“Like many people, I fell into the world of insurance. After high school, I considered university, but instead took a year off to serve burritos and travel. The plan was to study healthcare however I decided that university wasn’t for me and took flight to the UK instead. As a traveller, I needed money and began working for a broker in the UK. The rest, as they say, is history."

Staying invested in your career journey

Fun, continuous learning and a thirst for knowledge – this is what has kept Sarah in the insurance industry. Sarah has taken on secondments in business optimisation and been on projects which have allowed her to gain a wider understanding of the business. Eventually Sarah returned to her roots as a Senior Liability Underwriter and now currently leads the VIC/TAS Liability Underwriting team.

“I’ve gained so much by being exposed to multiple teams/areas within Allianz. Over time I decided to specialise in Liability given the complexity and variety day to day, however the skills and relationships I made from other roles are invaluable to this day!”

Mentoring & support

Sarah says the mentoring opportunities available to her have been pivotal to her success. One of the ways in which Allianz nurtures gender equity in the workplace is through our Allianz NEO program, an employee-run network group which pairs early-career individuals with senior leaders for regular development sessions.

“Allianz NEO is all about gender equity and opportunity. Whilst it’s open to everyone, many of the early-career participants are women. It’s a great program where you can gain different perspectives, develop more strategic thinking, and learn new ways to analyse and articulate concepts. I found it incredibly useful and it’s a great way to widen your professional network at Allianz.”

Equal, flexible opportunities for all

In Sarah’s view, the insurance industry has come a long way in terms of gender equality – and, in her opinion, Allianz is leading the charge.

“Our senior leaders really support and champion women and their development, celebrating and harnessing our strengths. As a leader within the business, I feel passionately about creating and supporting an inclusive culture where we can continue to support women through their careers”

“What’s more, we’ve got supportive approach to flexible working, which is a big drawcard for people with caring responsibilities outside of work. It means that a healthy work/life balance is achievable and realistic, which is really important to everybody, particularly women and working parents.”