Gill White, director of member engagement and learning at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), has called for increased industry collaboration to enhance talent attraction in the insurance sector.
Speaking on Sandra Lewin’s “100 Women in Insurance” podcast, White discussed various topics, including the role of AI in insurance and the altruistic nature of the industry.
White emphasized the importance of education in improving talent attraction.
She pointed out the absence of insurance as a degree option and the lack of exposure young people have to the field.
She highlighted the challenges in launching T Levels in insurance and financial services due to colleges’ reluctance and lack of understanding.
White stressed the need for early education, stating, “It is absolutely all about getting into schools, helping kids understand what insurance is for.”
In addition, White also illustrated the fundamental altruism of insurance, describing it as a contract where individuals contribute knowing they are supporting others, not merely expecting a return.
She said: “I mean, it’s the best contract in the world, isn’t it? Where you pay in, in the knowledge that someone else will benefit from your generosity, and hopefully not you and someone else is going to be looked after because of the money that you’ve put in.
“And helping people understand that that’s the contract – it’s not, ‘I’ve paid this amount in and therefore I should be able to get this amount back’, that’s not what insurance is about – educating people properly so that they understand the altruistic reason for it.”
On improving talent attraction initiatives, White urged the insurance industry to unite and collaborate.
She believed that combined efforts would be more impactful, noting the significant size of the industry.
“If we bring the forces together, the change can be much greater. I’m a big advocate of collaborating and working together,” she added.
Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the insurance industry, White expressed optimism.
She predicted AI would enhance rather than replace human roles by handling mundane tasks, thus allowing professionals more time for client interaction and decision-making.
She said: “It will allow far more time to be in front of the clients or inside the organisation doing the things that humans do really well.”
White referenced a model by former Accenture employees, highlighting the symbiosis between human and machine capabilities.
She cited the example of surgeons using robotic arms for precision, demonstrating how AI and human expertise can work together effectively.
“I genuinely believe if we open our eyes to [AI], if we decide to embrace it, it’s going to just enhance our roles,” she concluded.
