Page 37 - Shaw Wall of Honor

I first started in insurance when I was 20, as a receptionist. It was at this agency that I first encountered the “good old boys club.” The agent for whom I worked would verbalize his distaste for female agents, and I was often told I was ‘just an order taker.’
Throughout my journey from receptionist to owner, I have had a wide range of experiences that now, looking back upon, are fortifying.
It is true that part of this journey includes navigating gender preconceptions; for instance, one of my first CSRs is male and almost daily we had call-ins who thought he was the owner and I was his CSR.
At times I have been overlooked in subtle ways, such as being interrupted or ignored or speaking up and no one “hears” me.
Walking though industry events with my husband is a funny social experiment—99% of vendors talk to Adam and not me, assuming he is the owner. I have learned to play that to my benefit now!
Women can encounter hurdles in terms of gaining credibility or being taken seriously among male counterparts. There is still an element of the well-established 'good old boys club' where connections and opportunities are forged, and, well, I am a woman.
There have been times when I have won an account and the incumbent agent has sent a message stating “I can see why you moved your insurance to her.” Like, I didn’t win an account because of my knowledge and abilities?
Or the comment one agent made, “It seems that when you get to make six figures, you’d be happy enough.” To that agent I say thank you for underestimating me, I used it as fuel!
RECEPTIONIST TO OWNER
WRITTEN BY
BETH DELAFOREST
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