Standards. Professionalism. Trust. Multicultural and International Role Models in Insurance Multicultural role models in insurance

The Chartered Insurance Institute 42–48 High Road, South Woodford, London E18 2JP tel: +44 (0)20 8989 8464 [email protected] cii.co.uk

Chartered Insurance Institute INSURANCE CULTURAL @CIIGroup AWARENESS N ETWORK

COH_J0112396 12/18

Contents

2. About us 3. Foreword 4. Ada Lu 6. Adobea Atsrefi 8. Alex Kazanjian 10. Alice Hang Tu 12. Anthony Rawlins 14. Ashwin G Mistry OBE 16. Chika Aghadiuno 18. Chirag Shah 20. Christopher Khan 22. Deepak Soni 24. Elisha St Hilaire 26. Erik Johnson 28. Hayley Golden 30. Ivan Yankov 32. Jennifer Thomas 34. Jimmy Kumar 36. Joanne Safo 38. Judith Ugwumadu 40. Kiran Sihra 42. Leon Walker 44. Liam Gray 46. Marjorie Adejumo 48. Maxine Goddard 50. Michael Clarke 52. Nazaneen Challawala-Hatimi 54. Oli Sawyers 56. Omo-Bisi Tanya Daniels 58. Pelumi Ojo 60. Prin Thayaparan 62. Captain Rahul Khanna 64. Rob Anarfi 66. Shamial Afzal 68. Shirine Khoury-Haq 70. Siva Karthikeyan 72. Velma Burton 74. iCAN committee members

1

About the Chartered Insurance Institute Foreword The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is a professional body dedicated to building public trust in the insurance and financial planning professions. Our 125,000 and more members commit to Ajay Mistry, Co-founder and Co-chair, Tali Shlomo, People Engagement Director, Chartered high professional standards and success in CII and Kishan Mangat, Co-chair, iCAN Insurance Institute qualifications is universally recognised as evidence of knowledge and understanding. iCAN is the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network. It is I am privileged that the Chartered Insurance Institute has Find out more at: www.cii.co.uk the only industry-wide independent network that supports partnered with iCAN – the Insurance Cultural Awareness CII Customer Service multicultural and international inclusion across the Network – to produce this book, which I hope you will find 42–48 High Road, South Woodford, insurance sector. as inspirational as I did and provides you with tools to support London E18 2JP further progress on our profession’s diversity and inclusion tel: +44 (0)20 8989 8464 We launched in May 2017, following demand from the industry. journey. email: [email protected] We were born out of the first Dive In Festival (the Insurance industry’s global diversity and inclusion festival), following The diversity of our colleagues is vital, not just to create the realisation that many companies were running separate diversity of thought but also in order to ensure we are able to About iCAN multicultural agendas that were leading to little change. So, we reflect and represent diversity in wider society. Diversity and iCAN stands for Insurance Cultural Awareness decided to do something about it. We quickly came to realise inclusion is now on most senior management teams’ agendas Network. We are the industry-wide independent that speaking with one voice was crucial and by fostering and is a priority for the profession as a whole to attract and network that supports multicultural inclusion across relationships in the industry we really could make a difference retain the talent we need for the future. the insurance sector. Our mission is to promote for our BAME and multicultural colleagues across the sector. But it’s not just ‘the right thing to do’. McKinsey’s Why multicultural inclusion and progression, engage One of our key aims is to bring together existing employee Diversity Matters report reinforces the link between diversity with allies, and celebrate the benefits of inclusion resource groups within the sector and to provide a forum for and company financial performance, and suggests how and diversity in the insurance sector. those organisations that feel they do not have enough critical organisations can craft better inclusion strategies for a We organise and manage many events, networking mass to form their own networks. Since May last year, we competitive edge. The report shows that companies in the and skills sessions, speed mentoring events and have amassed more than 600 members – so we know our top quartile for ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have more, as well as working with companies and their voice is growing. We are providing that much-needed forum financial returns above their respective national industry employee resource groups across the industry to push our colleagues were looking for. In the past 18 months, we medians. the BAME agenda. have been meeting with senior leaders to understand their organisations’ needs around the BAME and multicultural It’s perhaps unsurprising that we still lack diversity in our If you are interested to know more, or want to get agenda, launched mentoring initiatives, hosted events and ethnicity, that men dominate senior management positions and more involved, please visit www.i-can.me or follow we even became an official Inclusion@Lloyd’s partner women are more prevalent in claims and operations. The Post us on Twitter @I_CAN_UK network (with fellow networks GIN , LINK and the Insurance Insurance Census 2016 revealed that the insurance profession is Families Network). 89.4% white, against 86% of the UK population, but the largest growth is in BAME, and BAME students are more likely to reach However, there are still ubiquitous issues in the industry that further education than white students. If we are to access the

need to be addressed. These include increasing international best young talent, we need to reach out to our multicultural working and global mobility; the current and future impacts of society. We are not doing as well as other sectors at gaining Brexit; the attraction, retention and promotion of multicultural BAME representation in senior management: 6.7% of all senior talent; and a clear lack of visible BAME leaders. positions in UK are BAME, but in insurance it is only 3.6%. So, when the conversation with Tali Shlomo and the Chartered Following the recent announcement from UK Prime Minister Insurance Institute (CII) came about to create this booklet Theresa May of consultation on the ethnicity pay gap, what to promote BAME and international role models, we thought better time to start taking action and putting in place initiatives this would be a great chance to highlight some of the to support our multicultural colleagues and attract and retain individuals who have played a key part in advancing the talent to our profession? BAME/international discussion within insurance. Whether they have run BAME and multicultural networks themselves, Getting the best talent is often cited as one of the biggest spoken publicly, organised initiatives, written in the press or strategic challenges insurers and brokers face, along with even keenly attended events, our role models have all been obtaining the skills we believe we need to succeed as new an important part in progressing the BAME and international competitive pressures and technological advances make old agenda. ways obsolete. So why wouldn’t we tap into the widest pool available to get the best chance of finding and developing that By showcasing these industry trailblazers, we want to show talent, rather than restricting that pool to people who look that if you thought “you can’t be it if you can’t see it”, then here like the person they’re sitting next to? Let’s celebrate and you go – the insurance industry is full of positive role models embrace similarities and differences, while we build public for you to see. We want to show you that no matter your walk trust for our consumers by working with our profession to of life, the insurance industry has a place for you – and this make a difference and stand out as a profession of choice. is your time to rise. This report serves as inspiration and a guide to businesses Many thanks to our inspirational group of role models, and across the profession to ensure that diversity and inclusion INSURANCE to the CII for allowing us to promote some visible BAME forms part of their strategic focus. CULTURAL AWARENESS and international leaders. N ETWORK Please join us at www.i-can.me and follow us on Twitter @I_CAN_UK to get involved in the conversation.

2 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 3 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you

Senior associate at Aon Inpoint. My journey in the UK started What is the best piece I help (re)insurers shape and develop in 2011, when I came from of advice you have ever their strategy through providing data, China to study a master’s been given? degree at LSE. No one else will look after analytics, engagement and consulting. your career. Only you can As an Aon company, Aon Inpoint Initially, I was trying to look drive it yourself. not only has an unmatched team of ‘normal’. From overcoming industry professionals, but also access cultural shock to learning to proprietary industry data. This means about how to speak and act What are your thoughts as British, I had to constantly on cultural diversity in the the advice we give is based on factual insurance industry? information, not theory. face the voices in my head – ‘Am I right?’ I was shy, There is still a long way cautious and hardworking, to go. This requires a cultural What is your single proudest achievement? just like the stereotype of shift and efforts from people Summitted Kilimanjaro on the first morning a Chinese woman. from all cultural backgrounds. of 2014. I want to see more leaders Gradually, with the growth from different cultural Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: of my confidence and backgrounds and I want to The motto of my undergraduate university encouragement of my be a future leader. To achieve (Peking University) – “Think freely and colleagues, I realised that this, as people from minority embrace inclusion and diversity”. coming from a different backgrounds, we need both cultural background, I could a strong desire to be leaders offer different perspectives ourselves and an encouraging and come up with different society without hidden rules ways of solving problems. and norms. I began to laugh more and share more of my life outside Did you have a mentor/ work more in the office. I role model to help you am a committee member throughout your career? of the Association of Chinese Yes. Shirine Khoury-Haq Insurance Professionals in and Inga Beale are my two the UK, creating a platform inspiring role models. They for Chinese professionals are both strong leaders with to shine in the industry. lovely charisma. Faced with the challenges of the industry and doubts, they have conquered obstacle after obstacle with their grand vision, persistence, innovative Ada Lu mentality, and effective execution. Also, their active Born: Suzhou, China participation in and support of diversity and inclusion has definitely pushed the awareness in the industry to the next level. I am very proud that I have worked “I realised that coming from a different with these two leaders and I hope one day they can cultural background, I could offer different be proud of me. perspectives and come up with different ways of solving problems.”

4 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 5 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am an accident and health portfolio I was born in Ghana, then What advice would you give underwriter at AIG. I look after the moved to England when your younger self? portfolio book for the AIG accident I was three. I grew up on a Go after what makes you and health team, overseeing its council estate and wanted happy. Don’t be so caught profitability and implementing any to pursue a career in law. up in pleasing others. I went to university outside regulatory changes. I love AIG because of London to gain some What is the best piece the company’s ethos is centred around independence and graduated of advice you shave ever putting the needs of the customer first from the University of Kent been given? and evolving as our customers’ needs with a 2:2. Despite my grade, The worst ‘they’ can say change, which I am passionate about. I continued to pursue a legal is no, but that doesn’t take career, funding my legal anything away from you. What was your first ever job? practice course while working Sales assistant, Claire’s Accessories. full-time. Are you competitive? Very. It’s a blessing and Eventually I realised wasn’t a curse but I always want What is your single proudest achievement? for me – I loved the practical to be the best at anything Winning the We Are The City Rising Star application of law but not I do. in Insurance Award in 2016. the administration and couldn’t see myself enjoying What are your thoughts Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: the career in the long term. on cultural diversity in the “The only one that can get in your way At this point I felt a bit insurance industry? is you.” lost and wasn’t sure which There isn’t enough but it’s path to follow, so I applied improving. It’s an industry for a temporary claims steeped in history and administration role at AIG in naturally that will take a while 2014, and have progressed to change. The change can through the company since. happen but we need combine I am a committee member our focus on discussing the of SHINE, AIG’s multicultural issues with actions to make employee network, and actual steps forward. have set up a mentoring programme through the Did you have a mentor/ company. role model to help you Adobea throughout your career? I have a few. They have been both formal and informal but I can definitely attribute my progress to a number of Atsrefi individuals who have taken the time to listen to me and Born: Accra, Ghana guide me over the years.

