The Insurance Apprentice

Meet Alicia Narainsamy, Executive Head: Digital Innovation at Santam Insurance Specialist Solutions.

Long before the finalists took the stage, Alicia played a key role in the TIA2026 journey by setting the pre-elimination challenge that helped identify the Top 20 contestants from across the country.

Now, as Santam sponsors the season finale, get to know the leader behind one of the competition's earliest and most important milestones.

Insurance exists to be there when people need it most.

In this episode of “The Why Behind The Task”, Vanasa Padayachee, Manager: Insurers Supervision Department at the FSCA South Africa, unpacks the thinking behind a challenge designed to test how well contestants balance business decisions with customer outcomes.

Drawing on real issues identified within the industry, the task challenged contestants to consider what happens when insurers fail to meet the needs of their customers and the impact those decisions can have when it matters most.

From consumer rights to responsible product design, this challenge served as a reminder that great insurance starts with putting people first and ensuring every product delivers on its promise when customers need it most.