. true
Language:
Click here to close language switcher
Click here to search

More in This Category

Invested In Our Women Agency Leaders

Headshot of Emma Corcoran, Distribution Strategies Manager at Selective Insurance
By Emma Corcoran
Director, Distribution Strategy  

This September, Selective hosted our fourth Women’s Agency Leadership Conference in Philadelphia, PA. We welcomed over 50 agency leaders from our Mid-Atlantic and New Jersey regions.

The theme was "Invested in You" because encouraging women leaders to invest in themselves helps them support their teams and communities. A strong network of female leaders is also a welcome change in an industry where many of us are often the only woman in the room. The conference also helps grow and diversify our talent pool—a critical need as many knowledgeable and experienced agents and employees prepare to retire.

Origins of the Women’s Agency Leadership Initiative

Several years ago, Teresa Caro (SVP, Region Manager at Selective) recognized an opportunity to bring together women leaders across our agency partners in the New Jersey region. I attended one of the early events and left feeling empowered and energized by the women in attendance.

I shared my experience with Selective's senior leaders and requested their support. Soon WALI events were available to women from across all 6 of our regions (and E&S and Flood Distribution partners).

These events are (and I may be biased here) unlike any others in the insurance space. The WALI conference is one of my proudest accomplishments, and the mentors, advocates, and friends I gained along the way enabled me to grow in my career and excel inside and outside the office.

Women’s Agency Leadership Initiative Conference 2022

As one of the leaders coordinating the Women’s Agency Leadership initiative and conference, it is critical that we make this conference different, or in Selective terms, unique! Here’s how:

  • We welcome everyone with champagne! We started this fun tradition in 2019 at our DC event and will continue it to help our agency attendees feel special when they arrive.
  • The energy is palpable! We are proud to say that we bring over 70 women together and provide the backdrop for an energizing and fun meeting before we even dive into our content. Our Welcome Lunch is a valuable opportunity for people to meet with one another, Selective’s senior leadership team, and our male allies.
  • A charitable component is always included. This year, we partnered with the Philadelphia Chapter of Cradles to Crayons to assemble 500 hygiene kits and cards for children, while offering attendees the opportunity to double their gift with a matching donation from the Selective Insurance Group Foundation!
  • The conference features interactive breakout sessions and an educational keynote speaker. This year, we were fortunate to have Kerri Hamm, SVP, Head of Business Development at Munich Re America, share a portion of her career journey and focus on the outlook of Cyber in our industry. Additionally, we held three breakout sessions: Talent Acquisition Strategy, The DEI Investment from an Agency’s Perspective, and Becoming a Flexpert. They were so well received that we may offer them again to our other regional teams, so I don’t want to give too much away!
  • We lean on the fabulous Cindy Heismeyer to moderate a panel. In years past, we held panels with agents, Boards of Directors, and Selective Executives. This year, our panel included two New Jersey agents: Jacquelyn Zampella and Kristina Winterfeldt. A pair of Mid-Atlantic agents, Alexandra Bretschneider and Emily Miller, also sat on the panel. Cindy moderated for the fourth time, AND this year, she welcomed audience participation, making the closing session a truly engaging event!
  • Our attendees and the Selective team collaborate on the planning of the event, which creates a safe space for everyone to be comfortable and vulnerable. Attendees have the opportunity to participate in each of the sessions, so they can hear from their peers.

After two years of virtual events were thrilled to welcome agents, quite literally, with open arms! It was a refreshing opportunity to be together in person, learn from one another, and get re-energized as we head into the fourth quarter.

To learn more about our initiative, please contact your Agency Management Specialist or visit the Women’s Agency Leadership page and follow #WomensAgencyLeadership to see photos from our events!

About the Author

Emma Corcoran, Director, Distribution Strategy, is responsible for agency consulting programs, agency reports, national agency relationships, the Women’s Agency Leadership Initiative, agency compensation, and field operations support. Emma joined Selective as a summer intern in 2009 and in her current role is credited with developing the Agency Customer Experience (ACE) program and launching the Women’s Agency Leadership Initiative (WALI). These two unique programs were among the first of their kind developed specifically for independent agents within the insurance industry. Emma represents Selective on the IIABA Diversity Council and recently launched the Selective Advocate Program for the Advancement of Diverse Agencies.

Getting Unique Perspectives

Are you a publication looking for a unique perspective from one of our contributors? Contact us for further details.

Joining Leaders Like You

If you are a Selective-appointed agent interested in learning more about our Women's Agency Leadership Initiative, please use the button below.

I'm Interested