Viewpoint: Blending leadership skills

If there was a recipe for leadership success, reading about the careers of this year’s Women to Watch honorees might serve up some of the secret ingredients. For some, it’s a dash of humor, being calm under pressure and juggling work and home life with aplomb. For others, it’s being willing to step out of their comfort zone, embrace new opportunities and challenge the status quo. For many, it’s a combination of all of the above, not to mention a pinch of luck that led them to scale the heights in their insurance and risk management careers.

It’s often said that the insurance sector has an image problem when it comes to attracting the next generation of talent. Some young people are said to consider a career in insurance a “boring option” or to view the industry as one that’s a bit stuck in its ways or, at least, not the most glamorous option. A positive takeaway from this year’s Women To Watch honorees is that many were drawn to the industry because of the fundamental role it plays supporting the economy and communities. As one honoree said: “I really became taken hook, line and sinker by what I believe to be the societal value of insurance.” In the words of another honoree: “Insurance may not be every teenager’s dream, but you get to touch on every single industry.”

If there’s a key ingredient in our recipe for success, it’s that this year’s honorees are problem-solvers who were drawn to the industry because of its ability to help people in their greatest time of need. A number of this year’s winners transitioned into the sector from traditional helping professions, such as nursing, teaching, social work, law enforcement and serving in the National Guard. Insurance and police work are not all that different, said one honoree. “I like to help people. I’m a problem solver, and both offered that opportunity,” she said. “The core of insurance is helping people in their time of need, which is very positive,” another honoree said.

Sports and leadership often go together, and that’s true of this year’s honorees. Some linked participation in sports and lessons learned from leading teams through wins and losses on the field to their ability to lead successfully at work. Whether captaining the college soccer team, running marathons or being involved in youth sports, there’s much to be learned from the sports arena that translates to the business world. As one honoree said, playing sports taught her about leading teams to successful outcomes, setting goals and being adaptable — all skills that have served her well in her career. Another chairs a local chapter of Girls on the Run, a program that helps elementary school girls to strengthen their social, emotional and physical skills as they navigate life.

This year’s profiles note many “firsts,” whether first female at the company, first recruit for a new business, first woman to lead a team, or first woman to hold the title. As one honoree said: “It was a very man’s world and still is.” While many of this year’s honorees have seen an increase in the representation of women in leadership roles across the industry, clearly there’s still work to be done. We at Business Insurance are proud to honor the accomplishments of this year’s winners. With their mentorship and guidance, the next generation of women leaders is primed for success.