Dive In Special – Widening the doors for talent

In the second of two specially recorded podcasts to mark a decade of the Dive In festival, Laura Paterson, head of diversity and inclusion Allianz, Vicki Cowell, head of colleague resources and a member of Sedgwick’s UK executive team, plus Danielle Harmer, chief people officer of Aviva, share what needs to happen to ensure insurers view inclusive and diverse cultures not just as a business requirement in 2024 but as a key factor for long-term success.

Setting up employee resource groups has been one of the most important things that Aviva has done in the last decade to create a more diverse and inclusive culture, according to Harmer, who also shares the impact of having Amanda Blanc as group CEO.

She said: “Sometimes people focus on how lucky we are having a female CEO to set the female agenda. There is no doubt having a CEO who looks different to lots of other CEOs helps people to visualise they can do that and helps us attract female talent.

“Actually, it is not her gender that helps us on the EDI agenda. It is her leadership, her pragmatic approach to how do we get the very best people.

“We talk at Aviva this isn’t about lowering the bar. This is about widening the doors and making sure we are looking at the entire talent landscape that exists in our markets and attracting the very best people, some of whom might not have even considered insurance as a career.”

Making headway

The trio also reflect on the importance of Dive In, role models, and how it is essential the sector comes together to collaborate and demonstrate insurance is an industry where everyone can thrive.

On what the decade ahead holds for insurer’s diversity and inclusion efforts, Paterson said: “Some organisations will really get it right and stand out. That is the place where people will want to work – truly diverse and inclusive organisations.”

Cowell said she has heard of some bosses mandating a return to the office and warns we need to be aware of “unintended consequences” of such an approach.

Pointing out Sedgwick has a flexible first approach to work-life, she said: “It has broken down a lot of barriers. We have carers and parents with young children able to have very different careers now. I would like to see more of that across the industry.”

As well as being able to listen to the podcast by clicking on the player above, you can also download and keep this episode of the Insurance Post Podcast to listen to anytime, anywhere you want to.

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