Celebrating the power of Mentorship at our iCAN INspire Mixer
We recently hosted our iCAN INspire Mixer, at Aon’s office in the Leadenhall Building and in partnership with Everest, which brought together an inspiring community of mentors and mentees. The event was a testament to the power of mentorship, offering a platform for sharing experiences, learning and creating invaluable connections.
Partnerships in Mentoring
The evening started with an insightful panel consisting of:
Rowan Hostler, Company Secretary at Chubb Europe
Stefania Nedelcu, Company Secretary at Aventum Group
Andrew Corbin-Turner, iCAN Committee Member & Aerospace Partner & Race/Ethnicity Network Chair, Gallagher UK
Denise Yan, Research & Insights Analyst at Lloyds
Gemma Jackson, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at RSA
Bhavisha Tailor, Project Manager – Regulatory Change Portfolio at RSA
Jacinda Da Rosa, Underwriting Head of Multinational – Financial Lines, Allianz Commercial
Claudia Critchley, Commercial Underwriter at Aviva
Though some of our panellists couldn’t attend the in-person event through illness, we are very grateful to all of them that were still able to get involved online to discuss their experiences!
The panel highlighted the importance of mentees driving the relationship by setting clear goals and challenges, while mentors offer guidance and share their knowledge and experiences.
All attendees then had the opportunity to network and enjoy the excellent spread of food and drinks that Aon provided!
Key Highlights from Panellists
A lot of progress has been made for LGBTQ+ rights regarding issues such as marriage equality, but there is more employers can do to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
To understand why Pride Month holds such significance, we’ve asked members of our community to share their perspectives on its importance:
Rowan Hostler (Mentor), Company Secretary at Chubb Europe
Rowan emphasised that mentees must drive the partnership by setting their goals and challenges, both long-term and short-term. She advised mentors to listen attentively, share their advice and offer their experiences.
She also encouraged experienced individuals to offer help and share their knowledge with newcomers whenever possible.
Stefania Nedelcu (Mentee), Company Secretary at Aventum Group
Stefania shared how the iCAN INspire platform made it easier for her to gain mentorship and navigate her career.
The platform provided her with valuable guidance and support, helping her overcome various career challenges.
Andrew Corbin-Turner (Mentor), iCAN Committee Member & Aerospace Partner & Race/Ethnicity Network Chair, Gallagher UK
Andrew advised mentors to trust in their knowledge and assume they know more than they think.
He also discussed the importance of recognising when a mentoring partnership isn’t working and choosing to step away if necessary.
Denise Yan (Mentee), Research & Insights Analyst at Lloyds
Denise highlighted the power of having mentors who are like her and have faced challenges she has also experienced. This representation was empowering and showed her that success was achievable.
She also praised the easy and effective communication facilitated by the mentoring platform.
Gemma Jackson (Mentor), Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at RSA
Gemma emphasised the rewarding nature of mentorship. She discussed how mentoring has helped her and others to combat imposter syndrome and break down barriers by focusing on key skills and drivers.
Bhavisha Tailor (Mentee), Project Manager – Regulatory Change Portfolio at RSA
Bhavisha shared how mentorship pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her challenge herself.
Initially reluctant, she found that mentorship encouraged her to try new things and embrace growth opportunities.
Jacinda Da Rosa (Mentor) Underwriting Head of Multinational – Financial Lines, Allianz Commercial
Jacinda talked about the need to uplift ethnic minorities in the industry and emphasised the importance of strategic goal setting.
She highlighted that finding a mentor who inspires you is more important than their seniority, and that discussing goals and having strategic meetings can help achieve the next steps in one's career.
Claudia Critchley (Mentee), Commercial Underwriter at Aviva
Inspired by the Role Models Book 2023, Claudia became more involved after our Manchester regional hub launch. She stressed the importance of taking the initiative, saying,
“If you don’t knock at the door, how do they know that the door needs to be opened?”
Being involved with our mentorship also provided her with opportunities internally to mentor apprentices within her organisation, creating a cycle of growth and support in her network.
The iCAN INspire Mixer was a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of mentorship.
Whether you are a mentor, a mentee or someone interested in becoming involved in mentoring, the evening underscored the incredible opportunities for personal and professional growth that mentorship can offer.
Thank you to all the speakers for sharing their stories and to everyone who organised the event. Here’s to building lasting professional relationships and expanding our networks!
If you want to be part of our iCAN INspire Mentoring Platform, visit: https://www.i-can.me/about-inspire
About iCAN
The Insurance Cultural Awareness Network (iCAN) is a leading organisation committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the insurance sector. Established in 2017, iCAN has been instrumental in spotlighting cultural awareness, fostering talent, and championing diversity within the industry.