Liberty Mutual’s Dawn Frazier-Bohnert: Insurance industry has “burning need” to support D&I

Excellent article in Insurance Business. Not a magazine I usually read (!) but the interview with Ms. Frazier-Bohnert is important.

“An inclusive work environment isn’t built through awareness alone. It’s something that needs continuous nurturing and support.” Those are the words of Liberty Mutual Insurance’s senior vice president and global diversity and inclusion (D&I) officer, Dawn Frazier-Bohnert, who recently championed the development of Liberty Mutual’s Inclusion in Action eLearning Video Series. (Review the eLearning here)

The videos, developed in partnership with Sunshower Learning and VISIONS Inc., provide practical advice and touch on a range of skills from being trustworthy, to taking a step back, to “trying on” a different person’s perspective. In the “trying on” episode, employees from different backgrounds are asked to work through a knotty business challenge and take a moment to think about how and why a colleague might be approaching that challenge differently. In an insurance context, that might mean a young tech-savvy underwriter swapping perspectives about a complex risk with a seasoned, risk-adverse actuary.

“We’re all busy people and we’re all moving very fast. It’s easy to get stuck in our own ways,” Frazier-Bohnert commented. “Regardless of experience, it’s important to slow down sometimes, look at the bigger picture, and maybe come up with a better solution.”

As an industry, there’s still “a lot more work to be done” around D&I, according to Frazier-Bohnert. There’s no finish line or end-goal for insurers to strive towards, but rather an ongoing horizon of better business initiatives. Insurance has entered the D&I playing field slightly later than other industries, but Frazier-Bohnert argued there’s a lot of forward momentum.

“Having talked to many other D&I leaders in the industry, we agree that insurance is one of the industries that is coming later to this work, but there’s a real desire to catch up quickly,” she said. “I think that’s because of our need for talent. Not enough people wake up every morning thinking: ‘I want to be an insurance professional.’ There are a lot of demographic changes and a lot of retirements in our industry, and we have to ensure we have the talent in order to meet the needs of the future.

“There’s a burning need to push this forward. Different insurance companies are looking around to see what others are doing because, not only are we all competing for the same talent, but we’re all poised for greater industry movement than we’ve seen in the past. I’m pleased that Liberty Mutual recognised that well before now so that we can be leaders in this space and support others, not only in the industry but also our customers. As they say: a rising tide lifts all boats.”

More From Our Blog…

Navigating Thanksgiving – Speak Up or Stay Silent?

Navigating Thanksgiving – Speak Up or Stay Silent?

Tis the day before Thanksgiving and all through the land, people are anxious. Amidst the joy of the holiday—cherishing togetherness, celebrating with family and friends, and expressing gratitude— there's a potential for discomfort as opinions are shared and points of...

read more
Confronting the Backlash: The DEI Imperative 

Confronting the Backlash: The DEI Imperative 

  “Three short years after their collective response to massive protests over the police murder of George Floyd, companies are reneging on their diversity pledges." In their recent MIT Sloan Review article titled "Countering the Corporate Diversity Backlash,"...

read more
Announcing the New SunShower App

Announcing the New SunShower App

After months of development, the new SunShower Learning learner app is now ready for prime time. Access a free download here:iTunes App StoreGoogle Play Store When you purchase a license for one or more of our award-winning eLearning courses and opt for delivery...

read more
Brave Marketing Is Good Business When It Comes to DEI

Brave Marketing Is Good Business When It Comes to DEI

“Kantar’s ‘Brand Inclusion Index’ found that not only is there a financial advantage to a strong DEI strategy, but that there is still plenty of room to stand out.” According to a new report, a lack of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) could be costing businesses...

read more
SunShower Learning: Unconscious Bias Training That Works

SunShower Learning: Unconscious Bias Training That Works

"Most [DEI] programs end exactly where they should start."   "Only 10% of training programs gave attendees strategies for reducing bias. Imagine a weight-loss program that told participants to step on a scale and left it at that."    - Harvard Business Review...

read more
3 Strategies for Responding to Microaggressions

3 Strategies for Responding to Microaggressions

"I’m not biased against gay people. I have a gay friend." "You don't sound Black," or "How long have you lived in this country?” Have you ever overheard or been on the receiving end of a comment like this? If so, did you know how to respond? Being prepared in advance...

read more
When Barbie Meets AI

When Barbie Meets AI

What happened when artificial Intelligence (AI) was used to imagine Barbie dolls in cultures around the world? Probably not what you'd expect for a brand that has gained a massive following for breaking down barriers and, more recently, advocating for social and...

read more