POLICIES, PROTECTION AND PROSPERITY Interview by Sue Van Der Hout
When you think insurance brokerage what comes to mind? If it isn’t women and it isn’t success, think again. Brooke Hunter, a fifth generation insurance broker, says that the numbers of female insurance executives is booming.
Insurance brokerage has been a predominantly male domain, what took you there?
The old-fashioned way – family! I’m the fifth generation of insurance brokers on my father’s side. Outside of some summer work for my Dad’s firm – my first job was in Vancouver as the assistant to the file-room clerk at a world-wide brokerage. I still know how to work the postage machine. Eventually, I think I was the youngest account executive in my office – and perhaps the second female. That would have been about 1994. Now I would bet female account executives outnumber the males in Canada. Firm leadership is weighted more male but the amount of progress on that front has been material - even in the last five years. As for females starting an office from scratch – I’d guess you could count us on one hand.
You reached for the top by setting up your brokerage in a very desirable commercial neighborhood and taking some big space. Many newcomers go small, not big. What gave you the confidence and what do you think is the correlation of capital to guts, performance and profit?
I have a simple thought in answer to this – if you don’t take a shot, you can’t score.
| Many newcomers go small, not big. What gave you the confidence and what do you think is the correlation of capital to guts, performance and profit? I have a simple thought in answer to this – if you don’t take a shot, you can’t score. |
What do you love about the business? What’s tough?
We get to see the insides of all sorts of businesses either operationally or via the boardroom table. We get to know some of the most successful people in the city. HUNTERS has targeted high growth businesses – which also gives us regular adrenaline shots! Growing businesses and their leaders are naturally tough to please – but we are built for that challenge!
In our tweens we fantasize about becoming something. What was your dream?
My dream job ranged from being Kelly on Charlie’s Angels to an astronomer to an MP. I felt no limitations – thanks to my parents and my school.
Would you encourage young women to dream insurance? Why?
Dreaming about insurance couldn’t be healthy for anyone!
I will say this though – property casualty insurance offers terrific opportunity for the up-coming generation. Like all industries, the talent crunch as the baby boomers retire is intensifying. Our industry will be hard hit – which only means opportunity for intelligent, entrepreneurial individuals.
As for the "female opportunity" – our business can offer significant flexibility to pursue aspects of life beyond the office. Our investment in technology has made this even easier!
| As for the "female opportunity" – our business can offer significant flexibility to pursue aspects of life beyond the office. Our investment in technology has made this even easier! |
01.10.2007
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Brooke Hunter is President of HUNTERS International Insurance which protects individuals, boards and corporations through insurance brokerage and consulting. www.hunterscorners.com
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