The Ontario Broker - Volume 23, Issue 3 - 37

the guys in the office-I'll call him Bob. Bob was a smooth talker.
He dressed in three piece suits. He was very polished. Very serious.
I wanted to be successful and so I took that advice-I tried to be
more like Bob. But, in time I realized I'm not Bob. I'm terrible at
being Bob. I decided to lean into what makes me, well, me. So
the worst advice I've ever received was to be like someone else.
And, from that, I think the best piece of advice I can share is to
be authentic. Be you. Of course we all have areas to grow and we
shouldn't stop doing that, but don't lean away from the things that
have brought you this far, the things that are authentically you.
What's the most rewarding part of your role?
The thing that motivates me the most in my current role and all
throughout my career is people. Helping people, leading people,
working with people-even debating people! I am passionate about
people. I was always the kid in school that was thrilled when there
was a group project so we could bring in different perspectives
and expertise. I'm still thrilled today that when a challenge arises, I
have an incredible team of people surrounding me and a brilliant
Board to engage. I also love giving new people opportunities and
seeing them run with it. Sometimes they do the complete opposite
of what I would do (and for a moment, honestly I'm a little nervous)
and then they bring it all together and deliver strong. Even better,
they're excited and motivated. I not only learn that I have an
incredibly capable colleague to lean on but also that you can do
things in a completely different way and it will still be successful.
So, people is what is most rewarding to me. Those I work with, the
members I serve and the consumers that depend on our industry.
What are your observations on women in leadership
positions in the insurance industry?
I read an article a while ago in the Globe & Mail on the gender
gap across the national work force. It wasn't specific to our industry,
but the findings won't surprise anyone. Let me give you one quote,
that I think sums it up, " Women are outnumbered, outranked and
out-earned by men not just at the very top, but on the way to the
top and in the middle. " We've got a long way to go. I think we're
seeing more and more women in management roles, but there are
still gaps at the executive tables. We're slowly chipping away at it,
but there's more to do. I feel, quite passionately, that once you get
into a leadership role, it's your, and my, responsibility to help the
next woman get there. Having an advocate-and I've had a few-
has helped me immensely. And I take my responsibility to now
be an advocate for others very seriously. I believe we'll get there,
especially when I meet the new generation of women joining the
workforce. They give me so much hope for the future. They are a
force to be reckoned with and I love it!
In what ways can female employees be better
supported and empowered?
There are a lot of ways. Early on in your career, seeing other
women in leadership positions is inspiring-it helps you see a path
for yourself. Mentorship is incredibly important and rewarding for
both the mentor and the mentee.
I think we're still seeing women shoulder more of the burden
at home, and finding ways to offer more flexibility is critical. In
this hybrid environment, we're going to have to be incredibly
thoughtful in making sure that we're not overlooking women who
may need to work from home more often than others. We need to
be deliberate about confronting proximity biases. And we need to
understand that parents of any gender may need to step back a bit
when they have young children, and we need to make sure that
they aren't penalized or overlooked because of it. It's a big challenge
in particular for working moms, for women who may be looking
after elderly parents and we need to recognize.
What are your top tips for leading a fulfilling career?
I believe that if you are doing work you care about and connect
with, you will have a fulfilling career. I think the industry you
represent and the people you work with also contribute to feeling
fulfilled. I believe strongly in the critical role the insurance
industry plays in the lives of Canadians. I believe our industry
provides the financial support and peace of mind people and
businesses need to carry on. And, I believe IBC plays an important
role in helping insurance be more available and affordable across
the country. I care deeply about the work we do and for the team
I lead and members I serve. For me, that's translated to feeling
fulfilled in my career.
We need to understand that
parents of any gender may need
to step back a bit when they have
young children, and we need to
make sure they aren't penalized
or overlooked because of it.
Volume 23 | Issue 3
37
The Ontario Broker - Volume 23, Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Ontario Broker - Volume 23, Issue 3
