The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, recently convened nearly 350 insurance industry professionals, C-suite executives and leading experts in New York City for the in-person return of its biennial IICF Inclusion in Insurance Global Conference. Proceeds from the conference benefit nonprofit and charitable organizations through the IICF Community Grants Program. "The IICF Global Conference offered an exciting platform for insurance professionals to engage on a global scale," said Elizabeth Myatt, IICF's vice president and chief program officer. "There was such a sense of true connections being made as we explored topics that resonated with purpose and offered actionable insight. Events like our Global Conference foster opportunities to learn and cultivate a sense of belonging, all while giving back to the communities we serve." Insurance executives and thought leaders from around the globe shared expertise to inspire attendees looking to create meaningful change in their organizations and the industry as a whole. Topics were centered around leadership and talent, inclusion and belonging, personal and professional growth, the business of insurance, and shaping the future of work. Featured speakers included: |

• Claire Burns, chief marketing and communications officer, The Hartford;
• Eric Bailey, author and president of BSIG Consulting;
• Jon Macaskill, retired Navy SEAL commander; consultant and mindfulness and meditation teacher; and
• Jean Chatzky, founder & CEO, of HerMoney.com and the coaching programs FinanceFixx and InvestingFixx.

A guiding principle of IICF's leadership events is to provide practical and actionable insight that attendees can take back for discussion and potential implementation at their own companies. Key takeaways from the event included: |

• Addressing talent: Brenda Austenfeld, CEO & president of National Property at RT Specialty, Ann Haugh, chief executive officer at AXIS Re, Hank Watkins, regional director and president, Americas at Lloyd's and Ed Majkowski, Americas Insurance Sector & Consulting leader at EY, discussed effective strategies for the industry to attract and retain talent including encouraging more open knowledge sharing across generations. These top insurance leaders also stressed the importance of introducing the industry through internship and apprentice programs, and recruiting through university risk management programs.
• Building a culture of inclusion: Leslie Marshall, vice president, P&C Sales Experience Management & Delivery at USAA, shared that building a culture of inclusion means having a range of perspectives and experiences represented at the table when journey mapping, which ultimately can lead to developing inclusive products, services and experiences.
• Visibility and allyship: Claudia Brind-Woody, managing director at IBM, discussed the value of allyship in the workplace, and how having the courage to be visible with support can empower others to be their authentic selves and help all individuals collaborate more effectively.

Leading the way

IICF also recently announced that Kathy Quintana of HUB International (HUB) was named the 2023 IICF Inclusion Champion Award winner. This award honors the extraordinary contributions of insurance industry professionals working to advance inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility within the industry and communities at large. "We are thrilled to recognize Kathy Quintana as our 2023 Inclusion Champion," Myatt said. "Her remarkable contributions and leadership are a shining light to all who value a fully inclusive future for our industry. We are grateful for Kathy's work in this realm and for all this year's outstanding nominees, and we thank them all for their tireless efforts to better our industry and communities." Formerly known as the IICF Women in Insurance Conference Series, IICF's Inclusion in Insurance leadership events benefit nonprofit and charitable organizations. Proceeds support nonprofit partners focused on food insecurity, homelessness and disaster relief and preparedness, and helping children at risk, veterans and vulnerable families. IICF has awarded more than $45 million in community grants since it inception. The 2023 IICF Global Conference is made possible by support from Diamond Presenting Sponsors Amwins and USAA, and all generous event sponsors who played a critical role in the success of the event. IICF will host the 2024 IICF Regional Forums in Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles and New York while marking the foundation's 30th anniversary. Registration and additional details will be available later this year at https://inclusion.iicf.org/. See also: Rallying together: Reflecting on a year of philanthropy & volunteerism in insurance