Page 45 - Shaw Wall of Honor

My leadership style comes from the celebration of the differences between the sexes and seeks to highlight the strengths of each. Men and women have different life experiences, responsibilities, communication styles, and skill sets. These differences are important to not only recognize, but also to honor. Our agency spends a great deal of time and resources achieving a healthy work-life balance for our team. We recognize that parenting and family responsibilities are shared by both sexes and strive to maintain policies that accommodate pro family values.
This philosophy and commitment to the well- being of our team is one of the reasons I believewewererecentlyhonoredtoreceivethe Insurance Journal’s Best Independent Insurance Agency to Work For. Allowing our new mothers and fathers a flexible schedule, along with and the ability to work from home, has proven key in their ability to meet the demands of parenthood and earn a living. I am certain that as a female business owner and mother, I am more keenly aware of the different pressures women face in the work force and this is why we work diligently to promote professional success that coincide with the challenges and rewards of raising children.
Corporate philanthropy is also widely recognized as important to employee satisfaction. I have always held the belief that giving starts with our team and our charitable actions. We focus on employees, whether it is profit sharing in the form of bonuses, or supporting a team member’s individual choices for charitable giving (the mini bar and snacks also help!). Focusing on employees has always been integral as to how we run our business. We take care of our own and we consider our work family our primary responsibility when making key business decisions. I take my role as the matriarch of my work family seriously.
A question that doesn’t make me uncomfortable is, “How do you like working with your husband?” This question is usually followed with, “I could never work with my spouse, we would kill each other”. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to an occasional blurring of the lines between our personal and professional life but the advantages that come
from bringing the strength of our marriage to our business make us an ideal team. Our “magic” capitalizes on our individual strengths and uses our intimate knowledge of one another to minimize weaknesses. It is the balance of our male and female traits that lends authenticity and gender equality in every action we take.
In our business, we celebrate the achievements of all our team members, absent consideration of gender. We recognize that women bring fresh perspectives and strengths to the table which can lead to innovative solutions. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to contribute. We’re passionate about making sure that our whole team feels they have a voice and the same opportunities to succeed. In other words, we strive to create an environment built on respect, trust, and equal access. I believe that by creating a culture where everyone is encouraged to share input, we can truly unlock the ever-expanding potential of our agency.
We recognize that women bring fresh perspectives and strengths to the table which can lead to innovative solutions.
Our industry has made progress in terms of female representation but there is still more work to do. We all must continue to challenge outdated views around gender equality and foster a culture of care so that female professionals can reach their full potential. I'm committed to doing my part by continuing to mentor the women of our agency to be confident and capable leaders. With each step forward, female professionals will create greater opportunities for generations of women to come. Together, we will fully realize the Virginia Slims slogan, You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!
Regards from the Owner’s Wife and Owner
Let Me Introduce the Owner's Wife
45