Page 44 - Shaw Wall of Honor

LET ME INTRODUCE THE
Owner's Wife
As a co-owner of an independent insurance agency, I am often asked to share my insights on being a female in a male-dominated industry. To be honest, the question always makes me a bit uncomfortable. You see, I was born in the era of the Virginia Slims slogan, You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby, so I don’t think of myself as professionally inferior because I happen to be a woman. And for this, I can thank the millions of “independent, stylish, confident and liberated women” that slogan unabashedly targeted.
I also get uncomfortable when all too often, I am introduced as the owner’s wife. Now don’t get me wrong, I am the owner’s wife, but I am also an owner. My husband and I have been business partners for the entirety of our thirty-year marriage. The fact that he has never been introduced as the owner’s husband forces me to acknowledge that systemic bias still exists in our profession—ften described as “male, pale, and stale.”.
While I acknowledge, and have certainly witnessed, bias, I have chosen to accept the
challenge and responsibility to create an equitable environment in my own business. This includes fostering a culture of care, embracing empathy, encouraging collaboration, and developing professional opportunities for both men and women. I believe with the shared commitment of my husband and business partner, our agency is setting the standard for gender equality in our industry.
We strive in our daily practices to challenge pervasive bias in our industry by recognizing and empowering female leadership. This can be evidenced in our Director of Operations and Finance who also has the title of “Mrs.” as well as “mother.” Our agency appreciates female talent and nurtures feminine values. We don’t refer to female colleagues as “the girls in the office” and we have the same performance expectations and offer the same professional opportunities to all our team members regardless of gender. By investing in female leadership, we are creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that values the contributions of all team members. We know this approach leads to greater innovation, productivity, and overall success.
WRITTEN BY
KELLY MORA
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