“Change can happen but we need combine our focus on discussing the issues with actions to make actual steps forward.”

6 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 7 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I work as a broker/analyst at Aon in the Growing up I had to be What is the best piece reinsurance arm of the business. I sit a chameleon, as I was the of advice you have ever within the global portfolio broking team only Armenian in my school, been given? and bring portfolio-based solutions with parents that had never You don’t have to have the to clients and markets. I love working known British culture. Fitting answer to everything. in wasn’t always easy as the at Aon as there is an extremely loose cultural relationships with What are your thoughts hierarchy, which allows for very fluid friends were so different. on cultural diversity in the collaboration between an extremely However, I was lucky that insurance profession? wide array of teams and people. there were groups of friends It is important to be aware in school that could accept of issues outside of your What was your first ever job? the fact I was quite different. day-to-day role, and cultural Bartender. There was a point right diversity has a much bigger before my GCSEs that I was impact than people realise. What is your single proudest achievement? threatened with being asked Starting a charity programme for Armenians to leave as I was having more Did you have a mentor/ from across the world to spend a summer fun than working at school role model to help you in London and gain work experience, (my grades dropped below throughout your career? develop relationships and build long-lasting a C consistently for two Yes. I was really lucky to have friendships. years). After that warning, two informal mentors (both and some strong words from at Aon), one formal mentor who I currently work for Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: my mother, I never dropped that changed my life, and I have two of them: “Success is not final, below an A. my parents. failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue I am proud to have built my that counts” – Winston Churchill; and “The career, while also helping What advice would you give smallest of actions is far greater than the Armenian children with their noblest of intentions” – Robin Sharma. to a younger person starting careers. I am also a member out in the profession? of the Aon Multicultural Work hard, execute on any Network and I think it is project you have, and if you important to push the have a bad manager who multicultural agenda. can’t promote you, move as that relationship is not sustainable. Also, learn Alex how to develop portfolios, analytics or AI as the insurance profession will Kazanjian be moving in that direction. Born: UK, but originally I am Armenian

“Growing up I had to be a chameleon, as I was the only Armenian in my school, with parents that had never known British culture.”

8 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 9 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you In my recent actuarial pricing internship I am a first-generation British What is the best piece “Keen on at Aviva, I was involved in modernising Asian and was the first of my of advice you have ever our current pricing approach and family to attend university. been given? pursuing a optimising rating tools used by I graduated in pharmacology Never look back and regret underwriters. Aviva has a competitive from King’s College London. any decisions that you have career within made in the past, as they advantage as a composite insurer, I first gained exposure were the right decision for the sector, helping 33 million customers to defy to the insurance world you at that moment in time. uncertainty while placing them at the through attending the heart of everything that they do. Insurance, Reinsurance and I made a bold Risk Insight day, hosted by What is your favourite song/ Aon and the charity SEO piece of music? Relevant qualifications/awards: (and very risky) London. Fascinated by the Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Pharmacology degree. components of the insurance Einaudi. decision to quit value chain, my interest in What is your single proudest achievement? the profession began when What did you want to be my full-time Coming from a low socioeconomic I learned of the importance background, my proudest achievement when you were a child? of insurance in ensuring An evening-dress designer. job to actively was initiating and implementing a widening the smooth running of the participation bursary scheme for economy. Keen on pursuing begin this disadvantaged students. a career within the sector, What are your thoughts I made a bold (and very on cultural diversity in the journey with Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: risky) decision to quit my insurance profession? “Where there is a will, there is a way.” full-time job to actively begin Many insurance firms are no relevant this journey with no relevant now integrating diversity experience. I soon secured as part of their culture and experience.” a three-month actuarial values, but there is always internship with Aviva to begin more room to improve. with. I enjoyed the internship The welcoming rise of and learned a lot from a cultural diversity groups technical team. I am now such as iCAN does mark a looking for a more varied positive movement in the full-time role to break into right direction of increasing the sector. cultural diversity in the sector.

Did you have a mentor/ role model to help you throughout your career? I currently have a mentor who kindly gives me career guidance, and a role model who also started his insurance career at 25. It is very important to have mentors – I have found the experience invaluable. Alice Hang Tu Born: London

10 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 11 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am a partner at BLM, London. I accepted From an early age, I wanted What is the best piece partnership at BLM, which specialises to be a lawyer, not a doctor of advice you have ever in servicing all areas of the Insurance or dentist as my Indo- been given? profession, doing what I love: it is my Caribbean mother or my There are many ways to skin passion, my hobby, my career. half-German, half-English a cat. father (not sure there are many who can claim such Favourite music: What is your single proudest achievement? diversity with their heritage!) Any Metallica song! Lowkey: Becoming a partner at the age of 35. wanted. Fire in the Booth. I used to follow underground German Relevant qualifications/awards: Casting my mind back to my rap in my teens and I like the I read law at King’s College, University of formative years as a young new grime scene for similar London. I undertook the Bar Vocational child in Trinidad, I recall reasons. Course at the Inns of Court, School of Law a strong belief in what and was called to Middle Temple in 2006, I considered to be the sense Handwriting: then I cross-qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and of justice. But as I have gone A scrawl. I have begun have worked exclusively in the insurance legal through my career, I have to appreciate the benefits sector since that time. faced numerous hurdles, of dictation. challenges and knockbacks that made me question why What are your thoughts I should continue chasing my on cultural diversity in the dream. Often during these insurance industry? crises of confidence, I It is achievable and inevitable became acutely aware that as globalisation takes a hold there was no one in the legal of the market. Grassroots profession that I knew who networks such as iCAN, for looked like me and whose example, will help deliver career path I could seek to cultural change in the market emulate. However, I persisted at a much faster pace. I hope and am proud to have that those entering the become a partner at age market and who may be of 35. going through any crises of confidence will be provided with some comfort that the market is changing, becoming more diverse than ever and importantly that there is a place for them, Anthony Rawlins whatever they may choose to do. Born: London (but grew up in Trinidad)

“As I have gone through my career, I have faced numerous hurdles, challenges and knockbacks that made me question why I should continue chasing my dream... However, I persisted and am proud to have become a partner at age of 35.”

12 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 13 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Executive Chairman of Brokerbility I came to the UK aged seven What is the best piece Holdings. I oversee all the group from Nairobi, Kenya. After a of advice you have ever companies (including the Brokerbility tough childhood, my father been given? Network, BHIB Insurance Brokers, passed away before I could Keep trying, failing which, Churchill Insurance Consultants and go to university. Therefore, you’re guaranteed to fail. I had to start my career Brokertech) and still look after clients early, joining Guardian Royal What is your favourite song/ personally. The organisation’s USP Exchange on its Professional is that we are an independent broker, piece of music? New Entrant Scheme. In 1983, All things Bollywood. we have all routes to the end customer, I joined a small six-person with the flexibility and agility to adapt local broker in Leicester, to changing customer behaviour and selling door to door. As the Are you competitive? buying habits. business grew over the years, Who wants to come second? I became a client director. What was your first ever job? I realised the value in working What are your thoughts Cleaning tables at Woolworths dining area. with similar, like-minded on cultural diversity in the independent businesses insurance profession? and in 2006, founded the When did you join the insurance/risk Needs to be believed at every Brokerbility network – an profession? level of an organisation, not exclusive member’s network 17 July 1978. just a select few. of independent brokers. What is your single proudest achievement? In 2009, I took a risk and What made you stay in the I have two: getting an OBE for services to led a management buyout profession? careers education; and becoming the national of the business. I am now Just love the challenges… president of the Chartered Insurance Institute the executive chairman it certainly is never boring! in 2014. of Brokerbility Holdings, employing 170 people across Relevant qualifications/awards: four offices. OBE and ACII. As and when the Ashwin opportunities arose, I took Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: full advantage of everything “In the valley of the blind, the one-eyed man on offer and put in the hard is King”. yards required to get G Mistry OBE noticed at every level. Born: Nairobi, East Africa

“As and when the opportunities arose, I took full advantage of everything on offer.”

14 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 15 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am the group risk strategy and analysis I stumbled across the What is the best piece director at Aviva. I help identify, manage actuarial profession when of advice you have ever and report on the full spectrum of risks trying to decide on a been given? facing the company, applying analytics university course and Go for it – what have you and insight. Aviva is a global insurer and entered the profession after really got to lose? graduating. Having grown market leader in the UK. Our purpose up outside London, I was not Do you have any is to defy uncertainty for our customers fazed by the lack of diversity and we are proud of the mythbusting hidden talents? at the time. My mentality Fledgling tapdancer. fact that in 2017, Aviva paid out 98% was to keep my head down of all its claims. and work hard. I had no real ambition beyond doing What are your thoughts What was your first ever job? a good job. I managed to on cultural diversity in the A fruit picker. survive a tough period of insurance profession? major reorganisations and It has some way to go but is much better now compared What is your single proudest achievement? starting a family. Despite Establishing a framework for managing the working part-time, I made to even a couple of years c.£9bn claims provisions held across the steady progress. My work ago. My experience is that group with a team I built from scratch. ethic and resilience (inherited it can be geographically from my late father) helped. diverse, given the global I made one bold decision to reach of firms such as Aviva. Relevant qualifications/awards: apply for a senior director However, diversity in terms Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries; of representation from member of the Institute of Directors; position and took a gamble when there was a further the UK black community companion of the Chartered Management in particular is still lacking. Institute; ranked in the Empower Ethnic reorganisation. It paid off. In recent years, I have found Female representation again Minority Leaders List, presented by the FT is improving but issues for the top 100 BAME business leaders. that embracing a wider remit in the diversity and inclusion remain at the higher grades. space and getting exposure The profession is ripe for Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: outside my firm (I am a NED) disruption in the widest “The fragrance stays in the hand that gives has really enhanced my sense and therefore I am very the rose”. skillset and confidence. optimistic about what lies Chika ahead in terms of diversity. There is a real recognition that our talent pool needs to be widened in order to remain relevant in the rapidly Aghadiuno changing landscape. And of course, many firms such as Born: South London Aviva recognise the imperative of better representing our customer base.

What advice would you give to a younger person starting out in the profession? “In recent years, I have found that embracing Be strategic – aim to go wide as well as deep. Keep a wider remit in the diversity and inclusion learning and be agile. space and getting exposure outside my firm (I am a NED) has really enhanced my skillset and confidence.”

