Most Believe The Industry Is Making Strides Toward Gender Equality - Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet — Your Industry. One Source.™

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading Life Insurance News
Topics
    • Advisor News
    • Annuity Index
    • Annuity News
    • Companies
    • Earnings
    • Fiduciary
    • From the Field: Expert Insights
    • Health/Employee Benefits
    • Insurance & Financial Fraud
    • INN Magazine
    • Insiders Only
    • Life Insurance News
    • Newswires
    • Property and Casualty
    • Regulation News
    • Sponsored Articles
    • Washington Wire
    • Videos
    • ———
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Editorial Staff
    • Newsletters
  • Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
  • Newsletters
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • AdvisorNews
  • Annuity News
  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Fiduciary
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Insurance & Financial Fraud
  • INN Exclusives
  • INN Magazine
  • Insurtech
  • Life Insurance News
  • Newswires
  • Property and Casualty
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Video
  • Washington Wire
  • Life Insurance
  • Annuities
  • Advisor
  • Health/Benefits
  • Property & Casualty
  • Insurtech
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Staff

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
INN Daily Newsletter Hot Off The Wires
Life Insurance News RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints
July 20, 2016 Life Insurance News
Share
Share
Tweet
Email

Most Believe The Industry Is Making Strides Toward Gender Equality

New York (July 20, 2016) – The insurance industry is demonstrating significant progress when it comes to gender equality, according to 86 percent of women attending the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s (IICF) 2016 Women in Insurance Conference Series. The study, which was conducted for the third straight year, measured the sentiment of over 400 respondents attending the conferences across the country during June.

The statistics represent a significant jump from last year’s results, where less than three-quarters (72 percent) of attendees agreed that strides were being made to achieve gender equality. When asked to identify the trend that has had the most profound impact on the improvement of gender equality in the industry across the past five years, respondents pointed to a few key themes. Forty-four percent stated the most important trend is the active recruitment of a gender-diverse workforce, and 22 percent cited the establishment of mentorship programs for women. Another 20 percent named the sponsorship of executive networking opportunities carried the most weight.

“While barriers still exist for women who seek to advance within their careers, we have seen a shift in thought among women in the industry – where lack of opportunities for upward mobility is no longer the primary obstacle,” said Erin Calvey, Executive Vice President at Ironshore Insurance Co. and Conference Series speaker. “We see now more than ever the importance of women uplifting and supporting each other in order to collectively inspire progress. Beyond the impact this has for women who are already veterans of the industry, this is a vital trend to cultivate as the industry aligns itself to hire the next generation of insurance professionals.”

Additional key findings from the survey include:

  • Eighty-seven percent of respondents stated that their company in particular is actively working to promote gender diversity (up from 68 percent last year).
  • When it comes to the advancement of women to senior leadership roles, 32 percent of respondents rank insurance as the most supportive industry in financial services –outpaced only by the accounting industry (other options included investment services and banking). This figure represents a marked increase from 2015’s results, where insurance ranked last at 12 percent.
  • Thirty-five percent of respondents attribute the biggest challenge to women ascending in leadership roles as women not promoting themselves enough or effectively. This result differs from last year, where over one third of respondents cited limited opportunities to move up the corporate ladder as the biggest obstacle.

 

Some of the key discussions from this year’s conference series focused on promoting a gender diverse workforce, building a strong network, navigating potential roadblocks and dispelling myths about why women don’t reach greater heights. Notable speakers included Sophia Yen, Head of U.S. Insurance Strategy & Operations at KPMG, John Vasturia, President of Specialty Markets at Munich Reinsurance America Inc., Tracey Ant, Senior Vice President of Field Sales & Execution at The Hartford, and many other industry influencers.

“It is truly rewarding to recognize that these successful women have left our conferences inspired and equipped to catalyze change in their communities and workplaces,” said Betsy Myatt, Executive Director of IICF’s Northeast Division. “As the Women in Insurance Conference Series continues to grow, so too do the programs and networks that become available for women that champion career advancement and leadership.”

Held via four separate forums in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles this June, IICF’s 2016 Women in Insurance Conference Series was host to nearly 1,300 industry professionals across the nation.

