Leading With Positive Momentum At PALIG:
Women Leaders Reflect on Embracing Equity
LINKAGE Q1 (2023) - Woman's Leadership: Embrace Equity
Embracing equity is critically important to building stronger and more cohesive communities and workplaces. When everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources, people are more likely to be able to reach their full potential and contribute to society. Sharing our perspectives on equity increases awareness and understanding of the importance of equity.
Pan-American Life Insurance Group’s leaders share personal reflections on embracing equity.
What does embracing
equity mean to you?
“Embracing equity as a leader means understanding firstly how equity applies to your role and function and ensuring your actions and decisions align. Equity-based leadership is not only for the workplace, but it should be how you operate in your daily life. In my role as an HR Executive operating within a regional scope, the need for equitable decision making is imperative to ensure all our employees feel included given the myriad of cultures and backgrounds.”
Rachael Sudan, Assistant Vice President, Regional Human Resources – Caribbean
What are three ways we
can embrace equity in our daily lives?
1. Practicing empathy in our everyday interactions. This enables us to interact with others without judgement, which helps us to appreciate other point of views—whether we agree or not.
2. Developing a commitment to continued learning. There is no finish line. Continuously and consistently educating ourselves about different experiences and perspectives through a combination of written media and engaging in meaningful conversations will continue to shape our own thoughts and actions, to ultimately be part of the change we want to see.
3. Rally our teams, colleagues, family and friends. Use the knowledge that we gain to educate others and to discuss impactful actions within our own communities.
Kristi-Marie Weston, Assistant Vice President, Regional Corporate Business
What do you believe is at the heart of embracing equity?
Having a genuine respect for people—all people, regardless of views, backgrounds, cultures, gender, race or ethnicity. The authentic engagement of individuals, being able to connect in thought or aligned objectives, creates opportunities, meaningful change and synergies. In the same way, authentic engagement where there are opposing perspectives, presents opportunities for learning, removing the barriers of bias leading to the opening of one’s mind, fostering empathy and embracing equity. As a leader, every exchange provides an opportunity to not only impart knowledge, but to learn and therefore evolve.
Karyn Dasent, Vice President - Regional Chief Operations Officer, Caribbean
How can we best embrace equity in the workplace?
Embracing equity in the workplace is a fundamental responsibility of everyone, not just the leaders of the organisation; however, the tone must be set at the top. We must encourage dialogue with our colleagues at various levels, giving persons the avenue for their voice to be heard. We also need to make changes where necessary to ensure that opportunities are afforded to everyone based on their skills, talents, and even personal situations, not their gender, race or background.
Marsha McCarthy, Vice President & Regional Chief Financial Officer
What advice would you give today’s youth about embracing equity?
Be kind. Equity demands kindness.
Defend inequity. Speak up. Your silence breeds inequity.
Broaden your networks. Seek out opportunities to meet and interact with others that are different from yourself. In so doing, you will create the space within yourself that fosters acceptance.
Greer Quan, CEO Caribbean