16 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 17 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you

I currently hold the position of director I started at a small, family-run What advice would you give within Churchill Insurance Consultants, broker, where I immediately your younger self? part of the Brokerbility Holdings Group. developed a passion for Ninety-nine percent of things My role has a particular focus on new insurance, learning that you worry about never happen. Dream more, be business development and placement building relationships plays a critical role, as does knowing bold, worry less and enjoy strategy, and my specialist areas are the technical aspects of every day. It goes fast! property, construction, commercial and insurance. I also quickly business insurances. Our company ethos recognised that, as a key is to build strong relationships with What did you want to be part of the management when you were a child? clients and go beyond insurance to team, I also needed to act A car mechanic. My father, be THE trusted adviser. as a mentor for others. I soon brother and I would spend became a key support for most weekends at our local What was your first ever job? the directors in all aspects mechanic watching and A small, family-run broker in Bushey, Herts. of running the business. helping to fix old cars. I found Putting myself out there it fascinating. Relevant qualifications/awards: came with challenges and Dip CII. risks; however, opportunities What is your favourite song/ were also to be had. At piece of music? Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: my current firm, I have Notorious B.I.G – Sky’s the ‘Your actions define you. What you are will maintained the same values Limit. An amazing lyricist show in what you do.’ but now taken it to another whose life ended too quickly. level that has allowed me to act in my capacity as a director. If you were a superhero what powers would you want I have a team that supports to have? me, which I wholeheartedly Indefinite youth – because value. I continue to learn I never want to grow up! from everyone around me and remind myself of my journey that has made me Are you competitive? Only with myself. who I am today.

What made you stay in the profession? People! I have met some amazing people during the Chirag Shah last 11 years. Born: London

“I have a team that supports me, which I wholeheartedly value. I continue to learn from everyone around me and remind myself of my journey that has made me who I am today.”

18 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 19 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Head of Internal Audit at the Corporation I came from a relatively Are you competitive? “I came from of Lloyd’s. I am responsible for the humble upbringing. I was I am very competitive, it leadership and strategic direction born in Zimbabwe to a often brings the best out of a relatively of the internal audit function. I provide mixed-race family. I was a person. I believe competition independent assurance that the fortunate enough to start is healthy and it makes humble at KPMG at 18, where people grow and develop Corporation of Lloyd’s’ risk management, I also obtained a degree and in ways they won’t believe. upbringing. governance and internal control a professional accounting Without it, you run the risk processes are designed and operating qualification. of stagnation. I was born in effectively. Lloyd’s is a unique marketplace. It has existed for more than 300 years In 2000, I arrived in the UK and I started out What are your thoughts Zimbabwe and has a remarkable concentration auditing within the big on cultural diversity in the of talent and expertise that is unrivalled four accounting firms, and insurance profession? to a mixed-race anywhere in the world. As a market, then I joined the insurance It is improving, momentum Lloyd’s is well capitalised and has always profession where my career is growing and the benefits family.” paid valid claims. took off. I worked my way up are starting to be felt. I look and became head of internal around and I see workplaces What was your first ever job? audit for Catlin Group (they that are becoming more and I worked for a family travel agency. believed in me and gave me more diverse. The profession a chance). When Catlin was is starting to unlock the talent What is your single proudest achievement? taken over by XL Group, I pool that exists, and this will Getting married to my wife Clare and having became the deputy global only ever result in better our two wonderful children, Michael and head of internal audit. Most integrated societies and Jessica. They give me a strong sense of recently, I became Head of better performance from purpose and drive in everything I do. From a Internal Audit at Lloyd’s the business profession as professional perspective, I would have to say of London. a whole. I was proud to be becoming Head of Internal Audit at Lloyd’s a founding member of iCAN I would say: work hard, and part of this journey. of London. This is an iconic brand worldwide respect people and anything and to think I am the Head of Internal Audit is possible regardless of is a privilege and an honour. where you have come from. Did you have a mentor/ The market is supportive, role model to help you Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: and doors can be opened. throughout your career? One saying that is on the wall in my kitchen: Yes, throughout my career “Nothing is impossible, the word itself I had access to various says i’m possible” Audrey Hepburn. mentors and this was of great benefit. It gave me a sounding board and a sense check to help me refocus on what was most important for my career and mental health. I would recommend that people look into working with a mentor, especially if you are starting to feel the pressures of work and life.

What advice would you give to a younger person starting out in the profession? Christopher Remember that people will hire you, or work with you, for your attitude and values. It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you have a bad attitude Khan it will always work against you. The world is changing Born: Harare, Zimbabwe fast and people’s values and attitudes are becoming more and more important.

20 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 21 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am the Director of Commercial I grew up in a very What is the best piece intermediary at AXA Insurance. In my entrepreneurial family. of advice you have ever role at AXA, I am responsible for our My family owned its own been given? SME business and all of our delegated clothing retail business, which The biggest risk in not making authority business. We are one of the I started working at from any decision is not that things a very young age. The will stay the same, but that in largest global insurers and have existed grounding I received and the not making a decision, things for more than 202 years. Our purpose variety of roles I undertook, will ultimately go backwards. is to empower people to live a better from sales and product life and we do this through our distribution to buying, set me What are your thoughts up well for the consumer-led commitment to social innovation on cultural diversity in the career I have today. and sustainability, and enhancing our insurance industry? business from being a payer to being The journey to my present- During my time in this industry, a partner to our customers. day role has not been I have seen a greater level of straightforward or easy, awareness and recognition What was your first ever job? however I am fortunate to around diversity and inclusion. Working in my family’s retail clothing have a lot of good people I believe many people are business. around me who have realising that having different supported me through the views can lead to greater Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: lows and celebrated with innovation, new opportunities “Having plans and direction is really me the highs. and a more customer-focused important, but you have to remain flexible approach. However, the only and adaptable, as the route you thought I entered this industry time we can truly say in any would get you to your destination is not via an Insurance graduate industry we have cracked this always the route you end up taking!” programme at Aon. At that is when we do not have to give time, I was interested in the topic the air time we do capital management, but today and measure it across slowly through exposure the industry like a KPI. That’s to so many interesting areas when being diverse & including of insurance and reinsurance, everyone is truly in our DNA. I realised how varied this industry can be and also how Did you have a mentor/ significant a role insurance role model to help you plays in our day-to-day lives. throughout your career? I have a number of people whom I would refer to as a mentor. I firmly believe different people can help you with Deepak Soni different perspectives and outlooks. You can never have Born: Newcastle-upon-Tyne too many people to turn to when you need to bounce something off.

What advice would you give to a younger person starting “I believe many people are realising that out in the industry? Make yourself invaluable by having different views can lead to greater knowing your area really well – become the expert and innovation, new opportunities and a more learn from those around you. That will enable you to forge customer-focused approach.” the path you want in your career. Those individuals that have always stood out for me across any industry are the ones that have taken time to master what they do, before moving onwards and upwards.

22 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 23 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you

I am a Project Manager currently I was born in the UK, to What advice would you give working at Aon in its retirement mixed-heritage parents. your younger self? solutions, global project services My mother is British and my Dream big, the sky’s the limit division. I am currently managing a father is from St Vincent and and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. variety of regulatory compliance and the Grenadines. I left school at 16, so worked from operational efficiency projects, alongside a young age. studying to become a Certified Associate Are you competitive? in Project Management. Aon is a great An opportunity arose I can be quite competitive at in February 2009 for a times – especially where work organisation to be part of and has a is concerned! genuine appetite to empower results for temporary legal assistant in the Aon law division, for its clients, colleagues and communities. which I was successfully What are your thoughts selected. I spent three on cultural diversity in the What was your first ever job? months in that temporary A data entry clerk with a law firm. insurance industry? position before taking a There is a distinct lack of permanent role in the finance cultural diversity in the sense What is your single proudest achievement? division as personal assistant of ethnic minorities in senior I have two: the first is being a single mother to the financial controller. positions, which makes the to my 15-year-old son Melike; and second I was recently promoted industry look bad. That said, is winning the We Are The City Rising Star to a project management since working in this industry Award for Diversity in 2016. I was truly role. I also chaired the Aon I have met many colleagues, stunned and speechless when I realised WIN Network and now friends and associates that that five of my colleagues had pitched work with a number of are culturally diverse and in to nominate me for the award. external committees to come from all areas of drive gender equality. the globe. Relevant qualifications/awards: CIPS Diploma. Did you have a mentor/ Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: role model to help you “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. throughout your career? I have had many unofficial mentors throughout my life in a both a personal and professional capacity, who have helped me to understand my own potential and boost my confidence to drive my career and personal goals. Elisha St Hilaire What made you stay in Born: Newham, East London the industry? Aon and my passion for change where diversity and inclusion is concerned – these are the main drivers that have kept me in this industry, as “I was born in the UK, to mixed-heritage I want to make a difference. parents...I left school at 16, so worked from a young age.”

24 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 25 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Corporate development manager at I chose to get into insurance What is the best piece Pioneer Underwriting, meaning I support after suffering an injury of advice you have ever Pioneer’s exco with business planning, that put an end to my short been given? team acquisitions and special projects – career as a professional “If you don’t ask, you AKA ‘corporate firefighter’. At Pioneer, ballet dancer with the Royal don’t get”. Winnipeg Ballet. I took we challenge the status quo; innovation the initiative to apply for What is your favourite song/ is in our DNA. scholarships to fund my piece of music? studies and was fortunate Katy Perry’s Roar. What was your first ever job? to be the first Canadian to Professional Ballet Dancer. win scholarships from the US-based Risk & Insurance What are your thoughts What is your single proudest achievement? Management Society, for on cultural diversity in the Using my influence when developing strategy both my BComm and MSc insurance industry? at Lloyd’s to create Inclusion@Lloyd’s in 2013. courses. I moved to the The UK appears to be behind UK from Canada in 2004 Canada on this – we need Relevant qualifications/awards: to study and like many more diversity in front- BComm (Distinction), insurance, finance international students line staff. and risk management; MSc (Distinction), in London, stayed. After insurance and risk management; ACII; graduating here, I joined Chartered Insurer Deloitte working in M&A and strategy for UK and Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: international insurance firms. “How can we do it better?” I am an active volunteer – I currently sit on the board of Inclusion@Lloyd’s and the council and executive of the Insurance Institute of London, and I was a founding co-chair of Link, the LGBT Insurance Network, and am a member of iCAN’s Advisory Panel. Erik Johnson Born: Calgary, Canada

“I chose to get into insurance after suffering an injury that put an end to my short career as a professional ballet dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.”

