Registration and breakfast
Opening remarks from Chairperson
Vinita Jajware
Chief Operating Officer, Enkompass Power and Energy Corp.
Keynote address: The Virtues of Leadership and Success: How to Perform Your Best, Make Your Mark, and Grow
Once a single mom trying to launch a start-up from her garage, Barb Stegemann has built an international brand thanks to intuition, innovation, and smart risk-taking. Stegemann became known to millions of Canadians when she became the first woman from Atlantic Canada to land a venture-capital deal on the CBC TV show Dragons’ Den —for The 7 Virtues Beauty. Fast forward, Barb and her company are positively changing lives around the globe and disrupting the beauty industry for the better – and are the #1 top clean + planet positive perfume brand at Sephora! Now she shares her incredible story and hard-earned wisdom, as a CEO who continues to steer The 7 Virtues through both unexpected road bumps and surprising growth.
In this inspiring and thought-provoking talk, Barb equips leaders with the skills they need to face daily challenges and perform at their best. Her message of thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and clearly defined ambition can help individuals find new heights of success, while maintaining the crucial balance of serving others while taking care of ourselves.
Barb Stegemann
CEO, The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc.
Panel: Creating a space for everyone
It takes one leader to start a shift in a company’s culture – to encourage active participation by all members of your team, to build an inclusive culture, and to support the celebration of diversity. This session will highlight effective and innovative strategies for creating a workplace that is both welcoming and empowering – and the prominent role you can play in driving them.
- Building a supportive environment for both emerging and established leaders in insurance: What does it take?
- What are the best strategies for crafting a hybrid culture that encourages participation by everyone?
- Communication that fosters openness and empowers your team
Moderator:
Terri O’Brien
President & CEO, Équité Association
Panelists:
Jennifer Devereaux
Senior Vice President, Underwriting, Markel Canada
Danah White
Vice President of Personal Lines, Hub International
Colette Taylor
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sovereign Insurance
Danny Davies
Chief People Officer, Aviva Canada
Networking coffee break
Workshop: Interactive session: Female excellence in insurance
The goal of the Women in Insurance series is to empower and connect a strong network of leaders across the industry. This workshop will feature a collaborative brainstorming session that leverages the different experiences and perspectives of the larger network of women in insurance across the world.
Panel: Achieving growth and exposure in a hybrid working environment
This session tackles the paradox of flexibility and exposure in this new working environment. As organizations are returning to the office in some capacity, many are also offering more work from home options. With that flexibility, some may be wondering if there are trade-offs to choosing more flexible work opportunities.
- How are those that take advantage of working from home missing out on key exposure opportunities that could impact their career?
- How can meaningful exposure to leaders, team management and growth opportunities still be available to those who choose a more flexible work schedule?
- What types of solutions allow for equitable opportunities for all types of work styles?
Moderator:
Emily Crewe
Divisional Chief Financial Officer, Arch Insurance Canada
Panelists:
Patricia Chiodo
Director, Human Resources, Burns & Wilcox Canada
Mary Giunta
Assistant Vice President, Casualty Auto Manager, Arch Insurance Canada
Deanna Cain
Vice President, Claims, Arch Insurance Canada
Women In Insurance Awards
Hosted by:
Lunch networking break
Panel: Standing out from the crowd with your personal brand
Every insurance leader needs a strong personal brand that evolves as you advance in your career. It’s a matter of continually crafting and curating the skills and experience that make you, you! In this session, a panel of industry leaders will share advice on how to best articulate your personal brand, in and out of the office, and how it can be the key differentiator in your career.
- How to make a strong, lasting impression – from the office, in the boardroom, or at your dining room table
- Improving your digital footprint: leveraging popular social platforms like LinkedIn to market and build your brand
- Tips for engaging internal sponsors to be your advocates
- Using your everyday creativity to help you emerge as an authentic leader
Moderator:
Joyce Usher-Mesiano
Vice President, Business Development, Eastern Canada, Westland
Panelists:
Gaby Polanco-Sorto
Head of Purpose & Sustainability, Gore Mutual Insurance Company
Gaurav Upadhya
Global Chief Actuary and Chief Risk Officer, Foresters Financial
Asima Zahid
Director, Market Development, LLoyd’s Canada
Monica Ningen
President & CEO, Swiss Re Canada and the English Caribbean
Networking coffee break
Panel: A guide to proactive problem-solving
What separates an impactful leader from others is their ability to effectively problem-solve – to communicate transparently, consider the different perspectives and stakeholders, and challenge the status quo. This session will feature industry leaders who will unpack problem-solving in a workplace setting, and practical tips for finding the best solution to any task or project.
- Building a team culture that considers different stakeholders – both internally and externally
- What are the six key problem-solving skills all leaders should master?
- How can you become an effective problem-solver, regardless of your level of leadership?
Moderator:
Brett Broadway
Chief Operating Officer, Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario
Panelists:
Adam Mitchell
CEO, Mitch
Maryann Besharat
Vice President, Human Resource, Ontario, Intact Insurance
Daphné de Vitton
CEO, April Canada
Cheryl Fearon
Vice President of Sales, Zensurance
Panel: Lessons learned from a multigenerational workforce
For the first time, five generations are interacting within the workforce. While it’s easy to focus on potential conflict, there is a unique opportunity for insurance leaders to take advantage of the varied perspectives and experiences each generation offers. This session will feature a panel of different generations who will share their own experiences, and strategies for leveraging diverse thoughts and collaborating effectively.
- How to incorporate team strategies such as knowledge sharing, clearing defined expectations, and active listening
- What are we learning right now from each generation?
- Understanding your team and how it translates to your client base
Moderator:
Heather Matthews
Chief Client Officer, Crawford & Company
Panelists:
Carol Jardine
President, Canadian P&C Operations, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company
Nicole Burrell
AVP of Broker Distribution, Aviva Canada
Andrew Knight
Senior Vice President, Executive and Professional Lines, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Edwina McKennon
Sales Manager, Western Financial Group
Closing keynote: Leveraging industry trends
In this session, hear from key industry leader, Celyeste Power, Chief Strategy Officer of the Insurance Bureau of Canada, on some of the most pressing industry trends that are currently shaping the insurance market – and what you need to know to remain an informed and effective leader today.
Celyeste Power
Chief Strategy Officer, Insurance Bureau of Canada