Our Wakamees are talented: Junlei Chapman

Meet Junlei Chapman, our dedicated UK Compliance Monitoring Officer at Wakam.

Junlei plays a vital role in ensuring that both Wakam UK and Wakam SA remain compliant with regulatory standards, helping us navigate the complex landscape of rules and guidance with precision and care. With her sharp eye for detail, Junlei reviews our practices, identifies risks, and collaborates with stakeholders to ensure we continue operating responsibly and transparently.

Her journey, from studying environmental biology in China to excelling in financial compliance, reflects her adaptability and drive, making her a key player in Wakam’s mission to transform the insurance industry.

Can you start by introducing yourself and the job that you’re doing at Wakam?

I’m a UK compliance monitoring officer. I do compliance monitoring for Wakam UK and Wakam SA.

My job is to ensure we follow rules and guidance from our regulators that are applicable to us, reviewing our practices, identifying issues, and working with stakeholders to mitigate risks.

So you’re basically the guardian of making sure that we’re doing everything right here at Wakam?

Yeah, basically that’s compliance . We make sure we do business in the right way according to the regulators, so we stay out of trouble.

What quality do you value the most in your colleagues?

I value flexibility, adaptability, and being open-minded. Being a team player is also essential. It’s important to have colleagues who can adjust to changing situations and support each other.

What has been your greatest personal challenge, and how has it influenced your career?

I studied environmental biology in China, but after working in that field for a few years, I realized it wasn’t for me. I got an opportunity at the Bank of China, which opened my career in the financial sector.

Since then, I’ve worked in financial companies in Cape Town, the UK, and beyond. It was challenging to retrain and adapt, but it has been beneficial for my career.

Each of these experiences taught me a lot and shaped my career path, especially the importance of finding my passion.

Would you say that it’s fulfilling because it always changes and helps you challenge yourself?

Yes, it’s fulfilling because you have to constantly study and adapt to new things. Even in the financial sector, regulations are always changing, so it’s a constant challenge, but it’s something I enjoy.

Is there a project or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of? Why?

I’m particularly proud of my work on the consumer duty project at a B2B2C company . It wasn’t a big compliance team, but I played a crucial role in implementing duty within a nine-month timeframe.

This achievement helped me develop both personal and professional skills , particularly in working collaboratively with all key stakeholders to achieve the compliance with the timescale set by FCA understanding compliance.

In my last job, I had to implement the whole consumer duty when it was introduced, which took about nine months. I collaborated with key stakeholders, and it was a hard, challenging job that required both personal and professional skills. In the end, we passed the audit, and the external auditors were happy with what we achieved. So, I’m proud of that.

What skills or knowledge have you developed at Wakam that serve you the most today?

First time working in a start-up environment taught me a lot about adaptability and rapidity. I’ve learned to support each other as a team and from my boss, which has helped build a strong team spirit.

I’ve gained confidence in understanding our business model and the direction of travel, allowing me to adapt quickly to timelines and challenges.

At Wakam, it was my first time working for a startup style company, and I had to quickly adapt. I joined in and, a month later, was told to work on the consumer duty annual report with only two months to complete it. It was very challenging, but I had a lot of support from my team and boss and the rest of the business .

I had to hit the ground running, working collaboratively, adapting quickly, and gaining knowledge about the business, the model, and future directions. I also learned how to make practical recommendations for the business to improve.

So the knowledge and the skill that you develop is really like playing as a team, doing things rapidly and with a lot of adaptability, right?

Yes, exactly. You need to hit the ground running with your knowledge, personality, and the ability to work collaboratively.

Along the journey, you gain a lot of knowledge about how the business operates and its future. You also learn about the regulator’s direction of travel. The key skills I developed were working collaboratively with everyone, adapting to timelines, facing challenges, and achieving the target.

What do you like the most about Wakam’s culture?

I really appreciate the modernization and the freedom we have to make an impact.

The branding is also modern, which is refreshing.

Wakam fosters a friendly and diverse culture where I feel trusted and encouraged to take responsibility. The support from both the team and management is exceptional.

How would you describe the team spirit here?

The team spirit at Wakam is friendly and understanding. Everyone is a team player and always has time for each other.

This supportive atmosphere really makes a difference in our work environment.

When I first joined, I wasn’t sure what the culture would be like, but Wakam has a very modern, open, and friendly environment. It’s more modern than some of the bigger, older brands.

The diversity is great, with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Everyone is very open-minded and supportive. It’s a great place to work, and I enjoy the team spirit a lot.

What’s the most unusual or unexpected situation you’ve had to deal with in your job?

Wakam is a fast-paced company, one of the most unexpected situations I faced was when my boss, Umar, had to take his first day off for personal reasons.

As soon as he left, we received an urgent request from the PRA (Prudential Regulation Authority) regarding the authorisations of some of our partners. There was a strict deadline, and if we didn’t meet it by the due date it could have had serious consequences.

The request came in the afternoon, and I had only joined about a month prior, so it was overwhelming.

I had to step in, review all the permissions for our partners, working with our Chief Risk Officer, the rest of business and our legal consultant and ensure everything was aligned for the report back to PRA.

It was very challenging because I had to learn and act quickly, but in the end, we managed to get the authorization. Umar came back the next day and we joked about it !

We didn’t want to disturb him during his time off, and it was a good learning opportunity for me.

It was a great learning experience and made me feel proud to have contributed to the company’s success.

What do you do to unwind after a long day at work?

I like to do yoga and stretching. I also take a walk to switch off and change the scenery. It’s important for me to maintain a balance between my work and personal life, ensuring that I can relax and recharge after a long day.

Do you have a hidden talent or passion that few people know about?

I think my passion is that I’m double-jointed, and when I was younger, I used to do gymnastics. Now, I practice yoga and Pilates to stay active and maintain my flexibility. Self-care is really important to me, and I try to eat healthy and keep fit.