This year, International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements in the context of inclusion.
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, LexisNexis Risk Solutions asked some of the women in its business about which person has inspired them in their life, ultimately helping or encouraging them into their successful careers. We hope their comments inspire others.
“One of the people that inspired inclusion in my life was my grandmother. I was lucky enough to spend lots of time with her growing up, and she really demonstrated the core values of kindness and compassion. She played a pivotal role in shaping my mindset by teaching me that there are no boundaries or restrictions in what I can achieve. If I wanted to do something, I could, and if something needed doing, I should just do it. Combining these core values and her belief in me, I have always felt a sense of belonging and inclusivity. My grandmother’s teachings continue to resonate with me, both in my personal and professional life.”
– Aishling Meyler, associate vice president, technology
“My biggest cheerleader and champion of inclusivity in the workplace is my husband, Nick McDonald. Having held roles in the private and public sector, he has seen the full breadth of what good inclusivity looks like, and he is passionate about it. When I have been considering my career choices, Nick has been a huge advocate for me not letting my gender hold me back. For example, when reviewing job descriptions, Nick taught me to not discount myself from an application process for a role purely because I didn’t tick all the boxes. I think this is classically a very female approach, and discussions with Nick made me reframe my mindset and ultimately, my choices!”
– Carla McDonald, director, product management
“Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege to work with so many talented engineers of all levels and diversities. Their creativity, love for technology and generosity as team workers is a huge inspiration to me.”
– Karen Arden-Key, senior director, software engineering
“My Dad. Bringing up three daughters, Dad (and Mum) always brought us up to believe we could and should go anywhere and do anything. Entering the world of work with an upbringing where there was no expectation of gender inequality enabled us to be confident in our abilities, something I perhaps have not fully appreciated until hearing stories from other women who had different experiences throughout their careers.”
– Sam Marsh, director, product management
James Burton, managing director at LexisNexis Risk Solutions says: “According to research[i], women account for less than 7% of CEOs in the UK insurance industry, 16% of CFOs, and under 11% of chairpersons. We have some great role models, but more women are needed in senior positions to advance and improve the way that women access and contribute to insurance services. It’s not just up to women to do this; raising awareness about discrimination and taking action to drive gender parity is everyone’s responsibility in the insurance sector. It is up to the industry as a whole to inspire inclusion.”
[i] Research by employment law firm GQ Littler – December 2023
About LexisNexis Risk Solutions:
LexisNexis® Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms and technology solutions to provide insights that help businesses across multiple industries and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
For more information, please visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com and www.relx.com.
