Diary of an Insurer: Konsileo’s David Sedgeley

Monday

My week begins with a brisk walk along the old railway line in Cowes. It’s a small ritual that helps clear my head before the week ahead, and one of the many benefits of Konsileo’s remote-first culture, where we have the freedom to build routines that work for us.

Later, I join our commercial team stand-up. These remote these sessions are as much about connection as they are about work. 

We check in on how people are doing, to share a little about our weekends, and then share what we are planning to focus on over the coming days. It sets the tone for the week and helps keep us aligned without feeling formal or heavy-handed.

Mid-morning, I attend a coaching review meeting with three of our coaches. Supporting around a dozen of our broking colleagues. 

The purpose of these sessions isn’t traditional performance management, but making sure we spot challenges early and wrapping the right support around people when they need it. Sometimes the conversations are tough, but we know investing time and care here leads to real, positive change.

Tuesday

Tuesday brings our monthly operational integrity meeting. This is where compliance and operations came together in a practical way. We review business-wide trends, celebrate where things are working well, and identify where additional support is needed.

If someone is struggling with a part of the process, we don’t jump to sanctions. Instead, we pair them with a colleague who excels in that area and involve their coach. 

It’s a deliberate approach, we want consistent, high-quality outcomes for clients, but colleagues need clarity on where to improve and the support to do so.

That afternoon I visit a long-standing client, Vectawarm Ltd on the Isle of Wight, for a mid-term review over a cup of tea. 

We’ve worked together for over 20 years, so these meetings were as much about catching up as they were about insurance. 

Staying close to clients is something I am very intentional about; it keeps me grounded in the realities brokers and clients deal with every day and help to inform the decisions I make in my wider role.

Wednesday

Wednesday mornings are for the operational stand-up. We review progress on current projects, surface any new risks or issues, and adjust priorities as needed. Our weeks rarely go exactly to plan, so these sessions help us regroup and stay agile.

That afternoon, I had a quarterly business review with one of our insurer partners. These meetings are candid conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and how to keep small issues from becoming big ones. We encourage adult-to-adult conversations internally at Konsileo, and we take the same approach with our market partners.

Thursday

Thursday morning was spent at a compliance forum run through Brokerbility, alongside colleagues from other independent brokerages and our compliance consultants at ICS. These meetings are invaluable. 

Speaking with people in similar roles, facing the same regulatory and operational pressures, provided perspective and reassurance and occasionally a reality check. 

Our membership of Brokerbility is something we value highly, not just for market access but for the shared learning and support.

That afternoon, I step away for a couple of hours to pick up my grandson from a school trip to the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth. 

His mum was tied up with younger siblings, and his dad’s employer doesn’t offer the same flexibility Konsileo does. Small moments like this remind me how much trust and flexibility help us blend work and life successfully.

Friday

Friday mornings are usually spent planning. This week, I meet with the Konsileo executive team and several heads of function to prepare our presentation for KonsileoCon. 

This year’s theme is deliberately client-focused. Having built a reputation as the best place to work, the challenge now is to become the best brokerage from a client’s perspective.

The afternoon is taken up by a practice group meeting for our motor trade specialists. With over 170 client directors across Konsileo, it’s easy for individual voices to get lost. Practice groups give specialists space to collaborate, share ideas, and influence our placement strategy.

This was where much of our commercial thinking comes to life. Rather than working to a fixed, income-led panel, our placement strategy is driven by the needs of the clients and the brokers who serve them. It is about winning and retaining the right business, building sustainable market relationships, and delivering better outcomes all round.

By the end of the day, my to-do list for the following week was written down - a necessity, given my terrible memory. With that done, I logged off, cooked dinner, and enjoyed a well-earned glass (or bottle) of red, ready to do it all again the following Monday.