AXA Debunked: Ken
Myth #325 — You need a degree to succeed in the insurance industry.
Isn’t the insurance industry just for university graduates? Ken Wright would disagree. He left school at 16 and is now the Head of Broker Development at AXA Commercial. We chatted with him about his career journey, what the industry was like when he first joined, and how his upbringing influences the way he leads his team today.
Tell us a bit about your upbringing.
My upbringing was typical of working-class parents amid the industrial action in the West Midlands in 70s and 80s. This was just normal for our family and everyone we knew. Money was tight, but we were rich in love, laughter, and food — something anyone with an Irish mother can relate to. Our summer holidays were simple, often spent at a neighbour’s caravan in Rhyl or visiting family in Ireland, but my brother, sister, and I cherished every moment.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was very young my head was filled with adventure so becoming an explorer or joining the army was top of the list. But then I studied Commerce at school in my mid-teens and my eyes were opened to all those shiny IBM mainframe computers being used in offices. It was all very NASA.
I also knew what I didn’t want to do, because my family had lived through the reality of the decline in local manufacturing employment.
What was the greatest piece of advice you were given as child?
In my early teens, I struggled with spelling. But Mrs Mills, my history teacher, recognised my passion, gave me constant encouragement and boosted my confidence in my abilities. Thanks to her, I excelled in my O-levels, and 40 years later, I remain grateful for her belief in me.
What was your first job?
I left school at 16 and joined the home and motor intake at an insurer in Birmingham. Looking back, that late 80s office environment and culture are unrecognisable and rightly consigned to history, not just because of the advances in technology. While times were very different, they weren't all bad. The company’s investment in employee capability, skills, and technical training, which we all took for granted at the time, was truly phenomenal.
Did you encounter any barriers due to your upbringing?
There was plenty of academic snobbery from my peers who had been to university, but it didn’t last long. Through hard work and night school, I became first school joiner to be accepted onto the management trainee graduate programme.
To be honest, my personal barriers have always been around maintaining self-confidence and guarding against feelings of imposter syndrome as my career has progressed. Early on in my career I remember worrying about not having a degree when it unquestionably came up in conversation at work events.
Why did you choose AXA as employer?
After 14 years at my first company, I joined AXA. Put simply, I joined AXA for the people. This September I will have clocked up 25 years here. There have been highs and lows, like everyone will experience in their careers, but one aspect that has been constant is that AXA really cares about its people.
Has your background influenced your leadership style?
Consciously or sub-consciously I believe my background has kept me grounded as a leader. I certainly never judge on accent, vocabulary or past qualifications. I’m more interested in potential, attitude and commitment. Good employers recruit for attitude and train for skill.
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