Empowering Voices: Black Excellence in Insurance

As we celebrate Black History Month, can you highlight a Black figure in the insurance industry who has inspired or influenced you, and what lessons have you drawn from their journey? 

Traci: Great question.  There are so many Black insurance professionals who have in the past and continue to mentor and inspire me.  But if I had to pick one, it would be a woman named Sheila Bracey-Liggins.  We worked together in the late 1980’s at Motor Club of America in Newark, NJ.  It was early in my career, and the first time I had seen a Black person in a leadership role.  The things I drew from her leadership were her authenticity, her sense of humor, her grace and her generosity.    Sheila took me under her wing and made me excited about coming to work every day.  She was vocal about gender and racial equity in the workplace at a time when it wasn’t sexy to broach such topics.  And because she was brilliant and at the top of her game professionally, people listened when she spoke. 

I learned from Sheila that I have the right to take up space and to be authentically myself.  I learned that this right came with a responsibility to be excellent at my job.  I also learned the importance of using my influence to support and encourage other people of color – particularly in spaces that do not nurture our talent.

Gavin: One of the most inspiring figures in the insurance industry is Mr. Jerald L Tillman, the founder of the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA). His vision was to create a community for African American professionals in the insurance sector and he worked tirelessly to make it a reality. Mr. Tillman’s legacy is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the growth and development of individuals within and outside the industry. He planted the seeds for future generations to connect, learn, and seek guidance on how to thrive in this field. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Mr. Tillman for his contributions to the insurance industry and for creating a space where African American professionals can flourish. Let us honor his legacy by continuing to support and uplift each other.

Dionne: The definition of influence is to have the capacity to have an effect on the character, development and or behavior of someone or something. Nina Smith President of Customer and Market Operations at Enlyte has been that for me. I had the immense pleasure of reporting to Nina many years ago and even though I know longer enjoy that privilege, I do get to connect with her as we are now both board members with the Alliance of Women in Workers Compensation. She is the epitome of grace under pressure and has held numerous leadership positions that inspire a new crop of not just African American women, but all women leaders. She is passionate about DEI and has walked the walk longer than most. I am not even sure she knows how inspiring she is or how many people watch her from afar and want to emulate her. It truly is her natural disposition to provide support, feedback, and most of all sponsorship.

Can you share an experience or accomplishment in your career that you feel particularly proud of, and how has it contributed to your journey as a Black leader in the insurance field?

Traci: I am particularly proud of my role as the 2024 President & Chair of The Institutes’ CPCU Society. As the first Black woman in the 80-year history of this organization to serve in this role, I am humbled by this opportunity to make history.  It has increased my profile within the industry and provided access to people, places and things I might not have had access to before being in this role.  At the same time, the messages of support and encouragement that I’ve received from so many people have reminded me that people see you even when you don’t realize they do.  It has informed the thoughtfulness and intentionality with which I engage, and mindfulness about the example I set as a leader in our industry.

Gavin: As the leader of HPT, I am thrilled to share the growth of our company in the ancillary services sector over the past three years. Our transformation from a traditional T&T company to a tech company has been extraordinary. We are now providing real-time analytics to our customers, which has never been done before in this insurance sector. I challenge my organization to be excellent and with our team’s hard work and dedication I know we are the best company in our sector. This I am extremely proud of.

Dionne: Every step in a career has peaks as well as valleys but I am proud of where I am today in my career. Not because of my title but because of what I get to do which is to help the next generation of Black female leaders, businesses, and enterprises. As the Chief Business Officer of Optum Workers Compensation and Auto Injury Solutions, a subsidiary of the United Health Group, I get to collaborate with a team of amazing individuals who also value Diversity and Inclusion. I actively participate in the Black Experience group at UHG, Chief and now I am starting on a new project for Health Equity for marginalized communities. When I was younger my husband and I were raising our children, and I did not have as much time to give to my community. Now that they are adults, I really have the time to fully pursue a legacy of giving back.

How has your culture and community influenced your ability to be in the position you are in now?

