What Women Shared
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EmpowerHER 2026 Participant Challenges Insights
Survey Question: “What’s the single biggest challenge you have as a woman in the insurance industry?”
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As part of the EmpowerHER 2026 registration process, participants were asked to share the single greatest challenge they face as a woman working in the insurance industry. A total of 106 responses were collected, offering valuable insight into the professional realities many women in the industry continue to navigate.
Several clear themes emerged from the responses.
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The most frequently cited challenge was the experience of working in a male-dominated industry, representing approximately 41% of responses. Many participants described situations where they are often the only woman in the room, must work harder to establish credibility, or encounter longstanding industry dynamics that have historically limited women’s visibility and influence in leadership roles.
The second most common theme, cited in approximately 21% of responses, was the challenge of balancing professional responsibilities with personal and family commitments. Many respondents expressed the ongoing tension between advancing their careers while maintaining responsibilities outside of work.
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Approximately 16% of respondents identified credibility and being taken seriously as their greatest challenge, reflecting the continued need for women to demonstrate expertise and leadership capability in environments where assumptions about authority and experience may still persist.
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Additional responses highlighted the importance of career growth opportunities, mentorship, and professional development, as well as the role confidence plays in pursuing leadership roles within the industry.
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Taken together, these responses reveal three consistent needs among women in the insurance profession: greater representation, stronger professional support networks, and opportunities for continued leadership development.
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These insights reinforce the importance of initiatives like EmpowerHER and MyNetwork, which were designed to address these very needs. Through events like EmpowerHER and ongoing leadership development opportunities such as MyNetwork, BIGiOK provides women in the industry with spaces to connect, learn from one another, develop leadership skills, and strengthen the confidence needed to lead within their organizations.
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Beyond supporting the women participating today, these programs also play an important role in encouraging and preparing the next generation of women leaders within BIGiOK and the broader insurance industry. By investing in these experiences, BIGiOK is helping cultivate a stronger, more inclusive leadership pipeline for the future of the profession.
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Ultimately, the feedback from participants highlights not only the challenges women continue to face, but also the importance of continuing to create spaces where women can grow, lead, and support one another as they shape the future of the industry.
