EXECUTIVE PROFILES
WOMEN IN REINSURANCE
INSPIRING LEADERS SERIES
DOMINIC CHRISTIAN
D&I demands that anyone is allowed to express who they really are and gain confidence that they can thrive at any level. It isn’t about ticking boxes or following impersonal processes. Whatever your age or experience have a mentor and mentor someone.
Dominic Christian
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Global Chairman Reinsurance Solutions – Aon
An Interview with Mr. Dominic Christian​
KATY FAIRWEATHER | OCTOBER 2019
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In what ways do you think Diversity is important to someone in the role of Global Chairman at Aon?
Massively. It is right up there. It is about culture-building and brand enhancement. We want to attract and retain the best and broadest talent. For we (re)insurance folk our business really is a team game requiring a variety of talents and backgrounds. For most of my career I have had the privilege of travelling to many countries and experiencing many cultures. I continue to. Every day in many different places, I see and meet fantastic people. I want them to be in our business, contribute and grow. I want them to have the joy I have had in my career. I want to connect with all those I know to further our industry’s brand. Just imagine how insurance would be seen if we were considered the leading employee in terms of fairness, choice and diversity? This would lead to higher employee engagement, greater productivity and enormous pride. Your family and friends outside the industry might even begin to be interested in what you are doing!
What does Diversity mean to you in a practical sense?
D&I demands that anyone is allowed to express who they really are and gain confidence that they can thrive at any level. It isn’t about ticking boxes or following impersonal processes. Whatever your age or experience have a mentor and mentor someone.
Can you share one important leadership lesson you’ve learned in your career?
Not one! Throughout your career always look to learn, find people who will teach you, hunt out the really inspirational leaders and stay near them. Get a nice balance between self-reliance and Team. Be vitally engaged, make your relationship with your firm personal - it is one of the most important you will have. Know that you can be humble, you can be yourself. Remember that you can see further by standing on the shoulders of giants. Go be a giant, but a nice one.
What are the biggest opportunities you think are available to women today?
Board gender balances in many countries are changing quite fast, (not fast enough of course) but there is some progress. For me contemporary attitudes, more flexible working practices, the easier accessibility that technology affords today means no job for any of us should be off the table, no ambition hidden, no plan thwarted. Go for it. Follow what makes your heart sing.
What is your one advice that you would give the WiRE members and others in the industry today?
Stay close to each other at WiRe and build your network. As important as this however would be the following : I have met a number of women I admire in the industry. One of these is Mary Alade* whom you are also interviewing. She is far too modest but outside her day job in our Japan team in London, over the last two years she actively built a programme at Aon which attracts members of different ethnicities to our company in London and shortly various locations in the world. Thanks to her we have nearly twenty spectacular new members at Aon who would not be with us otherwise. I am proud of Aon that our culture encouraged Mary to deliver as she has, but incredibly proud of her that she had the creativity, determination and courage to do so. Quite something. So my message, be courageous and do something different.
What would the person you are today say to the person you were on your first day at work?
Either: I promise you the words they are using will make sense sometime.
Or : Believe me, you will crack it.
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*Read Ms. Mary Alade's interview here