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International Women’s Day 2023: Interview with Aleah Parr
International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
IWD 2023 is an ideal time for us to highlight the incredible female talent working in the insurance business at NewSure. It’s an opportunity to increase the awareness of women’s roles in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and to highlight the expertise and passion these women bring to our business each and every day.
In this series we discover why these women chose a career in insurance, and why more young women should choose a career path in insurance. In this interview, we talk to Aleah Parr, Broker Assistant.
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Tell us a little about your background. Why did you decide upon a career in insurance?
I had no idea what I wanted to do when finishing school. I went to University and started a Bachelor of Arts. After four years of swapping and changing degrees, I decided to stop racking up student fees and work full-time in pharmacy. Time flew and after 18 years in pharmacy and disability support, I decided to move into insurance.
A friend at the time was working at UAA, and she told me about an upcoming role in underwriting, of which I had no idea what that meant prior to!
Before I knew it, I had been there for almost six years, and had developed an extremely hard-working ethic in a stressful and fast-paced role. This helped me develop the skills and knowledge required to work in broking.
Coming to NewSure was a hard decision to make, but something I have no regrets about doing as it’s always a joy to come to work.
What did you dream of becoming when you were younger?
I had more right-brain tendencies when I was younger, I was very into art, writing and creative expression and I wanted to be a travel writer.
Which innovative woman do you admire the most and why?
Life can be tough – especially for women – and there are so many amazing female innovators I know and admire. I admire many mothers (and single mothers) who juggle work life and family.
I also admire the many women who are not allowed the simple freedom and rights we may take for granted. I admire any woman who can get through the day, whilst still uplifting and encouraging those around her.
How do you believe Newsure supports women?
When I interviewed at NewSure I pointed out that there were no other female brokers in the business.
This was something that management was trying really hard to change, and since then, the female imbalance has shifted. I believe our business is far better off today for this very reason, than it was when I started.
Since I started I’ve been encouraged to grow as much as possible – the business is really supportive of female staff and recognises their capabilities and potential.
I admire the very many women who are not allowed the simple freedom and rights that we may take for granted.
What do you think the insurance industry needs to do to attract more women and create more of a gender-equal future?
To make meaningful and sustainable progress toward gender equality, companies need to recognise that women in business still take on the majority of the household load, which means flexibility is key to supporting women.
Two years after the pandemic forced corporate Australia into a massive experiment with flexible work, we are now really seeing the benefits of a more hybrid way of working. We know now that women who can choose to work in the arrangement they prefer – whether remote or on-site – are less burned out, happier in their jobs, and much more likely to stay with their employer long-term.
Full-time positions may be hard for some working mothers to manage, but this also shouldn’t make it harder for women leaders to advance.
There are many things that need to happen to create a more gender-equal future, but listening and being supportive of each individual circumstance is a great start.
What advice you would give to women of the future/women who are looking to join the insurance industry?
Know your worth, and your value and don’t let misogyny sway you from your goals.
Aleah Parr is a Broker Assistant at NewSure. We offer complete insurance solutions for all types of businesses – from start-ups to medium and large size enterprises. Let us help you.
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