SFE YP Learn About Me #3 | Nathan Thompson
Nathan Thompson
SFE YP Committee Member
Head of Transformation at Aegon
The SFE Young Professionals’ Learn about Me series aims to highlight the different routes, variety of roles, and experiences of young professionals in the financial services industry. Our next blog is with SFE YP Changing Customer Needs workstream committee member, Nathan Thompson.
What is your current role?
I am Head of Transformation for AUK and have responsibility for defining and developing the agile change delivery capability within Aegon UK as well as designing, executing, and leading key transformation initiatives for Aegon (exploring business models we could develop, products and services we could launch, Mergers and Acquisitions to transform capability). Working closely with the Executive Team, I focus on transforming Aegon in a number of way across products, proposition, strategy, and delivery to help our customer live their best lives.
Describe your career journey so far?
Squiggly and an adventure. I have a range of broad and deep experience, organisationally, functionally and geographically having worked in 9 Aegon Country Units and worked across 6 of our US offices/regions. I have also had specific experience in Technology, Marketing, Product, Strategy, Transformation and Change. From supporting the creation of an insurance comparison site in Singapore, launching an investment firm in the UK, to creating data platforms in Europe, standardising IT asset management processes across the globe and leading the UKs app team. I’ve had an international career which has really centred on ‘product’ and it’s component parts of 1) Strategy and Proposition, 2) Technology and 3) Delivery. I am focused on leading digital transformation and leading our organisation through its transformation journey.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A music producer - I studied music production at Uni but learned in that time it was a hobby rather than something I wanted to do as a career.
What does success in your career mean to you?
To be fulfilled, to be influential (to be able to drive positive change to customers, colleagues and company performance), to lead (and have the trust and respect of others).
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Innovative, curious, determined.
What is a common misconception about the industry?
That it’s boring… It’s just not true. FS is such a pillar of society and there are so many problems to solve and people to help. Our digital evolution has only just begun and there is an opportunity to change people’s lives for ever. At Aegon we look after over £186 billion (as at 31/12/2022) of money on behalf of over 4 million people (as at 31/12/2022). That’s a huge responsibility and it takes a range of skills and capabilities to make sure we do this well.
What more do you think the industry could do to support young professionals?
Be curious. About their views, their experiences, their way of thinking. I am lucky that I’ve always worked in places that this has been the case and ‘being young’ hasn’t defined the contribution you can give.
What is your favourite part of being involved with SFE YP?
Meeting people I’d not get the chance too and learning from them. I’m sure in 20 years time I’ll be sat round the table with some of these people as we negotiate and work together on problems and solutions, partnerships and deals that will make a difference to the lives of many.
What is one thing you are passionate about?
Personal development. I am committed to my own personal development and try to encourage others to take action and own their own progression and development too.
What do you know now that you wish someone had told you at the start of your career?
'Just learn how to get stuff done’. If you project an "I can handle it and I can do it" attitude, you will get noticed and start to progress (President Obama quote).
What does a typical Sunday look like for you?
As well as being Head of Transformation, I am Vice Chair of the board of directors at Berwick Rangers Football Club. This means Saturday’s are pretty football focused, leaving Sunday to be family day. I tend to spend the morning in the house and garden with my daughter, doing things such as some of the weeks washing, before heading out for an inevitable park and ice cream trip with my daughter Luna, partner Abi and two French bull dogs Herbert and Lola. More often than not, the wider family network join in before heading back to my house for a big family dinner.