Executives share ageism struggles at Women to Watch event

Age discrimination and finding female role models can be challenging for women in the commercial insurance industry, according to a panel discussion at the 19th annual Business Insurance Women to Watch Awards program in New York Tuesday.

“Ageism” does exist, said Leanne Berry, Chicago-based chief distribution officer for Vantage Group Holdings Ltd.

“Of course, ageism is real. We’ve all experienced it. We’ve seen it. We’ve witnessed it. I witnessed it throughout my career,” Ms. Berry said.

She added that at times she has even imposed age-specific goals upon herself, putting pressure on herself to accomplish certain milestones by the age of 50.

Panelists’ experiences showed age discrimination can take place against the older or younger.

Amy Cooper, Miami-based vice president, carrier practice for Gallagher Bassett Services Inc., said she had experienced age discrimination early in her career in a meeting when a client bypassed her for a senior male colleague.

“They reached right past me to the older man behind me” to shake his hand instead, assuming that he was in charge of the meeting, Ms. Cooper said.

Jodie Kaufman Davis, Detroit-based co-president, H.W. Kaufman Group Inc., said that early in her career it was difficult to find female role models.

“I remember many years ago, when I was a young lawyer, and I was always looking for a role model. I knew that I aspired to have a family, so I always wanted to find someone who was a successful law firm partner and who had a family, and it was very hard for me to find that person,” Ms. Kaufman Davis said.

Margaret Resce Milkint, global insurance practice leader at Diversified Search Group, who moderated the session, echoed Ms. Kaufman Davis’ role model dilemma. “I looked for one. I couldn’t find her,” she said.