What’s your role at Laka?

Head of People.

What does your day to day work look like?

Each day is different, which is what I love about my role!

I could be interviewing for great new people to come and join us, organising our next whole company offsite, coaching someone on their career development options, researching a new benefit to add to our growing list, the list goes on - all alongside day-to-day support for everyone at Laka.

What’s the culture like at Laka?

The culture is definitely what we choose to make of it.

Everyone has always been encouraged to have a voice, and play an active part in both the present-day and future of the business. Due to our shared passions, all of the people at Laka are genuinely lovely individuals, who all bring something different to the table.

In a nutshell, I would describe Laka’s culture as incredibly open, where every role has an impact, and a company where each person can feel like Laka fits into their life, and not the other way around (a more ambitious way of saying we have a great work/life balance!).

What’s special about working at Laka?

As a foundation, everyone at Laka is here because they are passionate about and believe in our mission - to build the leading green mobility insurer globally. Working together to create products and services that are simply just better, and are there for people when they really need help - especially in the outdated insurance industry - is one of the main reasons I joined Laka.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years' time?

I would love to have built a business of hundreds of amazing people, in more locations globally; with each person happy, able to have the level of impact they want, with lots of great collaboration and social interaction, but overall, for Laka to be a place that people are excited to join, feel that they belong, and want to stay.

Quick questions:

WFH or remote?

I’m going to cheat and say a mixture of both!

First and foremost I’m a mum of two beautiful girls, and so of course WFH allows me tons of flexibility to do the school run, be at sports day and be there at bedtime. But on the flip side, given my role is all things ‘people’, I get bags of energy from being around everyone at Laka, and having the freedom to visit all of our offices as much as I’d like to. Laka’s ‘remote first’ way of working is the true definition of flexibility for me.

Standard bike or e-bike?

Erm, neither?!

Confession time… I’m not a cycling enthusiast!

I know, I know, you might wonder why I chose to join a bicycle insurance company - well let me tell you why…

Although I have almost zero interest in bikes and cycling, what I absolutely love doing is spending time with super smart, super passionate people - and these are the people at Laka! This is actually the biggest reason I chose to join.

How do you spend your days off?

Given that I was a total lockdown-cliche and moved to the countryside last year, you’ll now find me discovering new things to do in Cornwall! Coupled with popping to the ‘city’ to spend some time in our offices, and having family and friends down to visit, I’d say that I have a pretty good balance to my life now.

Cats or dogs?

Having recently become a dog-mum to a gorgeous, fluffy Goldendoodle named Brinkely, I would have to say dogs! And a bonus that all of our office spaces are dog friendly - so she might take a trip with me one day.

On a scale of 1 to 5 my cycling skills are…

Can a give a 0?? In all seriousness, I can ride a bike, but if you asked me who won the last Tour de France, or who designs the best looking lycra kit, I’m afraid I’d have to quickly and politely pass you on to someone else…