26 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 27 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you

I head up the wellbeing function at I didn’t have the greatest What did you want to be Zurich, where the overarching aim of of upbringings but what when you were a child? my role is to look at how we encourage I did have was a country I always wanted to be and motivate our employees to that encouraged, enabled a veterinarian. make proactive health choices using and supported me to get an education. My curiosity was education, awareness and technology. What advice would you give born. After completing my a younger person starting I have worked in multiple HR roles and BSc in psychology, I started industries in my 15 years and have spent out in the profession? working as a temp in the HR Don’t take the first job that my career working across New Zealand, function of a large hospitality comes along. Explore the Australia and, more recently, the UK. company before chasing love culture. How the company (unsuccessfully I might add) feels and behaves everyday What was your first ever job? to Australia. There I carried will have a huge influence A bakery assistant at 16. on my journey, including on how included you feel and commencing further study, how enabled you are to meet When did you join the insurance/risk before returning to New your dreams. You’ll be renting profession? Zealand in 2009 and taking your brain for a long time – 2010. on various HR business make it work for you. partner roles. Come 2013, Relevant qualifications/awards: I’d completed my second I have a BSc, PGDip, MMgt and am currently lot of qualifications and was Did you have a mentor/ completing an MSc. burnt out, so went travelling role model to help you for seven months across throughout your career? Africa, Europe and Asia. In Contrary to most, I Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: 2014, I relocated to the UK haven’t had a mentor. I’ve “Making a difference starts with you – be the started many mentoring change you want to see.” where I have been incredibly lucky to have numerous relationships, however these opportunities at Zurich haven’t given me what I’ve Insurance. Since joining in needed so I’ve ended them. 2014, I’ve taken on four roles However, the benefits of a – each with challenges, none mentor are endless and at the without opportunity. beginning of your career can play a huge role in exploring individual goals. While I didn’t have a mentor, I did have an amazing manager starting out in my career. She embodied the principles of Hayley Golden ‘do the right thing’, a motto I live by to this day. Born: New Zealand What are your thoughts on cultural diversity in the profession? While we’ve been shining a torch on culture for the “I didn’t have the greatest of upbringings last few years, I’d really like to see that shift to some but what I did have was a country that high-beam stadium lights. For me, the issue lies not encouraged, enabled and supported me only in how we reach these individuals but also in how we embody inclusiveness in to get an education.” our organisations. I am proud to have been on the founding committee of iCAN and will continue to be involved where I can make a difference.

28 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 29 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am a reinsurance underwriter, Coming from a small When did you last ride “I am normally communication and innovation manager European country, Bulgaria, a bike? at MAPFRE RE. We are a global insurance I always had the desire to see Two months ago in the the first and reinsurance company present in the world, to meet people desert of Nevada at Burning more than 49 countries across five and to be an ambassador Man Festival. Bulgarian for my country. I am normally continents. We operate in more than the first Bulgarian that people What is your favourite song/ that people 100 countries with 37,000 employees. have met, meaning I have the We are predominantly a leading piece of music? responsibility to leave a good Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. have met, multinational company in Latin America impression – in the one hand and Spain. is yourself and in the other, meaning your entire country. What are your thoughts on cultural diversity in the What is your single proudest achievement? In 1998, I co-founded Open I have two – being part of the setup and insurance industry? I have the Mind – Bulgaria, an NGO It is quite limited. The creation of our company in Mumbai, India for international youth (India Assistance MAPFRE Group), and being insurance industry seems to responsibility exchanges and social still focus heavily on women the co-founder and co-president of an NGO projects. I now coordinate called Open Mind – Bulgaria. and disability diversity. to leave a good and direct various projects I see less acceptance and on behalf of Open Mind. development in cultural, impression – Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote “The sky is the limit.” At MAPFRE, I have held a sexual and racial diversity. number of roles (including in one hand an assignment in Mumbai What advice would you give as the operations director to a younger person starting is yourself and of India Assistance MAPFRE), out in the industry? alongside my volunteer work. Be yourself – sometimes in the other, My network of professional is hard but definitely contacts is getting wider empowering and makes your entire everyday, as the areas that you very proud. I am involved in are country.” interacting a lot lately – innovation, technology, (re)insurance, diversity and inclusion. Nowadays everything is network, data, being participative and sharing experiences.

Ivan Yankov Born: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

30 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 31 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Transforming the profile and reputation I was born in London, grew What advice would you give of Direct Line Group (DLG), the number up in Toronto, and moved to your younger self? one motor and home insurer in the UK, California to study for my BA Always stay true to who as Head of Internal Communications, degree at Scripps University. you are! Experience and Sustainability, and I majored in economics but returned to one of my loves, What did you want to be previously as its Head of Financial dance. The two subjects Communications. I am part of the when you were a child? were combined in my thesis WonderWoman. group’s strategic leadership team, on the economic models responsible for developing the group’s of performing arts and I internal communications strategy, graduated with an interesting Do you have any including employee engagement, the and unusual dual BA degree hidden talents? incorporation of the employee value in dance and economics. Dancer and can play the proposition and corporate brand, as The third year of my degree piano, trumpet, drums and saxophone. well developing and executing a new involved studying abroad, corporate social responsibility strategy. which brought me back to London. I made such a good Are you competitive? impression during one of What is your single proudest achievement? Most definitely … always my summer jobs that I was … in everything I do! I have two: first, I was a former international offered my first role after 400m runner and hurdler for the UK; and graduation working for a second, I had the pleasure of being involved small IT startup company. What are your thoughts in the IPO of RBS orchestrated by DLG, which on cultural diversity in the was the biggest stock market listing of 2012. Working in the insurance insurance profession? profession has been an We are having the right Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: interesting and dynamic conversations, now we need “I am woman, phenomenally. Phenomenal experience and one that I the right actions! woman!” Maya Angelou. truly enjoy, but it has not been without its challenges. Being a minority has taught me resilience – showing me the importance of believing Jennifer in myself and being proud of Thomas who I am. Born: London, England

“Being a minority has taught me resilience – showing me the importance of believing in myself and being proud of who I am.”

32 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 33 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Client Management Director at Aon. Being the eldest of seven What advice would you give I am a relationship manager for children and born into a your younger self? designated clients and manage family of first-generation Be more daring and don’t a team of client managers. I also immigrants brought many be afraid to ask questions, manage financial budgets and branch challenges. I grew up with however silly you may think English being my second they are. performance. “If you ask any colleague language, got into a few anywhere in the world, ‘What is most hairy situations and faced What is the best piece important at Aon?’, the resounding many prejudices, however of advice you have ever response you will hear is: ‘We are about that didn’t deter me from been given? serving clients.’” Greg Case, president concentrating on my My father told me that hard and CEO. studies and getting a place work and loyalty rewards at university to study art success. He also told me What was your first ever job? and design. What I didn’t at a very young age never Market trader. anticipate was taking a year to work nights! out and finding a part-time When did you join the insurance/risk job in insurance. That led profession? to me joining Alexander Are you competitive? 1988. Stenhouse, where one of Less so now than I used my duties was to help out in to be, until you get me on a five-a-side pitch. What is your single proudest achievement? the postroom twice a week. There are many: being part of an offshoring Hard work, determination project in Bangalore, charity work at an and persistence brought What are your thoughts orphanage in India, being part of Aon and about many role changes on cultural diversity in the staying ahead of the game for 28 years. including internal, technical, insurance industry? sales, client-facing and Great progress in the last now management. I have 12-18 months but at least five Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: responsibility for a team “If I can make it here I can make it anywhere.” years too late! of client managers and I am managing budgets, client service, performance, coaching and mentoring. My journey has been long and hard but with purpose Jimmy Kumar and reward. Born: Birmingham

“Being the eldest of seven children and born into a family of first-generation immigrants brought many challenges. I grew up with English being my second language, got into a few hairy situations and faced many prejudices.”

34 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 35 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I currently work at Munich Re Digital I was born and raised by my What advice would you give Partners, a startup unit within the mum in west London with your younger self? Munich Re Group that was established my two sisters. I was the first A mistake is only a mistake to support insurtechs and others that are person in my family to go to if you don’t learn from it. inventing new ways of doing insurance. university. Like a lot of Everybody makes mistakes graduates post-university, so don’t sweat them, but Our objective is to be the fastest and I didn’t have a clear idea of make sure to take something most flexible insurance partner for what I wanted to do. from each and every one and digital disruptors. In my current role do something different the as Global Programme Director and After working in accounting, next time. Head of Technology, I am responsible I applied for every financial- sector graduate position I for ensuring the global delivery of all could find and one of them What is the best piece Munich Re Digital Partners projects and happened to be at Munich of advice you have ever overseeing and driving the strategy Re. I was targeting an been given? of our tech team. underwriting role but started The five-by-five rule. “If it’s as an IT business analyst. not going to matter in five What was your first ever job? At the time, I had no years, don’t spend more Working in fast-food stall at the QPR football experience within insurance than five minutes worrying ground when I was 14; it suffices to say or technology, but took the about it now.” A lot of people it wasn’t very glamourous. position and luckily fell in love spend a lot of time worrying with the job and the profession. about stuff that is not that important. What is your single proudest achievement? I have had very different roles This year I was included in the Intelligent within Munich Re (including Insurers 2018 Rising Stars. time abroad working in Abu What is your favourite song/ Dhabi). I have proactively piece of music? Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: sought development and I am big lover of 90s R&B “Always remember the stakes are low.” progression opportunities, and my favourite songs are I tell my team this a lot whenever I see them which have enabled me to anything by Aaliyah. getting stressed about something not going go from being a graduate right. Ultimately, we are in the business of to leading a global team What are your thoughts selling insurance, not saving lives; if things in a relatively short amount on cultural diversity in the don’t go right, nothing extremely bad is going of time. insurance profession? to die so don’t worry, smile and try find Diversity – whether that’s a solution. gender, race, previous experience etc – is very important in any profession but is particularly important in Joanne Safo our profession at the moment. The profession is historically Born: West London known to be a male- dominated ‘old boys’ club’; however, as the profession embraces the importance of customer experience, technology and data, we are “I have proactively sought development starting to see a shift away from the traditional methods and progression opportunities, which have and a need for different types of roles and people. It enabled me to go from being a graduate is proven that there is a direct correlation between diverse executive teams and success, to leading a global team in a relatively short and more fundamentally – as with anything in life – amount of time.” when you bring different perspectives you get better outcomes, as there is more chance of diverse ideas and challenging the status quo.

