To keep it short and sweet: insurance is lagging in diversity and inclusion. Overall, only two percent of all women- and minority-owned businesses are in insurance. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, insurance is lagging behind the national average in representation of black, Asian, and Latino communities. Part of the issue is many organizations struggle with identifying new supplier diversity channels and relationships to meet their goals, achieve sustainability in their supplier base, and reduce procurement costs. That’s where I step in.    

2. How are you seeking to improve the state of diversity in insurance?
After seeing years of painstakingly slow progress on the D&I front, I felt the need to take a more active role in shaping the fabric of the insurance workforce. In 2017, my team sought our own solution to the problem: Gallagher Connect Partners. Gallagher Connect Partners is an inclusive network of minority, women, and other diverse certified insurance professionals that were strategically selected based on their unique specializations, shared values and proven ability to best serve our clients’ risk management, insurance and supplier diversity needs. As a team, we support the growth of MWBEs in insurance and help attract more diverse talent to the industry.