IICF Launches Cross-Company Insurance Industry Mentoring Alliance

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) has announced the final pairings as the official launch is underway of the IICF Mentoring Alliance, a new initiative from the Talent Subcommittee of IICF’s IDEA Council designed to partner industry mentors with emerging insurance leaders from underrepresented communities.

Published on November 13, 2023

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The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, has announced the final pairings as the official launch is underway of the IICF Mentoring Alliance, a new initiative from the Talent Subcommittee of IICF’s IDEA Council designed to partner industry mentors with emerging insurance leaders from underrepresented communities. The alliance will serve as an industry-wide program aimed at inspiring, preparing and empowering diverse talent, by pairing these rising professionals with role models and allies from leading companies across the industry.

The IICF Mentoring Alliance is designed to assist insurance professionals from underrepresented communities with five to ten years of experience who are assuming initial leadership roles. The program partners them with senior leaders who identify as belonging to diverse communities or as allies to these communities. Mentors are partnered with mentees from different companies across the industry to share a wider range of experiences. The 2023/24 Mentoring Alliance program has 19 pairings of 38 participants joining from 12 companies across the insurance industry.

“Through the Mentoring Alliance, IICF and our industry partners will open doors to a much broader range of emerging insurance professionals by providing actionable guidance and support,” said Barbara Reilly, Chair of the IDEA Council’s Talent Subcommittee and Senior Vice President at Amwins. “With this program, we believe we have created a comprehensive and impactful tool to address one important aspect of our industry’s talent challenges. We hope our Mentoring Alliance will provide an environment of belonging where all individuals can develop their careers and thrive.”

The official launch of the Mentoring Alliance follows a successful pilot program started in 2022. The pilot program paired 10 diverse role models and allies with emerging leaders from underrepresented communities. In a post-program survey, 100% of mentors and mentees responded that they would participate in the program again, while 84% of mentees shared that they anticipate maintaining a relationship with their mentor.

“While many mentorship programs are designed to support individuals early in their careers, our initiative will provide mentoring and sponsorship at a critical juncture for insurance professionals – as they begin to take on leadership roles for the first time,” said Betsy Myatt, Vice President and Chief Program Officer for IICF. “The Mentoring Alliance will offer these emerging leaders a unique opportunity to learn from successful role models and start the next step of their careers equipped with the wisdom and expertise shared by their mentors.”

Companies interested in participating in IICF’s Mentoring Alliance can learn more by reaching out to Barbara Reilly at Barbara.reilly@amwins.com or (213) 236-4565 or Betsy Myatt at emyatt@iicf.com or (917) 544-0895.

About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF)

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, IICF will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of serving as the philanthropic voice and foundation of the insurance industry in 2024, having contributed $47 million in community grants along with over 325,000 volunteer hours by more than 115,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised for maximum community impact, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations across the US and UK.