36 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 37 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am currently a senior reporter at I was born into an academic What advice would you give “After Insurance Age and I am responsible for family – both my parents your younger self? producing content including features, studied banking. Education Find a niche, something that completing interviews and news. My job is to engage was drummed into me. I’ll you really enjoy doing, work with the UK insurance broker market. never forget the three words hard and be a success.. my degree of Tony Blair’s 2001 speech – “education, education, What did you want to be in banking and What was your first ever job? education” – which were Pharmacy customer service assistant. when you were a child? inscribed by my parents into A doctor. finance, hot my 15th birthday card. What is your single proudest achievement? on the heels Achieving a front-page story on The After completing my degree What is your favourite song/ Sunday Express. in banking and finance, hot piece of music? of the financial on the heels of the financial Michael Jackson – Do you Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: crash, I knew I wanted remember the time? “Everything is teachable”. to be an advocate in the crash, I knew community to help others. My dissertation on easy What are your thoughts I wanted to be access for mortgage loans on cultural diversity in the helped me to understand insurance industry? an advocate in that there were a lot of As a journalist, I tend to be misinformed people in more on the outside looking the public. in. However, I have written the community several articles on cultural I wanted to better inform diversity in the insurance to help others.” people by relaying the right industry and what I have messages, ensuring they gathered is that there is no make educated decisions. one single action that will I knew then that I wanted enable the sector to leverage to be a journalist. the power of a truly diverse Now I am working at and included workforce. an insurance magazine. The people element is fascinating. Plus, the experts and leaders in the field are keen to engage in constructive conversations.

Judith Ugwumadu Born: East London

38 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 39 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Senior underwriter, professional I was completely unprepared What advice would you give “I have been indemnity. I assess and price insurance from my first role in insurance. your younger self? cover for individuals or firms providing Although I had researched Have a career plan. fortunate to advice in their professional capacity. what being an underwriter entailed and the company AXA recently became the world’s What did you want to be I was going to work for, have mentors when you were a child? number one global property and it didn’t hit home until a casualty commercial lines insurer, A vet – but I cannot bear who are my couple of weeks into the to see animals suffer and am following its acquisition of XL Catlin. role that the profession and I have been at AXA for a year and find horribly squeamish, so had go-to advisers, the culture were the polar to give up on that quite early the culture to be dynamic, inclusive opposite of the aggressive on! I love animals and we act as my and collaborative – which for me is telecoms sales culture that have a six-month-old puppy a USP given how huge the organisation I had come from and was who is an absolute joy. sounding is in the UK and globally. very happy to leave behind. I was fortunate to have good people around me in both Do you have any What was your first ever job? boards, a professional and personal hidden talents? Working part-time in the cafeteria at I can play the piano. challenge my university’s Guild of Students – it was capacity that were willing to the equivalent of KFC but for students. share their experiences and advice, to help me navigate Did you have a mentor/ constructively my way through what felt What is your single proudest achievement? role model to help you like a corporate minefield. throughout your career? and provide In my professional life, co-founding iCAN I had to develop new set in 2017 is a highlight for me, establishing Not from the outset, but for of soft skills as well as the the last five years I have been support and the network from the ground up. We had knowledge and technical incredible support from the profession, which fortunate to have mentors capabilities required. Key who are my go-to advisers, guidance as helped us deliver tangible results in our first lessons were to always be year. It is fantastic to see the new steering act as my sounding boards, willing to learn, take notes challenge constructively committee continue the momentum and and ask questions – which appropriate.” deliver on our goals. and provide support and still stand me in good guidance as appropriate. stead today. I cannot speak highly enough Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: of the importance of having “Where there is a will, there is a way”. a trusted mentor and the positive difference it makes.

Kiran Sihra Born: Nairobi, Kenya

40 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 41 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Development Manager, managing agents I have always been an What advice would you give and groups, at Lloyd’s of London. I lead ambitious person, but your younger self? the commercial relationship with 15 I believe that sadly you Build as big a network of managing agents, responsible for market can’t be what you can’t contacts as you can from engagement and driving the execution see. So, while I had a variety as many industries, and that of excellent and extremely the difference between a of their international growth strategies. committed mentors, I had a good networker and a great I am proud to work there because from hard time finding role models networker is the latter’s its beginnings in a coffee house in 1688, in the profession that I could commitment to following Lloyd’s has become the world’s leading identify with and aspire up after the event. market for specialist insurance and been to be. When I started out in Manchester, the market a pioneer in insurance, as well as an What is your favourite song/ wasn’t very diverse. So, it important flag bearer for UK plc. piece of music? became a challenge if the Anything by JayZ. What was your first ever job? only other reference point Working as a shop assistant at Streetwise for people of colour with Sports – like many Mancunians at the time, colleagues and clients was Are you competitive? Extremely, especially during I was obsessed with Reebok Classics. from the media, which even then seemed to the matches on our estate. benefit from reinforcing Those games were 10-a-side What is your single proudest achievement? negative stereotypes. So, and only ended when the Buying my mum a house. my goal evolved into trying person who owned the ball to become a beacon for was called in by their mum! Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: other people from diverse “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot backgrounds, showing that What are your thoughts change. I am changing the things I cannot if I could do it, they could too. accept” – Angela Davis on cultural diversity in the Effectively, I stopped looking insurance profession? externally and committed I think that sometimes to doing the best job I could diversity can be presented as to become one of the role a zero-sum game, which can models that I used to look for. turn people off. However, for the future of the profession we need to attract different skills from a wider talent pool than we currently have. That will enable us to open new markets and create more innovative products, but Leon Walker to do that we need diverse teams of people with Born: Stretford, Manchester different points of view.

I also currently serve as the chair of the Lloyd’s Cultural Awareness Network and am involved in a number “I stopped looking externally and committed of multicultural initiatives. to doing the best job I could to become one of the role models that I used to look for.”

42 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 43 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am the Head of Research and I took an internship in a What advice would you give “Being honest, Partnerships at Startupbootcamp growth consultancy, where your younger self? InsurTech. In my role, I look after I had an opportunity to Try different things then insurance insurtech research and manage develop my basic consulting decide what you want to do. relationships with our corporate skills. After a few months Things can be very different hadn’t been there, I managed to find a on paper than in practice. partners. InsurTech is one of the role at Aon in the strategy leading insurtech accelerators consulting team, focused on my radar What is the best piece globally. During the past three on (re)insurance carriers. of advice you have ever years, we have helped dozens Diversity of thought was very before, but been given? of insurance companies. important to me, so here Make sure you see the world. I quickly I also became a member, You can learn a lot. What was your first ever job? then later co-chair, of the Hedge fund accountant. Aon Multicultural Network. realised that What is your favourite song/ Being honest, insurance What is your single proudest achievement? piece of music? the profession hadn’t been on my radar Although my favourite genre I have launched my own insurtech podcast before, but I quickly realised (called Inside Insurtech – check it out online!) is hip hop, my favourite had some that the profession had some album is the Miseducation and through this, gained thousands of incredibly interesting aspects, listeners across the world. of Lauryn Hill, by Lauryn Hill, incredibly with one of them being the specifically the song To Zion. increasing rate of innovation interesting Relevant qualifications/awards: – specifically insurance BA (Hons) in industrial economics from technology (insurtech). What are your thoughts aspects.” the University of Nottingham. Insurtech soon became on cultural diversity in the something that I wanted to insurance profession? focus on, which led me to It’s an area of the profession moving to Startupbootcamp that is lagging behind others InsurTech, where I could really for certain, and that needs contribute towards building to change. Having the the insurtech ecosystem. opportunity to work with people with a completely different cultures to our own is a gift, but people often choose to ignore it rather than embrace it.

Liam Gray Born: London, England

44 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 45 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you

I’m a Strategic Account Manager at My parents came to the UK What is the best piece ERS (the UK’s largest specialist motor from Ghana in the 60s to of advice you have ever insurer), developing and managing large, work in the NHS. I was born been given? complex broker accounts. here, but at six months my If you want to achieve in life, parents took me to Ghana if you want to lead in life, just to live with my maternal accept the fact that it’s hard What was your first ever job? grandmother. I was blessed work, uphill all the way. On the checkouts at Tesco aged 15 and three to have spent my formative quarters. I hated the uniform but loved talking years with her and returned to the customers and getting paid. What are your thoughts at the age of six. on cultural diversity in the What is your single proudest achievement? I struggled in school for the insurance profession? My single proudest achievement is returning first few years until I adjusted When I entered the to work full-time after a three-year career to the language and culture. profession more than 15 years break to care for my children. At the time, I was put into the lower sets ago, I was struck by the lack I had three-year-old twin girls and a two-year- at school until at GCSE of cultural diversity, especially old boy. I surprised my teachers by in the London market. It doing as well as children made me question whether I should even stay. Things Relevant qualifications/awards: in the top sets. I studied Currently studying with the Chartered business and French at are changing slowly, and Insurance Institute – I recently received an Manchester Metropolitan. I’m pleased to say ERS is culturally diverse. outstanding prize for the motor paper at the My first insurance job Diploma level. involved underwriting, Did you have a mentor/ however my preference role model to help you was to be customer-facing. throughout your career? I moved into account I was raised by both my management at Aviva, grandmother, a self-employed responsible for trading with mother of five who is still independent brokers. I later going strong at 90, and by moved to International broker my mother who was the main account management and breadwinner for long periods now have broadened my in my childhood. They taught Marjorie profession experience into me everything I know about the Lloyd’s market. commitment and pride in your work, while keeping your family priorities in Adejumo clear focus. What advice would you give Born: Hitchin, Hertfordshire to a younger person starting out in the profession? “Definitely do the CII – studying it will unlock the industry for you, give you insight, confidence and the inspiration to do better “I struggled in school for the first few years things. Just sacrifice the time, choose topics you until I adjusted to the language and culture.” are close to and you will start to reap the benefits almost immediately.”

