leave and reducing the gender pay gap. Ejiro has been part of a progression in culture at Halma, something she’s proud to have helped work on.
Ejiro first heard about The Pipeline a few years before attending, and brought it to her manager’s attention when she began thinking more strategically about her next steps and executive presence. Her journey with The Pipeline officially began with the 2024 Leadership Summit.
What was your Programme experience?
Amazing, Successful Ladies
I met so many different and strong ladies at Leadership Summit, who were all brilliant at their jobs and presented themselves so well. The conversations with these women really made me reflect on myself and my own leadership. It might seem like a simple point, but it was so impactful. I’ve kept in touch with my buddy Sarah too and that’s been great.
Meeting the alumna from The Pipeline’s Top Flight programme over dinner was fantastic. She presented herself so confidently but was honest at the same time. That balance really struck me and stayed with me.
Fantastic and Relatable Faculty & Speakers
The interview session was a standout. The interviewer was lovely and her feedback gave me so much to reflect on. We are still in touch, which shows that The Pipeline does not really go away – it and the relationships you make on the programme stay with you.
One session that really stayed with me was on presence and presenting. Eve Tomlinson was the speaker and she was excellent. She really gave insight into how to come across as confident and feel comfortable. She also spoke about imposter syndrome and just getting on with it, which left a lasting impression.
You can go to some programmes and the presenters just deliver their slides. At the Pipeline, the faculty were real, relatable and deeply engaged. They taught with purpose and actually connected with us, which is what makes Leadership Summit special and different from other programmes.
Space to Invest in Your Career
It really felt like I was investing in my career growth. The sheer fact of taking three days out of work to focus on your leadership, where you are not working and your phones are off, felt like a significant investment in myself. It was a privilege to have that space and to be surrounded by like-minded women who want to achieve big things.
What was the impact of Leadership Summit?
A Shift in Mindset and Confidence
I left the Leadership Summit on a high ready to achieve my goals. There’s also a sense of accountability that comes with the programme and pushes you forward: I voiced my goals, so now I’m committed to making them happen. It’s scary but exciting. So, when I returned to Halma, I immediately shared my excitement and ambitions with my line manager.
Six months on, I’m still reflecting on the experience. I’ve developed my own articulation of what I want and how to plan for it. I’m thinking more deeply about my values, mapping out my next steps, and actively seeking growth.
The programme definitely impacted my mindset. I now raise my hand more often and push myself to take on opportunities I might have declined in the past. If I catch myself hesitating, I ask: Why am I saying no to this? The Pipeline gave me a mindset of saying yes more. I now ask myself, Where is my next level? How can I get there? What do I need to do in the next six months?
My confidence has grown, and while not every day is a ‘Pipeline confidence day,’ the mindset change is long-lasting. That inner belief keeps coming back and pushing me forward.
Would you recommend Leadership Summit to aspiring female leaders?
I would absolutely recommend Leadership Summit to aspiring female leaders. It brings incredible value, from having the space to focus on your career, to the thoughtful prep and follow-up, to the people you meet. It stays with you long after the programme ends.
What would you say to your younger self on her Career Journey?
Don’t worry so much - you’re braver than you think you are.
"I now raise my hand more often and push myself to take on opportunities I might have declined in the past. If I catch myself hesitating, I ask: Why am I saying no to this? The Pipeline gave me a mindset of saying yes more."
Ejiro Marandu, after 20 years as an actuary, has served as Head of Total Rewards at Halma plc for nearly six years. In that time, she has gained valuable leadership experience within a FTSE 350 company and made a significant impact - from introducing gender-neutral parental leave to helping reduce the gender pay gap. Her journey with The Pipeline began with the Leadership Summit in 2024.
