In June, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation will host its Women in Insurance Conference Series at regional forums in New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. The forums will provide a platform for industry leaders to explore the impact of today's most relevant diversity and inclusion topics and equip attendees with action plans proven to transform an organization. In this age of disruption, embracing diversity is essential for the insurance industry to move forward. Whether it's caused by evolving technology, an aging workforce or another factor, change is inevitable.

At the IICF Midwest forum in Chicago, I'll talk to participants about how adapting to change, navigating new challenges and reaching out to the next generation for talent and perspectives will be important to the industry's continued success. I've gained a unique perspective when it comes to navigating challenges, not just as a longtime insurance executive, but also as an accomplished mountain climber. Extreme environments, where every step can mean the difference between life and death, hold lessons for corporate boardrooms and every leader in our highly competitive and ever-evolving environment. The worlds of mountaineering and business are inextricably linked. Whether you're summiting a mountain or sitting in your office, the lessons are the same. As the landscape of insurance is rapidly changing, mountaineering provides useful lessons for leadership, team dynamics, collaboration and strategy management.