46 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 47 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am the Global Head of Sales Operations I’m originally from Barbados. What is the best piece “I always felt and Planning at Zurich. I am responsible It was a wonderful place to of advice you have ever for directing strategic initiatives, from grow up and I also did my been given? empowered change and transformation to planning first degree in economics It’s not what you have done for customer and broker development. there. While pursuing that matters in the end, and extremely my degree, I worked at a it’s what you haven’t done. I’m also the national chair of the Zurich Canadian bank as a teller for Always think of your legacy. lucky to have UK Multicultural Network (Cultural two years and that gave me Awareness Network), offering support a lot of self-belief that I was Do you have any and career development to BAME a ‘star worker’. worked with hidden talents? employees. I’m always keen to develop I moved to the UK in 1999 I am an artist and have won high achievers and inspire individuals and challenge to do my MSc degree. I got national awards. thinking. I’m a dedicated mentor and a distinction from school and who inspired cheerleader for several young persons got hired at Zurich, quickly across the BAME community, and What is your favourite song/ moving through the ranks to piece of music? me to be am also a recent committee member work as a senior consultant Redemption Song by of iCAN, the insurance industry’s for the global CUO. I always Bob Marley. myself.” multicultural network. More recently, felt empowered and extremely I am an avid advocate of maintaining lucky to have worked with high achievers who inspired What are your thoughts mental health and wellbeing in the on cultural diversity in the working environment. me to be myself. After a mid-life crisis at the age of 27, insurance profession? I left London to work for the It often feels as though we What was your first ever job? United Nations. This was a are doing a lot and taking Sales host at a toy shop (Christmas job) great time – for learning but steps to drive collective aged 16. also it was amazing to be change; yet change is slow. helping others. But three It will take some time to make Relevant qualifications/awards: years later, I decided to come solid change. MSc Masters in international business. back to London. What advice would you give Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: to a younger person starting “Don’t mix your meat with your vegetables”. out in the profession? Network like crazy, build a community and have fun; but importantly you must get a mentor and if possible more than one mentor (at least one internal and one external).

Maxine Goddard Born: Stretford, Barbados

48 Multicultural androle internationalmodels in insurance role models in insurance 49 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am a Carrier Management Executive at When I was younger I wasn’t What is the best piece “When I was Willis Towers Watson (WTW). I manage very academic and achieved of advice you have ever WTW’s core strategic relationships underwhelming GCSE results, been given? younger I with its key trading partners, helping compared to my potential. Spend less time worrying them to achieve best success with us. However, there was a about others. wasn’t very disconnect between how I enjoy working at WTW as they are I felt about how I’d performed What are your thoughts a top-tier practitioner, offering a range and how my teachers felt – academic and on cultural diversity in the of professional services in a number who were slightly happier. of geographies, that no other firm does. insurance profession? achieved This was a key moment in I think the insurance my ‘journey’; I decided to go profession is on a slightly underwhelming What is your single proudest achievement? to sixth form, sit my A-levels different journey to that As the chair of the Multicultural Inclusion and achieve better grades other firms, financial services GCSE results, Network, our mission statement was to than my GCSEs suggested firms or especially technology be the employer of choice for those that I could. Upon enrolling on industries, although the pace compared to value a multicultural work environment. the business studies course, at which things are moving I recently put together a programme that the teacher suggested that has certainly accelerated my potential.” immersed potential applicants into the an AVCE in leisure and in my time. There is a company and, as a result, a number of the recreation may be more momentum in creating cohort who completed the programme were suited. I’d achieved the GCSE change, which makes it subsequently accepted onto apprentice and requirements to do A-Level an exciting time. graduate roles. We were able to challenge business studies and had to some assumptions that had been built up be quite forceful in stating over time, unravel some of the unconscious my intention in taking that Did you have a mentor/ biases that we felt existed in the process, and subject. I went on to achieve role model to help you find some really capable talent that may have strong A-levels, get into a throughout your career? been overlooked otherwise. red-brick university and get Many. Broadening your onto a graduate scheme perspective is incredibly Relevant qualifications/awards: at Aon. I am also previously important, especially in ACII. co-chair of the Aon your more formative years Multicultural Network. of work. Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favour.”

Michael Clarke Born: Birmingham

50 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 51 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you Head of Leadership Communications, I came to London from Dubai, What advice would you give “After working AIG – UK and Europe. I work across having left India fresh out of your younger self? the UK and European businesses to college to pursue my dreams Explore every opportunity – in multiple support our teams with the challenges of as a journalist. With no UK set limits on nothing. communicating AIG’s value proposition media experience and no contacts, landing a job was sectors... Do you have any in diverse markets. AIG is one of the difficult, so I decided to study world’s leading global insurers, known hidden talents? insurance was and gain formal marketing I can sing – my kids say for product and service innovation and and communications for putting the customer first. It’s also I should enter X-Factor… an accidental qualifications, and then went the jury is out on that one. an exceptionally diverse company, where about finding a ‘corporate’ foray but differences are recognised and valued. job that would help me channel my chaotic creativity. Are you competitive? I see life as a journey, not one that has What was your first ever job? After working in multiple I’ve worked since I was 14, but my first full- sectors including consultancy, a race. Getting to the top brought me time job was as a reporter for a city daily construction and utilities, doesn’t always mean you’ll in Mumbai. insurance was an accidental enjoy the view. many rewards foray but one that has What is your single proudest achievement? brought me many rewards What are your thoughts along with a Being invited to interview Nelson Mandela along with a great sense of on cultural diversity in the as a journalist for the Khaleej Times in Dubai. community. At AIG, I work insurance industry? across cultures and find that Undoubtedly, more needs great sense my experiences still shape to be done – in recruitment, Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: my interactions every day. of community.” “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, progression and transparency just take the first step.” in succession planning – but the conversation is shifting from ideas to action, and that can only bode well for the industry. I am proud to be a co-chair of AIG’s SHINE Network, representing BAME colleagues in AIG, and becoming more active with iCAN in the near future.

Nazaneen Challawala- Hatimi Born: Mumbai, India

52 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 53 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am a Commercial Underwriting Analyst Going into university, I was What advice would you give working in the financial lines department planning on joining the your younger self? at AIG. AIG provides multinational Royal Marines as an officer. Embrace your heritage. insurance products to clients requiring This plan was swiftly put on hold when I broke my leg foreign policies, making us more Do you have any in two places in a sporting competitive in the London market. hidden talents? accident. Quickly it became When I was younger, I was clear that this plan would not in a stage production of What was your first ever job? materialise, so I started to Barista at a coffee shop near my house. Barnum, which is a musical explore other options. that revolves around the At a careers fair in London, circus. We all had to be When did you join the insurance/risk I discovered insurance trained in circus performance profession? while having a conversation arts and, as such, I can spin Two months ago on the AIG graduate with a recruiter – oddly plates, balance on a ball, programme. enough – about her history tightrope walk and juggle. in a different profession. This What is your single proudest achievement? Building and growing a small clothing led me to attend various What is your favourite song/ business at university to the point where diversity days, fairs and workshops relevant to the piece of music? it could be passed on to the next year of Erroll Garner – Misty. students. insurance profession, and it was at this point when I liked what I saw and decided to What are your thoughts Relevant qualifications/awards: apply for internships. One BSc in chemistry; working towards the on cultural diversity in the assessment day, 10 weeks as insurance profession? Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Certificate an intern and three semesters and later the CII Diploma. I believe there is significant of university later, and I’m progress being made collaborating with hundreds towards a more diverse Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: of AIG graduates at the workplace for those working “Growth and comfort do not coexist” – Global Induction Summit in in the profession, and it is my Ginni Rometty. New York, starting my career opinion that there needs to as an underwriter. be efforts made not only to continually and proactively improve diversity, but equally to grow and maintain the level of cultural awareness Oli Sawyers in the market. Born: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

“[I attended] various diversity days, fairs and workshops relevant to the insurance profession, and it was at this point when I liked what I saw and decided to apply for internships.”

54 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 55 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you My current role is insurance risk I was born into a family of What is the best piece “Be curious manager, where I oversee all insurance civil servant parents who as of advice you have ever risk for AIG Europe. teens helped usher Guyana been given? and ask lots of from a British colony to an You are your biggest enemy, independent republic. Our once you learn to get out What was your first ever job? questions. Be Babysitter. family dinners were filled of your own way, the sky with lively political debate is the limit. yourself and from around the world and What is your single proudest achievement? children were challenged What is your favourite song/ I was a part of the AIG team that worked to form their own arguments get to know piece of music? with Cambridge University’s Centre for and opinions. Risk Studies on the Helios Solar Storm Two songs come to mind. the people you Scenario paper. When I was nine years old Stevie Wonder’s As from we moved to New Jersey, Songs in the Key of Life work with.” Relevant qualifications/awards: US. I went through the and my morning commute 2017 We Are The City Top 100 Women New Jersey school system march Bolero. to Watch. and received my BA from Rutgers University and What are your thoughts Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: became a political activist on cultural diversity in the “Work Smart”. and campaigner upon insurance industry? graduation. After a year in Cultural diversity is definitely what I felt was my dream a challenge for the insurance job, I quickly recognised it industry. Most of the wasn’t all that I’d dreamt it industry is still dominated could be. Disappointed, I by an old way of relating to took a position as a broker’s different cultures. However, assistant for two ambitious I see positive signs that are insurance producers in New encouraging, in initiatives like York City. My transition from iCAN and the Dive In Festival. politics to insurance was seamless and from there I gradually advanced my What advice would you give education and career to what to a younger person starting it is today. out in the industry? Be curious and ask lots of questions. Be yourself and get to know the people you work with. The relationships I’ve built in the beginning of my career have remained great friends and colleagues Omo-Bisi over the years. Tanya Daniels Born: Georgetown, Guyana

56 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 57 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I currently work at Aon, a leading global I joined the risk profession as What advice would you give professional services firm, as a Project a consultant apprentice with your younger self? Manager for a niche department called Aon Hewitt, the retirement I would probably tell my the office of the chairman. I support the advisory arm of Aon. I opted younger self: ‘Don’t be so chairman in managing Aon-wide projects for a less traditional route hard on yourself … you have into work as I wanted to gain to make mistakes – that’s and overseeing business opportunities practical work experience how you learn, that’s how on new and existing clients. as well as a recognised the world works and most qualification. importantly, that’s how What was your first ever job? you grow.’ A crew member at McDonalds, and I remember My single proudest being so unhappy that I quit after four shifts. achievement while working as a pensions consultant What is the best piece analyst was being appointed of advice you have ever When did you join the insurance/risk a scheme secretary to a been given? profession? One of the best pieces of I joined Aon in September of the same year c.£300m pension scheme, less than two years after I advice I’ve been given is that after rejecting my offer at Kent University success is intentional. A lot as I wanted to pursue a more practical route. joined the company. This was rare, especially for someone of time we can let things out in a relatively junior position, of our control rule us and we but I was grateful for the use them as excuses for not opportunity and I worked achieving our goals … but very hard to rise to the what about the things within challenge. our control? Having no previous background in insurance Are you competitive? means that I am now I don’t believe in competing undertaking the Chartered for what I want, rather Insurance Institute exams I believe in creating what and hope to be ACII qualified I want. As an ethnic minority, soon. I am passionate about it is no secret that there are diversity and inclusion, and structural and institutional support various initiatives barriers that make it difficult and causes that align with my for people who look like me values to hopefully inspire the to get a foot in the door and next generation of insurance progress up the career ladder. practitioners. As such, I don’t think it is best use of your resources Pelumi Ojo to compete when the playing field is so uneven. Born: London What are your thoughts on cultural diversity in the insurance profession? The insurance profession is dynamic and progressive “I am passionate about diversity and inclusion, and while there are various initiatives that aim to improve and support various initiatives and causes that diversity, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done align with my values to hopefully inspire the to ensure inclusivity and I am glad that the current climate next generation of insurance practitioners.” is shifting to accommodate this. As it is often said, diversity is being invited to the dance and inclusion is being asked to dance.

