057: Honest conversation about inclusion at work with Teniola Tijani

This episode is sponsored by Send. Summary In this episode of the 100 Women in Insurance podcast, Sandra Lewin is joined by Teniola Tijani who shares her journey into the insurance industry, setting up LTL Collective and highlights the importance of creating inclusive cultures in the organisaion. In this honest conversation, Tijani reflects on her experiences as an underwriter, the importance of personality in career decisions, and the challenges of public speaking. Teniola also highlights the significance of her collective, the LTL Collective, which aims to support women diverse in the insurance industry and promote diversity and inclusion. Through her insights, she emphasizes the continued need for different communities and the power of collective action in overcoming industry challenges. In this conversation, Teniola and Sandra discuss the critical importance of diversity and inclusion within the insurance industry. They explore the discomfort that often accompanies diversity initiatives, the necessity of allyship through listening, and the role of representation and storytelling in fostering understanding. The discussion also touches on generational expectations, particularly the demands of Gen Z for inclusive environments, and the distinction between diversity and inclusion. They emphasize the need for safe spaces for honest conversations and the importance of building trust and common ground among colleagues. Ultimately, Teniola shares her personal growth experiences within the industry, highlighting the value of community and connection. Takeaways Diversity is easier to achieve than true inclusion. Inclusion is about how individuals feel in the workplace. Gen Z has different expectations for workplace diversity. Listening is a crucial part of allyship. Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, but it's essential to embrace it. Community and safe spaces are crucial for personal and professional growth. Building relationships is key to success in insurance. Opening the door for diversity does not take away from others. Representation matters in creating inclusive environments. Building trust is key to meaningful conversations. Commonalities can help bridge differences among colleagues. About Guest: Connect with Teniola Tijani. Find out more about LTL Collective. About Send: Send is an award-winning insurance software company. It’s flagship product is an AI-enabled Underwriting Workbench – a single platform from submission to bind, and beyond. The platform helps commercial and speciality insurers around the world drive greater efficiency, control and effectiveness. It has rich out-of-the-box functionality, workflow templates for over 40 lines of business, and proven deployments in multiple geographies. About the Host: Connect with Sandra on LinkedIn and explore more insights: Sandra’s LinkedIn Find out more about 100 Women In Insurance Collective, where we bring together women in insurance to network, enjoy fun events and find their own career success. The vision is to increase gender equality as well as senior female talent retention in insurance.