By Darryl Page, president of personal insurance, Fireman's Fund Insurance

Having spent more than 25 years in the insurance industry, I'm often asked about the most significant challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. As with any industry, we have a number of economic, demographic and cultural trends to address as we position the industry as a whole for future growth. One of the most pressing challenges/opportunities is to more fully embrace diversity.

According to 2005 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, minorities make up one third of the overall U.S. population. By all indications, the 2010 census will show that our nation continues to grow more diverse each year. In California–one of the most diverse states in the nation in terms of ethnicity–diversity isn't an initiative, it's already a way of life. When it comes to the workplace and competing together as a business, however, diversity is broader than ethnic, cultural or religious differences. It includes differences in personal experiences, age, orientation, skills, styles and perspectives. At its core, diversity is about understanding and valuing those differences. It's about inclusion.