View from the Summit: Insure Equality Sharpens Focus on the Intersection of DEI and Industry

“You changed my mind about insurance in one day.”

“I’ve never been in an environment where I felt like I belonged, until now.”

“I heard the word ‘love’ at a conference for the first time in my life. I never want to go back.”

As insurance influencers across industry disciplines continue to buzz about Insure Equality’s inaugural Summit, there is a palpable sense that discussions — around DEI, authenticity at work, and the future of insurance — are shifting in a meaningful way. The insurance industry is and has been wrestling with a talent crisis on numerous fronts, and from HR departments to the C-Suite, there is finally tacit acknowledgement that solving for long-standing deficits in diversity and equity could eliminate roadblocks across the board. Enter Insure Equality, whose network of champions and allies is growing by the day since a milestone Summit that, one attendee shared, “is now the standard by which I’ll measure every conference going forward.”

An outside the box approach to the insurance conference, in every way

Insure Equality is a non-profit tech company committed to creating cultural change within the insurance industry by amplifying the voices that are typically excluded or minimized. The organization distinguishes itself with a head-on approach to tackling the topics and challenges that many insurance professionals lack a safe space to process.

Meaningfully selecting the South Side of Chicago as the location for their inaugural summit on September 15, Insure Equality brought together “a multitude of brave and beautiful individuals, each carrying their unique journeys and stories,” said Elisa Stampf 🏳️🌈 MBA, CPCU, AU, ARe , CEO and co-founder. More than a half-dozen podcasts including “We Are Insurtech Women,” “Bound & Determined,” and InsNerds “Profiles in Risk,” have already featured episodes recounting powerful moments of connection from the Summit, with more coverage forthcoming.

Speakers and attendees included some of the top thought leaders across insurance disciplines, including:

• Jelani Fenton (Founder & CEO, Safari)
• Precious Norman Walton CPCU, SHRM-CP, TRIP, AIC, AINS, AIS, ACS (CPCU Leadership Council member and leading voice on claims adjusting)
• Amy C. Waninger (Founder & CEO of Lead at Any Level)
• Alyssa Gambone (Chief Reserving Actuary, Electric Insurance)
• Tony Cañas, CPCU, MBA, AU, ARM, ARe, AIC, AIS (founder of InsNerds and industry recruiting expert)
• Stacey Saunders, MBA (noted business coach and instructor, Business Coach Consulting)
• Charles Morgan (co-founder, ScreeCred)
• Patrick Koeller (CTO, When Insurance)
• Keynote speaker Meg McKeen (Founder of Adjunct Advisors and host of the “Bound and Determined” podcast)
• and many others who made this event a truly enriching experience.

The message that echoed throughout the event was that “brave leadership is a choice,” and attendees spent the conference immersed in an environment where many had made that resolute decision. The gathering showcased individuals choosing to infuse traditional spaces with a commitment to cultivating humanity, as aptly articulated by Crystal Whiteaker, DEI and personal branding leader, who kicked off the event.

Addressing the elephants in the room

Summit topics got right to the heart of what can be polarizing and isolating issues for professionals, including sessions on psychological safety at work; handling sex, politics, and religion in the office; and the visibility of trans professionals in our industry (statistical data indicates approximately one in every 175 people in insurance is trans, but many are not able to bring their authentic selves to work everyday for myriad reasons).

“Rather than shy away from these sessions, audiences were highly engaged and seemed to value a safe space to have a discourse on issues they normally keep below the surface,” said Kyli Ortlieb, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder at Insure Equality. “You could almost see people’s tensions evaporating when they felt the freedom to share personal experiences with fellow professionals, and there was a real sense of shared urgency and enthusiasm about pushing the work outside of that room to others who need it.”

“The insurance industry does two things really well,” says Amy C. Waninger, Founder & CEO of Lead at Any Level. “It makes all economic investment possible, and it’s there for people on their worst day. Sadly, the future of the workforce looks exactly like the people who don’t feel welcome in our industry. We must take every step we can to attract and retain diverse talent. The Insure Equality Summit was a rare opportunity to be honest about what’s happening inside the insurance industry and what still needs to be done to stay relevant in a changing social landscape.”

Rooted in passion for the industry, focused on changing the future

Much sea-change DEI work is eyed critically by those who assume the organizations are themselves somehow anti-industry. Stampf and Ortlieb are quick to point out that the choice to stay and change an industry for the better is a labor of love.

“The stories and wisdom shared during the summit emphasized the importance of acknowledging the progress made while recognizing the collective responsibility to push for further positive change,” said Stampf. “The Insure Equality summit stands not just as a moment of reflection but as a catalyst for ongoing dialogue and action within the industry.”

Much of Insure Equality’s mission involves amplification of the efforts and initiatives already underway in the DEI space.

“Insure Equality’s heartfelt plea is extended to get involved,” said Stampf. The summit served as a catalyst for change, offering myriad ways for individuals and organizations to actively participate. “Even if you believe you are actively engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, the insights shared by industry leaders at the summit can challenge perceptions and encourage a more comprehensive approach.”

What comes next?

As Insure Equality grows its Board of Directors and embarks on the next steps in a journey that includes education, certification, and outreach, there are many ways for insurance professionals to get involved.

Tony Canas, founder of InsNerds, is for a second consecutive year dedicating his Virtual Virtual 5k to Insure Equality and has raised $4,000 of his $5,000 goal at press time. True to his own and Insure Equality’s tech spirit, Canas will livestream a beat saber (think Dance Dance Revolution, but with lightsabers) marathon. Businesses and individuals interested in donating or sponsoring can visit https://shop.insnerds.com//. Canas has already outpaced the $3,000 total he raised last year.

“As we celebrate the strides taken and honor the courageous leaders propelling the industry forward, we are reminded that our work is far from over,” Stampf observed. “The journey toward a more inclusive and equitable industry demands sustained effort, and the Insure Equality summit has set a powerful precedent for the collaborative and meaningful work that lies ahead.”

The success of this work counts on a groundswell of engagement, and it is safe to say that the Summit has propelled Insure Equality to dazzling new heights.