Traci: This is such a timely question as I’ve recently been interrogating the concept of “culture” with all of its nuances.  Culture can be defined in so many different ways. I think that the culture that has most influenced my professional journey is being the child of Black parents who were raised in the south and who migrated to the northeast in the 1960’s.  I grew up feeling proud to be an intelligent Black woman.  I grew up feeling supported and celebrated by my family and extended family.  My parents did their best to instill in me that I am whole and perfect just as I am, with the God-given tools I need to be successful in life.  I think that racial socialization, gender bias and classism presented obstacles, but foundation has allowed me to effectively navigate adversity and to motivate and inspire others to do the same.

Gavin: As an immigrant from Jamaica, I came to this country with a dream and a goal. My parents and grandmother instilled in me the idea that I am a “leader not a follower”. This mentality has stayed with me throughout my life, from the basketball courts to the boardroom. I strive for excellence and have a comfort zone of perfection. Failure is never an option for me. These attributes have propelled me to where I am today.

Dionne: I was adopted by my grandparents who grew up during the depression and raised by a village of extended family in Birmingham, Alabama. I was surrounded with love, support, and a push to excel to represent my family and my culture in way that would bring honor. My grandmother went to college and my grandfather had an eighth-grade education but they both valued family, education, and exposure. Exposure to travel, reading, politics and the diversity of thought. They pushed an introverted girl to be comfortable in being uncomfortable before it was even a catch phrase. They pushed me to be a dreamer. But most of all they taught me to remember that it is a duty and an obligation to be accountable, tenacious, and always aid anyone that you can help. I feel them every day and keep them alive by sharing with my children the value of self-worth and service to community which is so important in a world that is slowly losing its empathy.

What advice would you give your younger self starting out in the insurance industry?

Traci: I would have advised my younger self to identify my purpose and to seek work in this industry that aligned with it.  My background is primarily in personal lines underwriting and I moved along that track of advancement until relatively recent years when I was able to step into roles where I was able to use the skills I learned as an underwriter and underwriting manager to do work that was more fulfilling for me.

Gavin:

1. Never fear things not working as planned, it’s the steppingstone to your success;
2. Mistakes are inevitable, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Some will be big, some are small. Just grow from each scenario.
3. READ EVERTHING, READ, READ, READ, READ. With firsthand knowledge, no-one can take that away from you!
4. Become a subject matter expert in your career. People will pay you well for your knowledge.

Dionne: Interestingly I started out as a customer service person while in college at a group health HMO. My goal was to go to law school, but I honestly found my calling. I enjoyed being able to solve problems for customers and de-escalate angry customers. I followed that trail to several different insurance industries, Medicaid, Long Term Care and now Workers Compensation/ Auto for the last 22 years. The advice I would give myself is that you will find your way. Create a plan and put in the work that it demands but never be afraid to veer in a different direction. Being flexible and being able to adapt and change is the key.

Looking ahead, what changes or advancements do you hope to see in the insurance industry to promote greater diversity, equity, and inclusion for Black professionals and customers alike?

Traci: I’ve felt for a while now that we as an industry could do a better job of educating the public about insurance. There are so many financial services deserts in the Black community.  I see pockets of this kind of work but I would love to see us engage in a concerted, consumer-facing initiative that educates the public so that they embrace insurance and risk management as tools  that can be used FOR their financial benefit instead of a bad thing being DONE to them.  I think that effort would dovetail nicely with efforts to attract new talent to our industry.

I would also encourage us to not focus only on students and on young people when we work to attract new talent.  People are living longer and working longer.  There are experienced people who may have been displaced professionally or who just want to pivot to something different.  That experience will bring in a diversity of thought that can be a game changer in our industry.

Gavin: With the ever-changing trends and DEI quickly disappearing, it’s time to take a look at the insurance industry through a different set of lenses. It’s important to level the playing field for all professionals. As professionals, we can fight the good fight or choose to be competitive. Competition fosters excellence.

To optimize our careers, we should seek partnerships, allyship, or community. It’s crucial to work together and support each other to achieve success. Let’s work towards creating an inclusive and diverse industry where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.

Dionne: While there has been really disheartening news of late when you scan the media, I am incredibly hopeful for the future. I am especially happy to see so many Millennials and Gen Zers starting their own businesses in Insurance. Many in my generation thought that corporate America was what we all should aspire to. I love that this new generation feels strongly that there are so many paths to a truly multicultural industry.