Starting over in Australia from South Africa hasn’t prevented QBE’s Belinda Steedman from flourishing
“Much of what I’ve done in my career is the same way I live my life, taking opportunities, running with them and being passionate about what I do,” says Belinda Steedman, Multinational Operations Manager for QBE Australia.
“I always knew I’d have a career because that’s the kind of person I was. I’m very driven like my father.”
At 38-years-old, Steedman uprooted from South Africa to start over in Australia. Her career was already well-established, so breaking into a new market was hugely challenging, she says. It involved learning about the Australian industry, making new connections and understanding new conditions. She has since flourished, and now runs QBE’s Multinational Client Centre, co-ordinating all areas of tax, compliance and regulation for multinational insurance programs.
“I didn’t anticipate I would leave South Africa,” she says. “I’d always been a broker up until the time I moved to Australia, but running a portfolio of accounts is quite different to what I do now. My role is servicing the foreign policies, and that means understanding the insurance regulations across almost 150 countries.
“The multinational capability centres on putting a global insurance program in place for Australian-domiciled companies that have risks and exposures across the globe.”
Despite the challenge of her role and career achievements to date, Steedman has her eyes set on even more growth.
“I still think I have a lot more to add in the next ten years,” says Steedman. “I’m exceptionally lucky that I work in a small, niche team and have an outstanding leader. From that perspective, the work flexibility and opportunities offered in the past three years, alongside the recognition and support, is the best I’ve had in my 23 years of working.”
Steedman joined QBE six-and-half years ago in a Marine Underwriting role. In 2012 she was seconded to manage the startup of QBE’s Operations Multinational capability. She describes this role as a “turning point in my career”.
“The first couple of years working in Australia were about finding my feet again, understanding the market and making sure my children were settled. I had left a successful career and put it on the backburner for a while, but it significantly changed in 2012 when I got the Multinational role and my career mojo back.”
In addition Steedman is the Australian lead on a global project being run out of London which involves significant travel.
“I travel quite a lot and my husband is incredibly supportive. I have two small children and between my husband and the part time au pair, they spend a lot of time picking up the pieces, taking them to school or other activities. We don’t have family here other than my husband so it does take a bit of planning.”
As a successful career woman Steedman takes seriously the role of supporting other women in the workplace.
“It’s the one thing women don’t do so well. We’re so busy knocking each other down, as opposed to building each other up. If you do one thing in your career, find a network of women and support each other.”
When it comes to workplace diversity, Steedman takes a balanced view.
“It’s important to be promoted on the basis of merit. Whilst I have participated in a number of diversity programs at QBE, I’m always anxious to ensure one isn’t rewarded because of gender and that you’re put forward for positions on the basis of your ability and skills.”
She thinks some female leaders feel like they need to act more masculine to be successful, but says women have so much to offer and should try to be true to who they are.
“As women we don’t put our hands up for opportunities because we don’t think we’re necessarily qualified, so back yourself and put your hand up as they come your way.”
Written by: Thea Christie