Dana Soubra, senior vice president of claims and distribution, CAA Insurance

Mentorship and executive sponsorship are key to advancing women’s professional development in Canada’s property and casualty insurance industry, says Dana Soubra, senior vice president of claims and distribution at CAA Insurance.

“The industry needs more strong mentors,” Soubra tells Canadian Underwriter in advance of International Women’s Day on Mar. 8. “As women leaders, we must all become more involved in developing other women. I often share my story and always try to be open and answer questions about how I got to my position.

“I think every organization should emphasize women supporting women and fostering the confidence needed for them to succeed, just as I have. This can be achieved through mentorship, town hall discussions, focus groups, and coaching that fosters growth and development.

“I hope that my daughter, who is in her 20s, will enter a workforce that better prioritizes these things so that she can freely contribute her skills and abilities without constraint.”

Soubra, who entered the industry in 2000, became a claims manager for CAA Insurance in 2009. Her own rise to a senior executive position at CAA Insurance is an example of the importance of mentorship and positive reinforcement in her own professional development.

Like many, Soubra didn’t take a direct path into the P&C industry. She wanted to be a teacher and agreed to help her father at his insurance brokerage while she sorted through what she wanted to do next. He told her she needed to get her broker’s license to continue to help him.

“I went to Liberty Mutual for training, and after three weeks, I earned my license, finishing as the top performer in my training class,” Soubra recalls. “The teacher asked me where I was working, and I told her I was just helping my dad, to which she replied, ‘You are so talented. You need to come to work for us.’”

As a young 20-something, Dana wasn’t convinced insurance would be her career path. However, after discussing it with her father, he advised her to consider a job with long-term career potential. Taking his advice, she started working in a call centre, selling insurance over the phone from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Her performance quickly stood out; after a year and a half, her manager approached her about a leadership role. “I really think you’re a natural leader. You need to apply for a claims position,” the manager said to her.

“That same manager started giving me small projects to work on to help build my skills, Soubra says. “Eventually, I applied for the claims supervisor position and got the job despite having zero claims experience. That’s how my insurance career began.”

When she started her career more than 25 years ago, Soubra recalls, women faced significant challenges in proving themselves as leaders in the insurance industry. “It felt like a challenge to break through stereotypes and the belief that women could not handle leadership roles.”

Progress has been made since then, she adds, but there is still work to be done. She says women need more opportunities to take on leadership roles, and senior executives play a crucial role in making that happen.

“We need executive women in leadership roles to speak up, discuss the challenges they face, and discuss the successes that have helped shape them,” she says. “Sharing personal stories and experiences can inspire and encourage other women.”

Soubra believes that by fostering mentorship and executive sponsorship, the P&C insurance industry can continue to break barriers and create a more inclusive future for women in leadership.