Newsletter | Summer 2021

Image Viewer ‭[3]‬

Image Viewer ‭[2]‬

Image Viewer ‭[1]‬

Email HTML Email Text

Inclusion in Action

Summer 2021

Driving inclusive business practices to engage and develop a sustainable
diverse independent agency network.

Welcome

The Big "I" Diversity Council is pleased to present the first edition of Inclusion in Action. We look forward to keeping you informed on all things related to diversity and inclusion across the IA channel and beyond. Stay tuned as we highlight key events, webinars, agency best practice tools and more relating to diversity and inclusion. Be sure to subscribe to Inclusion in Action here to ensure you continue to receive future editions. Next year the Diversity Council will celebrate 20 years of service!

Watch the June edition of the Agent Development Show as we discuss current Diversity Council initiatives.

Building Inclusion Capacity within Your Agency

It's time to reimagine what's possible for your agency's culture by way of diversity, equity, and inclusion– that's so easy to say but intensely hard to reimagine. You've gotten the green light to start the very first diversity and inclusion initiatives within your agency. You're elated there is so much to do, there's so much impact you want to make, so where do you start?

As a task-oriented person who feels you should make a list of everything on your plate, you set out to evaluate the landscape and built a to-do list. This is what you came up with: pandemic remote working, social justice demands, lack of belonging, disengaged employees, changing demographics, evolving customer base, and a gaping hole in the talent pipeline! Whew, with this list, how do you even begin to define success while building inclusion capacity? Continued here.

Invest Apprenticeship Program

The Invest™ program – focused on educating high school and community college students on insurance, financial services and risk management – has partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor to develop a national apprenticeship program for the insurance industry focused on developing talent for the independent agency system. High school and community college students will have an opportunity to receive a nationally recognized General Insurance Associate apprenticeship certificate. Invest will be piloting the program in Maryland in the fall and plans to roll out to more states throughout 2022. For more information, contact Invest executive director Deborah Pickford. Stay tuned for more information!

Trusted Choice Launches New Bilingual Marketing Campaign

Trusted Choice’s new website features a recently launched bilingual marketing campaign, “The Big Picture.” Agents can now – for the first time in Big “I” history – conveniently order agency marketing materials in both English AND Spanish! The campaign conveys to customers that independent agents offer trusted advice for a wide range of needs for both commercial and personal lines customers. Agents can order these ads for digital, print, social, and video marketing pieces. You can also customize the featured ads to include your agency logo and call to action.

Save the Date - Young Agents Leadership Institute

Join leading young professionals from across the IA channel in Kansas City September 30 through October 2, for the Big "I" Young Agents Leadership Institute (YALI). Experts and peers will share the latest best practices to help you excel at working smarter and providing exemplary service to your clients. Even better, you get to do all this while networking with peers and industry giants. First time attending? Be sure to apply for the Young Agents Leadership Institute Scholarship here.

Tap into this agency toolkit on operational effectiveness, the carrier appointment process, employee productivity and goal setting. Available on-demand.