58 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 59 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am a National Broking and Placement As a second-generation What is the best piece Project Director at Gallagher, responsible British Tamil, I learned early of advice you have ever for the oversight and execution of that working hard was been given? national strategic change projects important. My family Lead with honesty and within its UK retail division. My key focus encouraged me to study, integrity; always show so I studied investment and gratitude; and take the areas include: placement optimisation, financial risk management time to listen. product development, enhancing (in the midst of the 2008 business intelligence and operational credit crisis!). With limited Do you have any improvement. I am proud to work for the investment banking job hidden talents? only insurance broker to be recognised opportunities upon graduation, I play the Mridangam, as a World’s Most Ethical Company – I struggled to find a role. a south Indian Carnatic for the seventh consecutive year in 2018. However, I ‘fell’ into percussion instrument. insurance, joining Aon What was your first ever job? as a technical analyst. Supporting my father’s plumbing business Are you competitive? While not on the formal Absolutely. There is no such as an apprentice during the summer breaks. graduate programme, I knew thing as perfection but the value in qualifications, I like to challenge myself What is your single proudest achievement? so completed my ACII to see how close I can get Partaking in a housebuilding project qualification in just over two to achieving it. supporting orphans and vulnerable groups years. Within a year, I was in Zambia. offered a three-month secondment that subsequently What are your thoughts Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: turned into a permanent on cultural diversity in the “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big position helping to drive insurance industry? difference” –Winston Churchill. group-wide initiatives. I later While the insurance industry joined Gallagher and in 2017, is less advanced than other was promoted to project sectors, the profession has director in the national certainly now raised the broking and placement team. profile, placed inclusion and diversity firmly on I have recently been selected the corporate agenda and for both the Gallagher Next initiated programmes for Generation and CII New change, such as iCAN. Key Generation programmes, to success will be addressing and am part of the Gallagher the inherent unconscious inclusion and diversity bias – whether it be in steering committee. recruitment, promotion or Prin Thayaparan your daily interactions in the workplace. Born: London What advice would you give to a younger person starting out in the industry? Be curious. Try new things. Strive for something that “There is no such thing as perfection but stretches you. I like to challenge myself to see how close I can get to achieving it.”

60 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 61 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am the Global Head of Marine Risk Starting as a trainee cadet Do you have any “It was clear to Consulting, Allianz Global Corporate onboard a small cargo ship hidden talents? & Specialty (AGCS). In my role, I lead in 1992, I worked my way Friends tell me my singing me that keeping a team of senior risk consultants/experts up to become the Captain is not too bad. and work with management in marine in 2014. During the 14 years at sea, I worked with many an open mind Are you competitive? to support the portfolio through better different nationalities and risk selection and loss prevention. AGCS Yes and I understand there and not having cultures and it was clear is a fine line between being is a part of Allianz Group, one of the to me that keeping an largest and financially strongest insurers competitive and over preconceived open mind and not having competitiveness. in the world. preconceived notions about notions about countries and cultures is a What was your first ever job? necessity. There were times What are your thoughts countries and My first job was in 1992 as a deck cadet when I was on the receiving on cultural diversity in the onboard a small cargo ship. I spent 14 years end of such misconceptions insurance profession? at sea. and biased treatments – The insurance profession cultures is but taking it as a challenge has taken steps in the right direction, however a lot more When did you join the insurance/risk and proving myself to the a necessity.” can be done to achieve the profession? contrary was how I thought 2011. I should respond. Migrating level of diversity we are to another country with aiming for. The iCAN network family was a big risk but is a good example of the Relevant qualifications/awards: having the belief was positive work the profession My qualifications include: Master Mariner/ is doing. licence to sail as Captain on merchant ships, extremely important. Certificate Chartered Insurance Institute, MSC with distinction in shipping trade and finance, What advice would you give co-chair of the Indian Maritime Association to a younger person starting in the UK, and ex-board member of the out in the profession? Shipping Professional Network in London. To be more experimental and take more risks at earlier Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: stages of life. Avoid ‘comfort My favourite quote is from Mark Twain: zones’ if you want to grow “Twenty years from now you will be more and succeed. Meet and get disappointed by the things that you didn’t to know as many people as do than by the ones you did do. So, throw you can in the profession off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe and spread your network. harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails.” Remember: most of you are better than you think you are, so have the confidence to get out there. Captain Rahul Khanna Born: Dehradun, India

62 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 63 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you

My current (main) role is Global Head I was born in Newcastle- What is the best piece of “I got used to of Compliance at Beazley – a FTSE 250 upon-Tyne (I’m a Geordie advice you have ever been specialist insurance company renowned who’s lost his accent!) and given? the innocent for its fantastic culture. I also head the lived there until I went with It was from my late father: “A humble meal every day company’s D&I steering group, which my parents to live in Ghana, but frankly my country of origin. I lived is much better than a feast leads our ongoing work to maintain and schooled there and for a day – so don’t chase annoying our inclusive culture and to enhance returned to England at a one-off big payout to the the diversity of our talent at all levels. 16-years-old on my own, detriment of losing what comments and to further my education. you have.” What was your first ever job? McDonalds. When I returned, it was questions like, immediately evident that Do you have any I was a minority – I got used hidden talents? ‘Where are When did you join the insurance/risk to the innocent but frankly Singing – I am part of a band. profession ? annoying comments and I also make a mean jollof rice 2011. you from?’ and questions like, ‘Where are (of the Ghanaian type, which you from?’ and ‘Can I touch is the best type of course, ‘Can I touch Relevant qualifications/awards: your hair?’. for any west African sisters Degree and Chartered Accountant. and brothers who may be I carried out a number of reading this). your hair?” jobs (including McDonalds, cleaner, singing in pubs) to finance myself through my What is your favourite song/ studies. I studied accounting piece of music? and economics, then qualified A Time to Love by Stevie as a Chartered Accountant Wonder. The Prodigy’s with PwC. I stumbled into Firestarter is another favourite. insurance after I qualified but throughout my career I What are your thoughts have held a variety of roles on cultural diversity in the in different companies, and insurance profession? also worked at the financial There’s no denying it’s poor – services regulator to get a but that means there is sense of public sector work. a great opportunity to right that wrong if only we could all work together to identify and address the true barriers to attracting, retaining and promoting into the most senior positions such diverse talent.

What advice would you give to a younger person starting out in the profession? Develop a good understanding of and maximise your strengths; relentlessly seek opportunities to learn and to develop yourself; be open to roles and opportunities even if they don’t seem obvious; look for mentors to support, advice and champion you; and finally, help others like yourself in whatever way Rob Anarfi you can. Born: Birmingham

64 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 65 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am currently the Head of Supplier Having a privileged start in Do you have any Relationships and Risk Management life by attending boarding hidden talents? (SRM) at M&G Prudential. I am school, I didn’t continue with Drummer. responsible for the deployment of our education after my O-levels due to a life-changing event. SRM framework across the business. What is your favourite song/ I joined a band (like you do!) piece of music? Our new combined business, M&G as a drummer and when we Prudential, is now able to leverage our U2 – Where The Streets Have realised we weren’t going to No Name. scale, financial strength and capabilities be the next U2, I decided to continue developing customer- to get my first ‘proper job’. focused propositions. I started at Leeds City What are your thoughts Council as administration on cultural diversity in the What was your first ever job? officer, later taking a insurance industry? Admin assistant in a fashion agency. ‘temporary’ position at Direct When I started out, there was Line. Ten years on, I had held very little mentioned about cultural diversity. But having What is your single proudest achievement? multiple roles from selling Personally, the birth of my daughters Safiyah home insurance to becoming stepped back in and seeing and Sara; and in business, winning multiple a team leader and finally, the wonderful work iCAN has Mentor of the Year awards and being settling into a senior project done in a short space of time, recognised for building inclusive networks. manager role. I studied part- I am really excited and have time at Leeds University, high expectations that we completing a BA(Hons) can take this agenda to new Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: heights and come together “Strive for greatness by continual learning”. business studies degree and a project management and celebrate the diverse qualification. talent and people working across the industry. This in In 2005, I joined the RBS turn reflects our customers’ Group. I worked with teams needs and business across EMEA and Asia, also requirements, which can chairing the RBS Multicultural only be a good thing. Network. I joined M&G Prudential in February 2017, and have always been Did you have a mentor/ passionate about building role model to help you inclusive environments throughout your career? and networking. Several and continue to have them. Shamial Afzal What advice would you give to a younger person starting Born: Leeds (Yorkshire) out in the industry? Set up or join a network – it can lead to and give you experiences far beyond what your work life may give you. “I didn’t continue with education after my O-levels due to a life-changing event. I joined a band (like you do!) as a drummer.”

66 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 67 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am the Chief Operating Officer at Due to my parent’s What advice would you give Lloyd’s and London Market Group circumstances from my your younger self? sponsor of the London market Target teenage years onwards, I Try to be more patient. The Operating Model programme. I’m also worked since I was 14 to put fastest and most efficient way the executive sponsor of the Lloyd’s myself through school. After to do something isn’t always finishing my degree in the best. Sometimes it’s better Cultural Awareness Network which Australia, I moved to the to take longer so that you can promotes ethnic diversity across the US where it was very difficult bring others with you. organisation. I’m an active mentor of for me to find my first job BAME students and professionals both as people did not understand What is the best piece of advice my qualifications, so I sold within and outside Lloyd’s. you have ever been given? vacuum cleaners door to As long as you are acting What was your first ever job? door to make ends meet in the best interests of your Waitress at Pizza Hut. while I took equivalency organisation/market, you exams. I had roles in maintain your integrity and What is your single proudest achievement? finance while I studied in the you take care of the people Finally completing a 14-year journey to bring evenings for my you are accountable for, our twin daughters safely into the world accounting qualification. you can have confidence through surrogacy, after losing our first I moved to Catlin in 2007 that even in the face of the daughter shortly after birth. with lots of operations and strongest opposition, you project experience, but are doing the right thing. Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: absolutely no knowledge of “What’s the worst that can happen?” insurance. I spent seven years Do you have any at Catlin learning about the hidden talents? industry and the London I speak Turkish and used to market, while leading global speak several other languages, operations and serving as the thanks to all the countries we UK chief operating officer. lived in when I was a child. I then moved to Lloyd’s to While I’m not fluent any more, take up the challenge of I can understand almost modernising Lloyd’s and everything in almost every Shirine the wider London market. European and Latin American country we travel to.

