EP4: Navigating Change as a Woman in Financial Services – Lauren McIlroy

Welcome to The Luminate Collective Podcast, brought to you by AAB Consulting, hosted by Sian
Parker.

In this series, we capture candid conversations on life, change, leadership, and the world of
business. Beyond their titles, our guests share their life stories, discussing the personal and vulnerable
experiences that have contributed to their success.

In this episode, Sian sits down with Lauren McIlroy, Partner and Head of Virtual Finance Function at
The AAB Group. Lauren reflects on pivotal moments in her career, sharing valuable insights and
lessons. She discusses her early career choices, the role of education, and transitioning through
various roles in industry.

Lauren's candid conversation touches on challenges faced during maternity leave, post-miscarriage
trauma, and her experiences as a woman in the workplace. She emphasises the importance of
personal decisions, gender equality, and fostering a supportive work environment.
Lauren also shares her approach to leadership and communication, highlighting the significance of
trust and flexibility in her team.

This episode offers a glimpse into the complexities of balancing career
and personal life, as well as the evolution of professional paths over the years.

Skip to the following sections: 

00:00:00 - Introduction.

00:00:00 - Conversation Begins.

00:06:32 - Lauren's Bookmark Moment.

00:09:44 - Starting a Family, Becoming a Mother.

00:16:26 - Evolving from Working in Practice.

00:20:08 - Starting a New Job With a New Born.

00:22:08 - Being a Woman in the Corporate World.

00:30:01 - Managing a Team and Being a Leader.

00:32:16 - Experiencing Maternity Leave a Second Time.

00:39:32 - Outro.

 

Want to chat with us about The Luminate Collective? E-mail sian.parker@aab.uk
Join our community: LinkedIn @AABConsulting, Instagram @aab.consulting 
A brief introduction to AAB Consulting...
• We are the consulting arm of The AAB Group
• Compared to AAB, we are just a young thing, we started in 2018
• We are a business consultancy focused on helping our clients think about, prepare for, and deliver
change
• We focus on adding real value in the areas of service design, digital strategy & transformation,
business agility and growth management
• We firmly believe that our clients want a great experience when they hire consultants; not simply a
project or intervention
• We have a healthy focus on looking after our team members so that they look after our clients.
Please contact us if you want to chat, are interested to know more or just want to know why we love
llamas, you can reach us by e-mailing advisors@aabconsulting.uk