Meet Sheilby
As part of our International Women’s Day series, we’re celebrating the incredible women across our team. Meet Sheilby - our newest team member joining us from the US, whose global perspective, adaptability and client-first mindset are already making an impact.
Article Tags
Open Category:Knightcorp News
Sheilby's Reflection
- Tell us about a moment when you stepped out of your comfort zone at work that resulted in a memorable achievement.
- As a graduate analyst, I volunteered to join the team deploying a new tool across the business and coordinating the rollout across different regions. It was outside my comfort zone as we were working across time zones and with many different personalities to develop user guides and training materials. There were lots of ideas to align, so it required a lot of collaboration. I learnt a lot from that experience, and it showed me the importance of saying yes to opportunities like that early in your career, because those moments can be very formative.
- In the spirit of “Balancing the Scales,” what is one unwritten barrier you encountered and how did you navigate it?
- As a Black woman in this industry, and in general, there have always been barriers. The reality is that I have often had to work twice as hard to prove myself. I navigate that by staying prepared, being confident in my work, believing in myself and making sure my voice is heard.
- What’s an interesting challenge or ‘puzzle’ you get to solve in your role?
- Understanding each client’s business and risk, then navigating the market to structure coverage that actually works for them. Every client and situation is different, which keeps the work interesting.
- If you could go back to your first day in your career, what three words of encouragement would you give yourself?
- Believe in yourself.
- What is an underrated skill essential for long-term success in this industry?
- Adaptability.
- Name a woman you admire and take inspiration from, and why.
- Kim Waller. I met her early in my career when she was a practice leader at WTW, and she left a lasting impression on me. As a Black woman, she showed me that you can be powerful, authentic, and unapologetically yourself in every room. Seeing that first-hand at 21 made me believe I could do the same and gave me the confidence to show up as myself.
- What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
- We should be supporting and recognising women every day. Uplifting each other, creating space for one another, and acknowledging the biases and barriers that still exist. International Women’s Day is a reminder of the importance of continuing that work.
