AAA Life's Executive Leadership team shares advice, insights for female leaders for Women's History Month

Women from across AAA Life Insurance Company’s Executive Leadership team gathered to share insights from their careers and advice for young female professionals as part of Women’s History Month last month.

Here are some key takeaways from the panel:

On moving up in your career

Chief Experience Officer Betty Schick cited experiences from early on in life like sports that allowed her to shine as a leader. While AAA Life has a diverse set of executives and a Board of Directors, which includes several women, Schick said it is encouraging to see how much has changed.

“When I look back at it, it is kind of hard to believe. I was the only woman for many, many years. The only woman at the meetings and in the board room,” Schick said.

Tyffani Smith , Vice President of Human Resources, People & Culture, shared she was also identified as a leader from a young age.

“People will follow you if you’re doing the right thing,” Smith said.

It also helps to have a sponsor or mentor who can help motivate you and help open doors.

“Walk through every door that opens,” said JJ Carroll , Vice President of Service Operations. “Own your career, make people aware of what you’re interested in, and doors will open.”

It can be a struggle to balance motherhood and a career, said Kristy Person , Chief Audit and Risk Officer, so build a strong team that enables you to balance it.

“You surround yourself with a team that is awesome, and you can support not just your department but your tribe outside the department,” Person said.

Person and her husband are celebrating 25 years of marriage in August 2023, so she added it does help to have a supportive partner.

“It’s hard but you know you can’t do everything for everyone either, so you really have to rely on other people,” Person said. “You have to come up with a community around you to help support you.”

Motivating and mentoring other women

“Any position you’re in, you can lead. It doesn’t necessarily have to follow stereotypes,” Carroll said. She was recently named Vice President of Service Operations at AAA Life, using her training as an actuary and expertise in life insurance strategy and innovation.

It also helps to connect with others outside of your comfort zone, Person said.

“Continue to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone,” Person advised. “Your manager can guide you and mentor you, but they can’t make those decisions for you, and they don’t always see your goals.”

That comfort zone should extend to meetings and presentations, Smith said, where you can lead by example by asking questions or speaking with authority.

“When you have a seat at the table, make sure your voice is heard at the table,” Smith said.

Smith’s advice for women is to become familiar with how they like to lead or communicate with others, to better represent themselves and remain authentic.

“We have to define what our leadership style is and communicate it to others,” Smith said. “As women, we sometimes allow our styles to be defined for us.”

Sharing personal goals

When asked about their goals, the panel discussed both personal and professional items they are motivated to make happen this year.

For Smith, her top goal is always to be the “best mother and wife I can be.”

“I have to be happy at home in order to be happy at work. My first goal is to be the best mother and the best wife,” Smith said. “When you have a happy family, it allows me to be happy at work.”

Schick shared she is prioritizing fitness and keeping a healthy mind and body among her goals for 2023, and Carroll said she has been working on journaling every day.

“It is a powerful tool, I find I can be really reflective,” Carroll said.

Being able to review her journal keeps her accountable and on track for other goals, she said, like empowering her leadership team to think strategically about processes and strengths.

The panel was moderated by Tonia L. Beard, MS - MSL/SHRM - SCP , Director of Human Resources, and Patrice Figurski , Senior Director of IT Agile Project Management & Application Development.

Learn more about AAA Life at www.aaalife.com or visit the company’s LinkedIn profile for career openings and educational content.