Are you competitive? No. I love it when we all win Khoury-Haq together. I go out of my way to make sure others are Born: Beirut, Lebanon successful.

What are your thoughts on cultural diversity in the insurance industry? We’re a global industry, yet in London we don’t reflect this “Due to my parent’s circumstances from diversity. We need to work together to address this issue my teenage years onwards, I worked since because it’s good for both business and society. I was 14 to put myself through school.” Approaches might be to hire culturally diverse talent at all levels, even if they don’t have insurance experience, educate organisations on providing an inclusive working environment, offer mentorship & collaborate with government and other industries to provide role models.

68 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 69 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I currently work within Aon’s investment Growing up as an introverted What advice would you give consulting business, partnering with kid in India, I had set your younger self? senior executives to provide strategic limitations on myself, my To be confident about who financial planning and insights into the options and my horizon. you are as a person and be proud of your background. overall running of the business. Being Moving to the UK at the age of 16, the uncomfortable a high growth area within Aon, I focus battle between keeping my What is the best piece on influencing decision-making that cultural identity while fitting drives the commercial development of advice you have ever into a new country really been given? of the business. As chair of Aon’s pushed me outside Look beyond societal norms/ multicultural network, I also lead the my comfort zone. Realisation barriers when setting out inclusion and equality agenda, focusing hit when I overcame my expectations for yourself. on raising the profile of the unique personal barriers to view challenges faced by BAME individuals the opportunities in front of me – opportunities I never Handwriting: is yours within the insurance and financial a scribble, a scrawl or services sector. sought as a kid, opportunities I did not want to waste. At beautiful calligraphy? this point, I made a pact with Illegible – my brain thinks What is your single proudest achievement? myself to always be confident faster than my hand I was recently recognised by the FT as a Top about bringing my story can cope. 50 Female Future Leader, an initiative that to the table, to expand my showcases role models making significant horizons and to truly reach contributions to gender diversity. What are your thoughts my potential. on cultural diversity in the insurance profession? Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: Given that the profession is “Opportunity is a privilege not everyone based in the City of London, receives. Recognise yours, embrace it and it is not reflective of the don’t waste it”. cultural diversity within the Siva London population. Karthikeyan Born: Tamilnadu, India

“Moving to the UK at the age of 16, the uncomfortable battle between keeping my cultural identity while fitting into a new country really pushed me outside my comfort zone.”

70 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 71 Your current role/short bio: Your Journey: A bit more about you I am a Broking Trading Manager at My parents came to England Advice to younger self: “As a young Midway Insurance Services. We operate in the early 60s to seek Use your head more – believe in the niche market, offering bespoke a better life. They were you can! woman in products to customers – it is a very determined to give their children the best start in rewarding role. Do you have any life, despite having very my early 20s, hidden talents? little themselves. Their main Yes, and they’ll stay hidden. I was told by What was your first ever job? focus was to give us the Personnel assistant at Phoenix best free education possible. my manager Assurance, Bristol. My parents passed on their Favourite song/music: determination, drive and Everything by Rod Stewart that I can When did you join the insurance/risk work ethics to us. I consider and Bob Marley. profession? myself truly blessed 1976. never become and fortunate. Thoughts on cultural diversity As a young woman in my in the insurance industry: Relevant qualifications/awards: We haven’t moved on a manager Dip CII. early 20s, I was told by my manager that I can never much since the 70s. I still become a manager because witness overt and covert because of What is your single proudest achievement? of my colour. There was no discrimination on a daily Apart from my two children, the fact that ‘political correctness’ in those basis – more needs to be my colour.” I’ve lasted nearly 42 years in the insurance days and racism was rife done here. industry, overcoming huge discrimination in the industry. I have had to and other challenges to succeed. overcome this – by working Did you have a mentor/role hard and proving myself. model to help throughout Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote: I have held roles in several “Time is money – use it wisely”. your career? insurance firms and proudly My parents. mentor and sponsor younger multicultural employees through their careers. Advice to young person starting out in the industry: Go for it and drive change, as change is coming. Make sure you take the insurance exams, as education will help drive change.

Velma Burton Born: Jamaica

72 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 73 iCAN Committee Members

Ajay Mistry Gareth Mutema Georgina Weekes Glody Makiese Co-founder and co-chair of iCAN Account executive at Midway Insurance Operations team leader at Travelers UK Data products developer at Lloyd’s Services

Ajay Mistry co-founded and is co-chair Gareth Mutema is an account executive Georgina Weekes is an operations team leader Glody Makiese is a data products developer of iCAN. In his day job, he works for at Midway Insurance Services. Midway is a at Travelers UK, working within syndicate working in the Data Lab at Lloyd’s, the Brokerbility Holdings as partnerships director, specialist in insurance for owners of blocks operations to guide and support the team world’s specialist insurance market. In his which involves working with customers and of flats. He was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. and the underwriters in their daily roles. role, Glody creates, analyses and publishes providing digital solutions to adapt to their “Time waits for no man” is one of his favourite Her favourite motto is from Maya Angelou – “If you various management information reports and changing needs. He has just hired a brand new quotes. don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change dashboards internally, to the corporation, sales and marketing team of eight this year, it, change your attitude.” as well as to the wider Lloyd’s market. to take the business to a new level. Why is iCAN important? I have been given opportunities to progress in my Why is iCAN important? Favourite work-focused saying/motto/quote – Ajay was placed number 15 in the 2017 Top 30 List career through networking events and debates iCAN is important to me because I would like “There are no failures, just lessons.” of Ethnic Minority Future Leaders presented by the arranged by iCAN. This is why iCAN is important everyone to be afforded the same opportunities Why is iCAN important? Financial Times, and also placed in the 2018 Young to me; it creates opportunities and breaks barriers across the board. From a young age, I was taught iCAN is important because the insurance profession Guns List presented by Insurance Business magazine. and traditional practices within the profession that that there are good people and bad people in the needs a network that pushes cultural diversity Why is iCAN important? limit progress. I am involved in iCAN to help tackle world, who can only be judged based on their across every level. Our customers are diverse, and Having been a network leader at previous firms the lack of representation of leaders from culturally actions as a person not on what they look like. we need the decision-makers to reflect this. I would and really understanding the value of employee diverse backgrounds, a lack of multicultural-specific I believe we should only look to judge someone like to help create more future leaders from BAME resource groups, I think iCAN gives the opportunity employee resource groups, and a lack of role models based on merit; our successes and failures determine backgrounds and work on retaining their talents and for anyone in the Insurance industry to be part of a from a multicultural background. Also, to work who we are, irrespective of a characteristic or a label experiences in the profession. truly inclusive, industry-wide network. We are here to with mentors and interact with likeminded someone may assign you. represent BAME and international issues at a senior individuals who see the benefit of a diverse level and ensure that the important issues are given and inclusive profession. a voice.

74 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 75 iCAN Committee Members

Gursharan Baryah Heather Armond Kishan Mangat Nick Borzenko Claims client relationship manager at Chubb Global head of internal communications Lawyer at DWF and Co-Chair of iCAN Senior internal auditor at Markel for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

Gursharan Baryah is a claims client relationship Born in Duncan, Canada, Heather Armond is Kishan Mangat works as a lawyer at DWF. Her Nick is a senior internal auditor at Markel. manager at Chubb. She works within the global the global head of internal communications current expertise lies in representing insurers He provides independent and objective accounts division to ensure excellent service for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. In her on a wide variety of high-value catastrophic assessment of Markel’s business activities and delivery to some of largest multinational role, she manages communications activity injury claims. Her father is a first-generation works with senior management to address any clients. Gursh also co-chairs the Chubb Cultural in support of employee engagement across Indian immigrant and her mother is a first- issues identified. Nick was born in Tashkent. Awareness Network. this global organisation of more than 4,700 generation Trinidadian immigrant. His favourite quote is a Russian saying that loosely Gursh’s motto is to “never stop learning”. colleagues in 34 countries. Kishan was shortlisted as a Rising Star in Law translates to “words are not sparrows, once out – Why is iCAN important? in 2018’s We are the City Awards. can’t be caught”, which he tries to say to himself Why is iCAN important? The insurance profession gains huge benefits from when he thinks the topic under discussion might While the insurance industry is starting to realise the I am incredibly proud to be co-chair of iCAN. Having being as diverse and as inclusive as possible – in be sensitive. importance of diversity and inclusion and taking this been a member of the steering committee since the increasingly global market, our customers come more seriously, conversations about race, religion its inception in early 2017, I am proud of the way Why is iCAN important? from every background and culture there is, and we and cultural diversity are still largely unaddressed. the network has sought to bring the industry I would like to work in a truly diverse and inclusive succeed when our profession reflects who we are I joined the iCAN committee because I feel there together to share best practice and ideas for pushing environment and I think at iCAN we’ve set ourselves more broadly. is more we should be doing to increase the cultural BAME inclusion, from apprenticeships to board level. achievable goals that will help move the insurance awareness in our industry and to ensure we are Her proudest achievement is her two international I believe that inclusion is key to having an engaged profession in that direction. bringing in and developing the best talent from moves – firstly from Canada to the UK in 2001, and and productive workforce for any organisation. all different backgrounds. By creating a forum for then later to Germany from the UK – opening her the BAME population and supporting company up to new cultural and travel experiences, something networks, we aim to have a greater impact within which she enjoys. the industry.

76 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 77 78 Multicultural and international role models in insurance 79 Standards. Professionalism. Trust. Multicultural and International Role Models in Insurance Multicultural role models in insurance

The Chartered Insurance Institute 42–48 High Road, South Woodford, London E18 2JP tel: +44 (0)20 8989 8464 [email protected] cii.co.uk

Chartered Insurance Institute INSURANCE CULTURAL @CIIGroup AWARENESS N ETWORK

COH_J0112396 12/18