1. 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-
nancialServices.IwasdrawntoInsurancebe-
cause Iwas intrigued bythe complex dynam-
ics associated with assessing risk and price
setting.I sawthis as a great opportunityand a
personalchallenge.
■ 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’venotexperiencedthisandhavemanagedto
findtherightbalancethroughoutmycareer.
■ 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
higherproportionofwomentomenaten-
trylevelpositionswithintheindustry.The
challenge is ensuring we retain more of
ourfemaletalentastheircareersprogress.
■ 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
thoseperceptions.
■ 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-
lasAubertwith a emphasis on improving
gender balance in our leadership teams.I
am delighted to say that I have just been
promotedtotheUKExecutiveBoard.
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-
grammesandencouragingopendialogue
aboutwork/lifebalancechallenges.
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 finance industry. My fa-
ther taught me I could do whatever I
wanted to do as a career regardless of
mygender.
■ How can graduates and school
leavers be encouraged to consider a
career in insurance?
By working with schools and offering
work experience during summer breaks.
Thisalsoaddstotheirlifeexperience.In-
suranceissuchadiverseindustrybutthe
old stereotype of it being a man’s world
stillexists. Ihavebeenprivilegedtowork
with some great women and I think we
needtoexposemorepupils/graduatesto
womenliketheseforinspiration.
■ 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.
“Inaglobalmarketplaceweknowthatdiversity—ofpeople,ideas,andskills—isessentialforustocontinue
buildingourcompetitiveadvantage”,statesNicolasAubertUKManagingDirectorofAIG.
“DiversityandInclusionisnotonlytherightthingtodo,butalsoformstheheartofourviabilityasagreatcompanythatattractsand
retainsthebestpeople.ForAIGDiversityisthepowerofourdifferencesandInclusionmeansusingthatpowertoachieveacompetitive
advantage.Wearedevelopingamindsetofinclusioninwhichdifferencesareconsideredassetsratherthanobstacles”explainsAubert.
■ Have you experienced and
ourfemaletalentastheircareersprogress.
What or who inspired / attracted you
I grew up in a family of girls.All pursued
careers in the finance 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-
nancialServices.IwasdrawntoInsurancebe-
cause Iwas intrigued bythe complex dynam-
ics associated with assessing risk and price
setting.I sawthis as a great opportunityand a
negativity towards you as a woman working
lasAubertwith 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
thoseperceptions.
■ 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.Wearedevelopingamindsetofinclusioninwhichdifferencesareconsideredassetsratherthanobstacles”explainsAubert.
■
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
thoseperceptions.
■
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.Wearedevelopingamindsetofinclusioninwhichdifferencesareconsideredassetsratherthanobstacles”explainsAubert.