Meet our Technical Pre-Sales Senior Analyst, Ben Paine

“I just loved the feeling that INSTANDA is a company that’s really going places, and as a young ambitious professional, I wanted to be a part of it,” says Senior Analyst Ben Paine, in recalling why he decided to join INSTANDA in 2019.

Fast-forward two years, and his passion for the business and what it stands for is stronger than ever. We catch up with Ben to find out how INSTANDA has given him the “opportunity and freedom to step outside his comfort zone” to forge a successful, fast-paced career.

Ben, starting with the basics, could you tell us what you do?

Absolutely. My role mainly focuses on pre-sales activity, supporting clients (predominantly in Life & Health) with introducing INSTANDA into their business. I handle everything from scoping projects to running demos and technical sessions with clients so that they thoroughly understand the benefits of the platform.

As part of the Technical Pre-Sales team, I never tire of building world class demos. It’s incredibly satisfying when, after a detailed analysis of a client’s challenges, I can demonstrate how INSTANDA can meet them head on.

I also work directly with clients on a granular level to ensure implementation runs smoothly. This involves hosting client workshops and helping to resolve any specific issues before go-live. I am also the client’s point of contact when they want to see changes to the platform. Having such open client communication helps INSTANDA to evolve constantly.

Being so close to clients means that I help guide the development and strategic direction of the platform. This could be a group development or assisting with really exciting projects linked to Companies House and integration with wearable technology such as Garmin.

Could you tell us a little about life before INSTANDA?

It seems like such a long time ago because although it has been just two years, a lot has happened in that time.

I’ve always been ambitious. After graduating from university, I joined the KPMG graduate scheme where I worked on large technology implmentation projects for financial services clients between 2015 and 2019. This experience whetted my appetite for innovative solutions within the insurance space. When an opportunity came up at INSTANDA, I knew I had to apply.

The INSTANDA team who interviewed me were so engaging and interested in what I could bring to the role. They portrayed a sense of mission and excitement. The company was (and still is) going places and they wanted me to be part of it. I remember CEO Tim Hardcastle attended one of my interviews, which just about epitomises the INSTANDA culture.

There are no egos, just a team of people wanting to make a big difference to the world in which they operate.

What have you been most proud of in your work to date?

That’s a difficult one. I am proud of lots of things – not just as an individual but as a team.

We delivered a Health insurance product for one of our biggest clients in just eight weeks last summer, which has been game-changing for them.

Internally, we’ve been working on some new demos to showcase the full breadth of INSTANDA’s capabilities as a world-class platform. We’ve had some fantastic feedback. This makes all the hard work worthwhile, knowing that the demos are meeting the clients’ expectations.

Personally, what traits do you feel have made you successful in your role?

Independence and self-motivation. There’s a real emphasis on having the freedom to innovate at INSTANDA. Nobody is constantly looking over your shoulder and telling you what to do. Yes, there is accountability, but you are encouraged to take ownership of your work and do your best.

Of course, there are learnings along the way. Nobody gets things right 100% of the time. However, the culture at INSTANDA is that we’re in it together.

I’ve never been afraid to ask for help. INSTANDA is a vast platform, and so it can take a while to know every corner and niche. Thankfully, there’s no judgement, just willing colleagues who love to offer their support.

I am also adaptable as no two days are ever the same. One day I’ll be focusing on running client workshops on the latest healthcare trends, and the next, I will be inputting into a sales strategy.

What do you enjoy most about working here?

Aside from having the opportunity and freedom to step outside my comfort zone in a role that continues to challenge me, I love the team.

INSTANDA is home to a great bunch of people who’ve created a hospitable place to grow and learn. Everyone, to a tee, has been helpful, accommodating, enthusiastic, fun, and great to work with.

If a new starter asked you for advice in their first month of being here, what would say?

Don’t be afraid to get involved in as much as you can as it will help your learning, particularly when you’ve got the excuse of being new!

Build your internal network with people from across the business. Talk to people in each team to understand what they expect of you and what you can learn from them.

Ask as many questions as you can think of and know that it’s ok to challenge assumptions. Also, if relevant to your role, jump straight into engaging with clients – they are eager to learn about how the platform can help their business, and it’s a great opportunity to challenge yourself.

If you could summarise INSTANDA in 3 words, what would they be?

I would have to say Dynamic, Friendly and Ambitious.

To wrap things up with a lighter question, do you have any fun stories to share?

Despite the pandemic, we managed three socially distanced meet-ups when we could, which really helped lift my spirits at the time. There’s also a story of 100 of us trying to sing Christmas songs over Teams, but that gem is absolutely best shared in person!