What I learned from being honored as a Business Insurance 2023 Woman to Watch

It was an honor to be recognized this month in New York City by Business Insurance as one of the 2023 Women to Watch honorees. I found the conference sessions to be inspiring, with panel representation by some of the most notable CEOs and leaders in the insurance industry. As I sat in the presence of so many successful men and women, coming together in support of women in the insurance industry, I was humbled by the countless shoulders I have stood on over the years. I have been fortunate to receive mentoring and support from many colleagues throughout my career and I continue to work in a vertical that encourages me, lifts me up and fosters opportunities. 

The session I found most impactful was a CEO panel entitled, “Tomorrow’s Builders: Inside the Minds of Today’s Leaders.” Panelists were asked questions on various topics such as management, recruitment and talent retention. Much of the discussion focused on mentorship. Sabrina Hart, CEO of Munich Reinsurance America, Inc., spoke about bias in mentorship, noting that leaders within an organization can only share information gained from their own experiences. The idea that my way of doing things is biased gnawed at me throughout the conference. I have grown substantially over my nearly 18 years at Alliant, and there is still a lot of growth left in me. I left the conference engaged in a great deal of self-reflection. I can do better; I need to do better. 

With a fire sparked in me from the Business Insurance 2023 Women to Watch event, I was eager for perspective from Alliant’s leadership on the topic of mentorship and professional development. Working at an organization with a company-wide workforce comprised of 61% female, including a 54% female executive/management team, I went right to the source and scheduled a conversation with Tom Corbett, Chairman and CEO of Alliant.  

I floated various questions and ideas by Tom, asking him what it means to have women within our organization be recognized as industry leaders, what mentorship means to him and how we can continue to grow at every level of our careers. Tom stressed that the playing field should be level, and that the more diverse groups we bring to the table, the better the industry will be. Alliant’s commitment to breaking down walls is underscored by what we’ve achieved as a company with respect to DE&I and our conscious effort to foster the development of all professionals in the insurance industry. 

Ilene Anders represents this level playing field that Tom has helped to cultivate at Alliant. As Chief Financial Officer of Alliant, Ilene notes that her career has predominately been spent working with men, and she realizes how important it is for women to see other women in leadership roles. This reflection was a catalyst to Ilene pursing her current role on Alliant’s executive leadership team. She notes that she is inspired to work with great people and recognizes the opportunities that have emerged within our organization under Tom’s leadership.

For me, being named one of the Business Insurance 2023 Women to Watch didn’t just symbolize a career milestone or the culmination of hours of hard work; it reminded me of the sacrifice that women give every day to make their careers a priority. I thought back on the number of events that I’ve missed for my three children and remembered that simply by attending this event in New York meant missing a Christmas concert for my fourth-grade son and a drama play for my eighth-grade daughter. Nonetheless, with a passion for both my career and for my family, I will continue to seek the ideal balance as a working mother. There is always something that takes priority at any given time. 

During my conversation with Tom, I asked him what I can do to do better. He replied that the greatest contribution I can make is to continue to seek young talent and contribute my own abilities to teach them what I know and help them grow. With that guidance, and my own passion for mentorship, that priority will continue to fight its way for a piece of my working mother pie. 

There are so many women deserving of the Business Insurance Women to Watch recognition. Congratulations to the 2023 honorees, those women that were nominated, and women across the industry working every day to do better.