The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation recently surveyed more than 800 females in the insurance industry, and found that 26 percent feel the insurance industry is more embracing of women in leadership positions, compared to other industries.
Respondents acknowledged that the key challenges to advancing to senior roles are varied, with 35 percent citing limited availability of opportunities to move up the corporate ladder, but another 32 percent stating that women’s own shortcomings in self-promotion are career advancement deterrents. Sixty-four percent said the primary action their companies could take to better support the development of women in the workplace would be to better identify high-potential female employees and offer leadership training opportunities.
Several presenters at IICF's Chicago event on June 3, 2014 offered leadership advice to attendees.
“Though we, as an industry, have made significant strides in creating a positive and equal work environment, there is still more we can do,” said Joe Tocco, chief executive North America P&C for XL Group, which was a national presenting sponsor of the IICF’s 2014 Women in Insurance Conference Series in June. “Collectively, the industry has been successful in continuing an important dialogue about gender diversity and the tangible, real-world benefits it provides for companies and their employees. These conferences have created a forum for both women and men to discuss issues they see in their everyday lives and work together to find solutions for themselves and the next generation of insurance professionals.”
