The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, convened nearly 350 insurance industry professionals, C-suite executives and leading experts in New York City for the in-person return of its biennial IICF Inclusion in Insurance Global Conference last week. Proceeds from this conference will benefit nonprofit and charitable organizations across the US and UK through the IICF Community Grants Program.
“The IICF Global Conference offered an exciting platform for insurance professionals to engage on a global scale,” said Elizabeth Myatt, VP, Chief Program Officer of IICF. “There was such a sense of true connections being made as we explored topics that resonated with purpose and offered actionable insight. Events like our Global Conference foster opportunities to learn and cultivate a sense of belonging, all while giving back to the communities we serve.”
Top executives across the industry and thought leaders from around the globe shared insightful expertise to inspire attendees looking to create meaningful change in their organizations and the insurance industry as a whole. Topics were centered around leadership and talent, inclusion and belonging, personal and professional growth, the business of insurance, and shaping the future of work. Featured speakers included:
- Claire Burns, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at The Hartford
- Eric Bailey, Bestselling author and President of BSIG Consulting
- Jon Macaskill, Retired Navy SEAL Commander; Consultant and Mindfulness and Meditation teacher
- Jean Chatzky, Founder & CEO, HerMoney.com and coaching programs FinanceFixx and InvestingFixx
A guiding principle of IICF’s leadership events is to provide practical and actionable insight that attendees can take back for discussion and potential implementation at their own companies. Key takeaways included:
- Addressing talent: Brenda Austenfeld, CEO & President of National Property at RT Specialty, Ann Haugh, Chief Executive Officer at AXIS Re, Hank Watkins, Regional Director & President, Americas at Lloyd’s and Ed Majkowski, Americas Insurance Sector & Consulting Leader at EY, discussed effective strategies for the industry to attract and retain talent of the future, including encouraging more open knowledge sharing across generations.To address the talent gap, these top insurance leaders stressed the importance of introducing the industry through internship and apprentice programs, beginning in high school and even earlier, and recruiting through university risk management programs.
- Building a culture of inclusion: Leslie Marshall, Vice President, P&C Sales Experience Management & Delivery at USAA, shared that building a culture of inclusion means having a range of perspectives and experiences represented at the table when journey mapping, which ultimately can lead to developing inclusive products, services and experiences.
- Visibility and Rallyship: Claudia Brind-Woody, Managing Director at IBM, discussed the value of rallyship in the workplace, and how having the courage to be visible with support can empower others to be their authentic selves and help all individuals collaborate more effectively.
For more comprehensive insights from the 2023 Global Conference, stay tuned for the event’s summary white paper which will be released in September.
IICF presented its 2023 Inclusion Champion award to Kathy Quintana, EVP and COO of HUB International during the Global Conference. This prestigious award honors the extraordinary contributions of insurance industry professionals working to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility within the industry and communities at large.
Formerly known as the IICF Women in Insurance Conference Series, IICF’s Inclusion in Insurance leadership events are the only ones of their kind to benefit nonprofit and charitable organizations. Proceeds benefit nonprofits partners focused on food insecurity, homelessness and disaster relief and preparedness, and helping children at risk, veterans and vulnerable families. IICF has awarded more than $45 million in community grants since it inception.
The 2023 IICF Global Conference is made possible by support from Diamond Presenting Sponsors Amwins and USAA, and all generous event sponsors who played a critical role in the success of the event.
IICF will host the 2024 IICF Regional Forums in Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles and New York while marking the foundation’s thirtieth anniversary. Registration and additional details will be available later this year at https://inclusion.iicf.org/.
About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF)
The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, IICF has served as the philanthropic foundation of the insurance industry for nearly thirty years, contributing $45 million in community grants and with 320,000 volunteer hours by more than 115,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations, for maximum community impact. IICF is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at www.iicf.org or follow us on social media: @doubleicf.