EMERITUS Reinsurance head of reinsurance Clementine Chinyuku has urged women in the insurance sector to speak up and fight for their space in a male-dominated field.
Speaking last week during the Special Women’s Month webinar, Chinyuku said it takes a lot of effort, repeating yourself and to stand your ground.
“You will not be heard the first time you speak. Sometimes the same thing that you say may be said by a male counterpart and immediately, everyone in the meeting agrees to that.
“But you had just said the point previously, and nobody seemed to notice or hear your voice. Our voice needs to be heard. We have the challenge of being heard.”
Chinyuku stated that the lack of role models and mentors in various fields, including insurance, is a challenge for individuals seeking guidance and insights.
However, she stated that there is a positive change happening with the rise of platforms catering for women in insurance and leadership.
“One of the things that is there right now is the issue of role models and mentors. I see a gap, and I see this as a challenge, because as one is growing up in their work in the insurance industry, they need people who have walked the path, who know what one is going to face along the way and who can actually share,” she said.
“This has not been there for a very long time. I'm glad to say that such platforms as this webinar are beginning to open up for women in insurance and women in leadership so that we can then have role models and mentors.”
Chinyuku said there was sponsorship gap in the insurance industry, which refers to the disparity in support and recognition, given to certain initiatives or agendas, particularly those related to women or underrepresented groups.
She said women encountered obstacles when seeking sponsorship or support from employers, counterparts, or superiors for initiatives such as conferences, symposiums, or projects that address their issues or promote diversity and inclusion within the industry.
Chinyuku said the exclusion is hindering women’s progress in the insurance sector.
“Whether through self-exclusion or external circumstances, women are often not appearing in the appropriate spaces or being included in important boardroom discussions and decisions,” she said.
The executive also spoke about unconscious bias, describing them as biases that individuals hold without realising it. She said women may exhibit self-bias, doubting their abilities and hesitating to pursue opportunities even when encouraged.
Chinyuku urged women in positions of leadership to uplift and empower others to foster an environment of mutual support and continuous improvement.
