MAY 2013 · 9A SUPPLEMENT BY MEDIAPLANET DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE INDEPENDENT

AIG SHOWCASE TOP WOMEN LEADING THE WAY IN FINANCE

Netsai Mangwende, Manager, Financial Planning & Analysist

■ What or who inspired / attracted you to a

career in insurance?

From the beginning I wanted a career in Fi-nancial Services. I was drawn to Insurance be-cause I was intrigued by the complex dynam-ics associated with assessing risk and price setting. I saw this as a great opportunity and a personal challenge.

■ Have you experienced any barriers /

negativity towards you as a woman working

in insurance?

Some of my female colleagues feel they have to work harder than their male counterparts to access the same opportunities. However I’ve not experienced this and have managed to fi nd the right balance throughout my career.

■ What has AIG done, if anything to support

your progression?

My managers have taken an active interest in my development and have championed by career within AIG. For example I’m now part of a programme to develop future lead-ers. This programme will support my ca-reer, my personal development and give me exposure to exciting opportunities within the company.

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

Lisa Williams, UK Casualty Director

■ What attracted you to a career in

insurance?

I had wanted to join the police but at the time I was too short so my parents suggest-ed banking or insurance. At my interview I

was so enthused by my interviewer about the scope of insurance that I decided it was for me.

■ How can young people be encouraged into

insurance?

We need to raise awareness about what we do. For example, we enable industry, tech-nology and science to innovate and develop new products by covering some of the risks that might prevent or at least slow down innovation. We need to do more to get that message across.

■ What would you say to your daughter

perhaps, who may be contemplating a career

in Insurance?

Absolutely, I would encourage her. It’s a fan-tastic industry to work in particularly if you like learning new things in an ever chang-ing environment.

Kate Roy, UK Operations manager

■ Are school age girls put off by a career

in insurance?

In my experience they are not. There is a higher proportion of women to men at en-try level positions within the industry. The challenge is ensuring we retain more of our female talent as their careers progress.

■ Is the image of the pinstripe suited

insurance man appropriate in 2013?

It is neither accurate nor appropriate, however those perceptions still exist. So the continued investment in diversity in our senior teams will ultimately remove those perceptions.

■ What has AIG done, if anything to

support your progression?

At AIG we have a particular focus on Workplace Diversity led by our MD Nico-las Aubert with a emphasis on improving gender balance in our leadership teams. I am delighted to say that I have just been promoted to the UK Executive Board.

I’ve had the opportunity to make a personal contribution to develop our fe-male talent through women’s network-ing groups, dedicated mentoring pro-grammes and encouraging open dialogue about work / life balance challenges.

Ingrid Woodward, European head of specialty claims

■ What or who inspired / attracted you

to a career in insurance?

I grew up in a family of girls. All pursued careers in the fi nance industry. My fa-ther taught me I could do whatever I wanted to do as a career regardless of my gender.

■ How can graduates and school

leavers be encouraged to consider a

career in insurance?

By working with schools and o� ering work experience during summer breaks. This also adds to their life experience. In-surance is such a diverse industry but the old stereotype of it being a man’s world still exists. I have been privileged to work with some great women and I think we need to expose more pupils / graduates to women like these for inspiration.

■ Have you experienced and

barriers/negativity towards you as a

woman whilst working in insurance –

example?

On the contrary! I was promoted when I returned from maternity leave. If you start looking for barriers you impose your own limitations. If you are deter-mined and have goals you will succeed.

“In a global marketplace we know that diversity — of people, ideas, and skills — is essential for us to continue building our competitive advantage”, states Nicolas Aubert UK Managing Director of AIG.

“Diversity and Inclusion is not only the right thing to do, but also forms the heart of our viability as a great company that attracts and retains the best people. For AIG Diversity is the power of our di� erences and Inclusion means using that power to achieve a competitive advantage. We are developing a mindset of inclusion in which di� erences are considered assets rather than obstacles” explains Aubert.

■ Have you experienced and

our female talent as their careers progress.

What or who inspired / attracted you

I grew up in a family of girls. All pursued careers in the fi nance industry. My fa-ther taught me I could do whatever I wanted to do as a career regardless of

leavers be encouraged to consider a

What or who inspired / attracted you to a

From the beginning I wanted a career in Fi-nancial Services. I was drawn to Insurance be-cause I was intrigued by the complex dynam-ics associated with assessing risk and price setting. I saw this as a great opportunity and a

negativity towards you as a woman working

las Aubert with a emphasis on improving gender balance in our leadership teams. I

■ Is the image of the pinstripe suited

insurance man appropriate in 2013?

It is neither accurate nor appropriate, however those perceptions still exist. So the continued investment in diversity in our senior teams will ultimately remove those perceptions.

■ What has AIG done, if anything to

support your progression?

At AIG we have a particular focus on Workplace Diversity led by our MD Nico-

advantage. We are developing a mindset of inclusion in which di� erences are considered assets rather than obstacles” explains Aubert.

■

insurance man appropriate in 2013?

It is neither accurate nor appropriate, however those perceptions still exist. So the continued investment in diversity in our senior teams will ultimately remove those perceptions.

■

support your progression?

At AIG we have a particular focus on Workplace Diversity led by our MD Nico-

was so enthused by my interviewer about the scope of insurance that I decided it was for me.

■

insurance?

We need to raise awareness about what we do. For example, we enable industry, tech-nology and science to innovate and develop new products by covering some of the risks that might prevent or at least slow down innovation. We need to do more to get that

advantage. We are developing a mindset of inclusion in which di� erences are considered assets rather than obstacles” explains Aubert.