Meet the 2023 Women in Insurance Leadership honorees

Successful leaders share a number of traits: They are strong communicators as well as good listeners; they value integrity; are problem-solvers; frequently, they are innovators in both thoughts and actions; they exhibit strong emotional intelligence and unwavering courage; and they are passionate about what they believe. 

The women selected as the 2023 Women in Insurance Leadership honorees by Digital Insurance exhibit all of these characteristics and more. Over the next few days, we will share their stories and provide insights into who they are as leaders in innovation, how they are changing the world of insurance and the long-term impacts these visionaries are having on their companies. 

These leaders represent companies of all sizes, covering every aspect of the insurance industry from property & casualty, to life and health insurance. They understand the value of diversity within their workplaces and how it strengthens a company at its core, allows for greater innovation and positions an organization for the future. They understand the value of collaboration and work relentlessly to improve their businesses and the communities they serve.

One of this year’s honorees, Mary Boyd,  president and CEO of Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation shares that “a good leader isn’t going to pull people up, a good leader is there to lift people up…A leader doesn’t need to be in the front. Leaders are on the side. The team is on the field.”

For decades, the insurance industry has been known for its lack of leadership in the technology realm, but the pandemic and the rise of insurtechs have pushed insurers to become more innovative in every aspect of the insurance ecosystem. From underwriting, to sales, to first notice of loss, and throughout the claims experience to payment, technology is transforming insurance, making it more accessible and transparent for policyholders, service providers, agents and brokers.

Susan Roberts is the head of U.S. strategy, transformation and continuous delivery at John Hancock Life Insurance, and understands why insurers need to constantly evolve to meet their policyholders needs. While insurers have tended to move slower in the past, she says that is no longer acceptable. “We need to be able to move with speed. We need to be innovative and harness the power of the expertise that lives within our firm to drive results.”

Boyd, Roberts and the other honorees will be recognized at the Women in Insurance Leadership Conference on November 14, 2023, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Ill. Over 200 women are expected to attend the event which includes several keynotes, roundtable discussions, networking opportunities and culminates with a gala dinner recognizing this year’s honorees. 

As Lisa Su, the CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, who led her company to one of the largest turnarounds in the technology sector has said, “The world is starving for new ideas and great leaders who will champion those ideas.” 

The 2023 Women in Insurance Leadership honorees are indeed the pacesetters who are changing the industry.