My name is Yvonne Hill-Planter and like most people in the insurance industry, I fell into insurance. Having “fallen” into the business I have stayed because of the many opportunities in our industry. In honor of Women’s History Month and as co-chair of our Women’s Empowerment Employee Resource Group (ERG), WE@Skyward, I was asked to share my perspectives on the impact groups like this have on women in insurance.
I've come to appreciate the significance of 'womanhood’ found in business when women across many walks of life and levels of experience come together. It's evident when women from diverse backgrounds unite to establish an environment in the workplace where they can support each other. Together, they strive to comprehend the distinct challenges that women encounter in business and cultivate discussions aimed at overcoming these obstacles on both individual and organizational levels. Having served in various leadership roles spanning more than 30 years, in that time, I've made it my mission to use my position to promote the insurance industry, attract new talent into the industry, and be a mentor and sponsor of top talent. I’ve enjoyed watching their careers flourish into leadership roles and continue to mentor and be a resource for many of them over the years. Further, I'm a proponent of professional development, leadership, and the importance of representation.
Cultivating a Supportive Workplace Culture
It's no secret the insurance industry is traditionally male-dominated and as a woman, especially being a Black woman, climbing the corporate ladder, I’ve had to navigate many obstacles and overcome gender biases throughout my career. I’ve had males take credit for my work and ideas or be promoted ahead of me while producing fewer results than I did. Like many other women, I did not have many avenues to turn to for advice at that time except for family and friends. And despite these experiences, I became more prepared, smarter and worked even harder to find my voice. Using my instincts as a guide, I created my own opportunities to create success. Early in my career, I volunteered for assignments and was the back-up for my manager when he/she was out of the office. This allowed me to be seen in the organization as the “go-to” person for the team and helped to make me an invaluable partner within the department and organization. That said, I wish I had the benefit of a women-focused resource network, like WE@Skyward, earlier in my career.
"As I reflect on my career, I've come to appreciate the pivotal role that supportive networks and advocacy play in overcoming challenges and fostering professional growth. This realization has only been further solidified through my involvement with WE@Skyward, where we are actively championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization."
WE@Skyward provides the opportunity for women to not only be seen but heard. We’ve piloted the Company’s first Mentorship Program and expanding the program in 2024. The participant feedback from the initial mentorship was very positive with several mentors and mentees maintaining the relationship post the program. As we enhance this program, it is our hope to create opportunities for sponsorship within the Company. During our monthly meetings, we’ve sponsored guest speakers on topics like women’s leadership skills and women’s heart health. The Women’s Heart Health discussion centered on learning about risk factors and the importance of cardiovascular health, especially for women.
What I am most proud of this year is that WE@Skyward hosted the first-ever in-person Women’s History Forum in Houston. Members of WE@Skyward from across the Company joined together at our corporate offices for two days and had a full schedule of events and engagements enabling the participants to hear from and interact with successful senior leadership on developing upward mobile careers while keeping the all-important work-life balance.
In addition to compelling talks given by female leaders in our organization, we hosted our executive leadership team for a panel to discuss work-life balance and women in leadership.
We also partnered with one of our female-led businesses, Healthcare Solutions, for an outreach event featuring Hopeful Handbags where we packed handbags with necessities for women coming from abuse. By nearly every measure this event was a resounding success and will be a cornerstone of WE@Skyward’s annual activities. All of the forum events were open to all employees so everyone at the Company could benefit from these learnings.
Conclusion
There has been much progress in the insurance industry but there is still work to be done to champion the diversity of women in the industry and elevate us to the C-Suite. We celebrate the importance of having visible female leaders within Skyward Specialty and how WE@Skyward can partner with leadership to affect an even better future for the women of tomorrow.
Visit our website skywardinsurance.com to learn more about the culture of our Company and how we are breaking barriers at Skyward Specialty.