076: It’s never too late: career change, purpose and sustainability with Cristina Galindo

Summary

In this episode, Sandra is joined by Cristina Galindo for a thoughtful conversation on career transitions, sustainability, and the changing world of work.

Cristina shares her journey from a career in HR across financial services and tech to her current focus on sustainability and talent. She reflects on the benefits and challenges of moving abroad, the realities of career breaks, and the importance of embracing change at any age or stage. From the rise of sustainability roles in insurance to the need for organisations to retain knowledge as professionals approach retirement, Cristina brings fresh insight into how careers, and workplaces, are evolving.

Together, Sandra and Cristina explore the concept of the “empty box,” a space for reflection and reinvention, and discuss why transferable skills, introspection, and storytelling are essential in today’s job market.

They also tackle the shifting language of CVs, how to balance legal compliance with company culture, and why kindness and performance are not mutually exclusive.

This episode is packed with practical advice and quiet encouragement, for anyone navigating change, rethinking their purpose, or creating more human-centred ways of working.

Takeaways

• It's never too late to change careers or pursue new opportunities
• Moving abroad can be a great learning opportunity but comes with challenges
• The traditional linear career path is becoming less common
• Career breaks can develop leadership, negotiation and project management skills
• The "empty box" is a space to pause, reflect and explore new directions before taking your next step
• CVs need to evolve to focus on skills, strengths and stories, not just job titles
• Introspection helps you reconnect with your values and design a career that fits with your authentic self
• The job market is changing rapidly, with sustainability roles expanding across insurance and beyond
• People are living and working longer, but many organisations are not prepared for longer careers
• Knowledge retention is a growing challenge as senior professionals retire without transition plans
• Equal and inclusive parental leave policies send a powerful message about what a company values
• Kindness and high performance can coexist
• Creating human-centered workplaces enhances employee loyalty

About the guest

Connect with Cristina on LinkedIn

About the host

• Connect with Sandra Lewin on LinkedIn
• Learn more about the 100 Women in Insurance Collective: www.100womenininsurance.com/collective