AXA XL leaders reflect on what inspiring inclusion means to them on International Women's Day

Authored by AXA XL

Observed globally on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is a celebration of unity, reflection, advocacy, and action for women's rights and gender equality.

From its inception in 1911, IWD has transcended geographical, cultural, and political boundaries to unite people across the globe in the quest for gender equality and women's empowerment. The day is a collective call to action to challenge bias, fight stereotypes, broaden perceptions, and improve quality of life while celebrating women's achievements and advancements across all walks of life

The theme for International Women's Day 2024, "Inspire Inclusion," emphasizes the importance of inspiring action and awareness around the inclusion of women in all aspects of society. The call to "Inspire Inclusion" is a reminder that creating an inclusive environment is not only about inviting women to the table but also about ensuring that they are heard, valued, and given the opportunity to contribute equally.

What does “Inspire Inclusion” mean to you? We asked AXA XL’s leadership, and this is what they shared:

Baljinder Mahil, Head of Distribution Operations
“Inspire Inclusion” resonates deeply. It’s not just a slogan; for me it’s our compass for creating workplaces and communities where every voice is valued.

Diversity is about recognizing the kaleidoscope of human experiences—the vibrant tapestry that makes us who we are. The path to building an inclusive culture requires the same focus and drive similar to all business objectives and strategic priorities. I am proud to say through the creation of our UK Multicultural group, RISE in 2020, our first goal was to push for transparency and use data to drive action we it was most needed. We are all familiar with you can’t be what you can’t see, sharing success stories, mentoring, and developing diverse talent from within the organisation and the market is key to building a truly inclusive culture and community.

I have often said when it comes to building diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities we should not be in competition with our peers, the biggest and only way to make a significant impact will be to come together as an industry. As a member of iCAN’s (insurance Cultural Awareness Network) Steering Committee I am responsible for leading market wide knowledge sharing through bringing together HR professionals, Network leaders and those involved in Inclusion and Diversity to regular round table discussions. Together we dissect challenges and collaborate in order to dismantle biases and build sustainable changes for our industry, each meeting is rich with best practices and success stories.

Diversity isn’t an abstract concept: inspiring inclusion means actively working towards a world where every woman’s voice is heard, respected, and valued. Let’s continue to champion diversity and create a more equitable and inclusive society!

In summary, inspiring inclusion means actively working towards a world where every woman’s voice is heard, respected, and valued. Let’s continue to champion diversity and create a more equitable and inclusive society!

Dawn Dinkins, Chief Operating Officer, Reinsurance
For me, Inspiring Inclusion means showing openness to what most might consider to be “other” -- other backgrounds and other viewpoints. It means we invite conversations where different perspectives are heard. It’s where people can bring their different lived experiences to the conversations to help others to look at things from a new angle to solve big problems or have a deeper understanding of an issue. It’s helping others to realize it’s our differences that makes us stronger and more agile/nimble as a team/department/organization.

It’s fostering a work culture that embraces difference, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, who we love, what pronoun we use, how old we are, and we all feel empowered to share our unique opinions and our potential is not limited. That's the culture I want to be part and I'm personally committed to building.

Theresa Schlageter, Deputy Head of U.S. Risk Management
Inspiring Inclusion means so much more in today’s society and today’s workplace.

Just being part of a diverse team isn’t enough. It’s being part of the solution to embrace inclusion and encourage behaviors that give voice to each one of us.

As a member of a minority, it’s important to me to encourage each person to be comfortable offering their unique perspective. It’s how we grow as a society and elevate our workplace emotional IQ.

I’m proud to be part of an organization that values each individual, recognizes the importance of diversity, and promotes inclusive behaviors to build a strong sense of community.

Adias Gerbaud, Chief Underwriting Officer, APAC and Europe
We can inspire diversity in so many different ways but especially by the actions we take. We can learn so much from each other and our career experiences. I hope others can learn from my professional journey. My career path has taken me from a temporary contract position to my current leadership position as Chief Underwriting Officer for our APAC and Europe Business Unit. By sharing my experiences, I want others to see their potential for individual growth. Fostering continual learning and professional growth helps build a culture of inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. By breaking barriers and ascending through various leadership roles, I hope I serve as living proof that by taking advantage of opportunities as they present themselves, climbing the corporate ladder is accessible to individuals from varied backgrounds and perspectives.

Mentoring is so important. Our Europe-wide Business Resource Group (BRG) for Inclusion is a very valuable internal resource and I lend my support to it in any way I can. Leaders need to champion diversity in their organizations by more than just words, but by taking action.

During my career, I’ve always tried to bring together a wide range of talents and viewpoints to tackle complex challenges more effectively. Diversity in thought and leadership is critical to navigating the multifaceted global market. I firmly believe that colleagues should bring their whole selves to work and therefore, I’m committed to taking an inclusive leadership style. I’m a big advocate of “situational leadership” where leaders choose the right style to fit their various team members’ personalities and requirements. While this approach has served me well in my career, I’ve seen how it helps others succeed too.

I hope my career journey inspires others, especially women and those from underrepresented groups, to embrace the values of adaptability, continuous learning, and inclusive leadership.

Thisiani Matsumura Martins, Global Chief Underwriting Officer, Aviation
Inclusion means accepting and embracing the diversity, being it from gender, nationality, social condition, age, ideas, etc. It means giving opportunity for all to express their opinion, feelings, and thoughts without fear of being judged or discriminated, and having them considered and valued within the group they participate in (companies, countries, society).

Inspiring inclusion to me, means acting and behaving in a respectful way towards the diversity of the group, showing in our day-by-day actions our respect and openness to embrace the different. In doing so, hopefully, these actions can be an example for others to follow.

Inspiring inclusion means that I can contribute to creating a more just, equitable and inclusive world and society for everyone.