About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation was established in 1994 and is completely directed and funded by the insurance industry. The foundation helps communities and enriches lives by uniting the collective strengths of the industry to provide grants, volunteer service and leadership. Since its inception in 1994, IICF has contributed more than $25.3 million in grants to charities and 218,722 volunteer hours to hundreds of community nonprofit organizations. IICF is a registered not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at about the IICF at www.iicf.org.

 

Newer

NCOIL Committee Urges Repeal Of Fiduciary Rule

Advisor News

  • Industry groups praise tax reform provisions in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
  • Pennsylvania hospitals expected to lose out under ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
  • Rep. Begich celebrates passage of tax-cut bill that could cause thousands of Alaskans to lose health coverage
  • Houses passes Trump budget making 2017 tax cuts permanent
  • International stocks are having their moment. Will it last?
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of New York Life Insurance Company and Its Subsidiaries
  • Chariot Re Launches with Co-Sponsorship by MetLife and General Atlantic
  • The retirement shuffle: How the industry can adapt
  • Corebridge inks $2.8B variable annuity transaction with Venerable
  • KBRA Releases Comment on Venerable’s Announced Transaction with Corebridge
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits News

  • Studies from Weill Cornell Medical College in the Area of Managed Care Described (Assessing Facility, Resident, and Financial Characteristics Associated With Hud 232-sponsored Loan Participation In Nursing Homes): Managed Care
  • UCare to cut 88K from Medicaid health plans amid financial troubles
  • St. Louis-area patients in limbo as BJC, Cigna extend negotiations through July
  • Can this health clinic be a lifeline for Sacramento’s immigrants?
  • ‘Big beautiful bill’ contains some wins, NABIP says
More Health/Employee Benefits News

Property and Casualty News

  • The Doctors Company and ProAssurance Announce Early Termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period
  • Loews Corp. (NYSE: L) Sets New 52-Week High in Monday Session
  • Trump points to easing inflation numbers, but Americans still face high prices, reduced purchasing power
  • Santa Fe's insurance premiums drop by more than $400,000 with new contract
  • Nashville Downtown Partnership Points to Subcontractor for Library Fire
More Property and Casualty News

- Presented By -

Top Read Stories

  • Senate passes ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ makes litany of significant tax changes
  • Is Sunny Hostin’s husband next to settle massive NYC medical fraud suit?
  • Senate passes megabill, includes sweeping cuts to Medicaid, ACA
  • Commentary: State Farm wildfire claims handling sparks regulatory scrutiny
  • ‘Big, beautiful bill’ rolls back federal support for Medicaid, ACA
More Top Read Stories >

NEWS INSIDE

  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Economic News
  • INN Magazine
  • Insurtech News
  • Newswires Feed
  • Regulation News
  • Washington Wire
  • Videos

FEATURED OFFERS

2025 LIMRA Annual Conference
Gather with top executives, where bold strategies ignite inspiration.

Increase sales up to 30% with INN Academy
Master sales strategies from industry legends. Flexible learning, immediate results. Don't miss out—save up to 50%!

Press Releases

  • Royal Neighbors of America® Launches New Single Premium Whole Life Product
  • RFP #T01625
  • TAG Advisors Adds New Specialty Markets Leader Carmine LaCognata
  • Royal Neighbors of America Celebrates 130 Years
  • WealthFeed Partners with Wells Advantage Group to Empower Agents with Next-Level Prospecting and Insurance Solutions
More Press Releases > Add Your Press Release >

How to Write For InsuranceNewsNet

Find out how you can submit content for publishing on our website.
View Guidelines

Topics

  • Advisor News
  • Annuity Index
  • Annuity News
  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Fiduciary
  • From the Field: Expert Insights
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Insurance & Financial Fraud
  • INN Magazine
  • Insiders Only
  • Life Insurance News
  • Newswires
  • Property and Casualty
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Washington Wire
  • Videos
  • ———
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Staff
  • Newsletters

Top Sections

  • AdvisorNews
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits News
  • InsuranceNewsNet Magazine
  • Life Insurance News
  • Property and Casualty News
  • Washington Wire

Our Company

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Meet our Editorial Staff
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Write for INN

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter
© 2025 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • InsuranceNewsNet Magazine

Sign in with your Insider Pro Account

Not registered? Become an Insider Pro.
Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet