Hear from QBE Talent Acquisition Business Partner Carlie Grainger

Carlie Grainger is a Talent Acquisition Business Partner at QBE European Operations and shares her thoughts on how we can embrace equity via an article by Eames Consulting.

Carlie believes that companies adopting hybrid working have given families the flexibility to work around childcare. "Before the hybrid model was introduced and pre-pandemic, I had to put my son into breakfast club and after school club five days a week to accommodate travelling to and from London, which created an extremely long day for him along with additional costs to bare. I was always asked by him, “why am I the first one at school and last to be collected” which created a lot of guilt and sadness for me," explains Carlie. "I am now able to drop him at school and collect him around my working day when I'm at home, which is a huge benefit for both of us and something I never thought I would be able to do in my working career.:

Carlie reinforces that listening, affirming and supporting each other in the workplace is key.

"Being a woman in the insurance industry for 20 years, I have had my challenges in a male-dominated industry. Part of my motivation for moving from a broking role into the in-house talent and acquisition team at QBE is to have an active role in supporting women in the business, and feel I am making a difference. I feel very lucky to be part of an organisation that aligns with my values with women in the insurance industry, and I am excited about what we can achieve together," says Carlie.

Carlie's top advice for removing gender bias is through the use of gender-neutral language. "It’s a well-known saying that while men apply to roles when they only meet 60% of the criteria, women won’t apply unless they meet 100% of the requirements. To encourage women to apply for jobs, it is important that we consider eliminating requirements that are not essential. Be flexible – sharing information on working practises and ways of working. We have Flex@QBE, which encourages teams to work flexibly and ensures people are set up for success in a hybrid working environment," explains Carlie. Opportunities to request reasonable adjustments to let individuals know we welcome all levels of diversity are also cited as key according to Carlie.

When asked what advice Carlie might give women in her industry, she suggests: "Don’t be afraid; take that leap in your career and surround yourself with inspiring, supportive women and men alike. The insurance industry isn’t as well known as we would like it to be, and I still think it still has an image of being male-dominated however, there are so many exciting opportunities, and the people are what make it. I would encourage any woman who is new to insurance to connect with other women in the industry, meet for a coffee, have a call and find out more about it. I believe they will be pleasantly surprised at what an exciting place it is to work and the opportunities there are. There are lots of women-specific insurance networks to join and come together to support each other and enjoy what we do."

Carlie is constantly inspired by the women surrounding her - intelligent, aspirational women who support each other.

"We help to lift each other when things get a bit tough and celebrate each other successes," Carlie concludes.