Talk about “against all odd” ……Roots & Wings International chronicles
I currently Head up the Customer Experience (CX) portfolio at Discovery Insure. I am known to be a dynamic and established female leader who has been serving within the short-term insurance sphere for just over two decades, where 13 years have been in various leadership roles.
My extensive ops and in-depth exposure have liberated me to develop strategic thinking aptitude and as a result, have the ability to drive digital transformation from clearly understanding business objectives, financial goals and driving the correct resolution and culture. In my insurance journey as a professional, I have had the privilege to contribute to and support the delivery of strategic objectives for three big corporates within the Financial Services landscape.
I’m a multi-faceted leader who thrives in applying relevant solutions and methods that drive the current and future state of the insurance business. My compounded work experience and academic success has established me as a senior business leader who has led and co-led various teams-of-teams in essential insurance domains.
I currently serve in the IIG council as the Head of Impact & Transformation, which consists of various development programs for young aspiring insurance leaders and also personally mentoring a few young aspiring leaders within the financial services industry.
On an international front (Roots and Wings International), I am currently mentoring Natacha Ratsimahafindramanana from Madagascar who works as a property & casualty underwriter for NY Havana insurance company in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Besides her day job, she’s also an MBA student, in addition, also expanding her knowledge in Climate & Disaster Risk Finance within the scope of the insurance world and responsible for the country’s directorship in the Young Insurance Professionals Africa (YIP Africa). Our mentorship journey has offered both of us multiple prospects to grow and learn with every dialogue we have. Every virtual mentorship or program review session is clouded with a series of connectivity challenges; however, we have managed to connect, engage and grow against all odds.
Whilst the sole purpose of the program endorses the mentee’s learning opportunities, the reality of this journey unfolds different levels of interest for the mentor with regards to how other financial services conduct insurance business outside South Africa. The Roots and Wings International program takes place purely on the online platform and most participants complete the program without even meeting in person, nonetheless, the chemistry and hunger to grow almost dissipates the need to meet in person. Our creativity stretched us to extending our conversations to WhatsApp voice notes, video calls and many photos being shared across the networks.
With every engagement, I always look forward to learning about her clear intensions on reaching her goals, her culture, lifestyle and how the program continues to impact her view of life. I am still not sure how Natacha fits being an insurance professional, mom of three, wife, scholar and amazing soul in the 24hrs equally offered to all of us, if we are lucky enough.
We remain grateful to the partnership between the IIG & Linda Coetzee and Association for creating such a platform with the success of the holistic insurance business in mind!
#LinkUp #ConnectingPeopleWithPoepleInternationally #ConnectingSouthAfricaWithTheRestOfAfrica #ConnectingAfricaWithTheRestOfTheWorld
