Profile: Katie Baker - Women in C-suite

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

A recent investigation by Insurance Age found that women only hold 15.7% of regulated leadership roles in broking.

Sophie Locke-Cooper caught up with the 26-year-old COO to discuss her experience in the market, and what more can be done in the push for improvement.

How did you end up in insurance?

My career path was not the typical corporate ladder journey. I was at university for many years – five to be exact. I started studying Editorial Makeup and Hair Design and then I went into business with my masters degree.

I originally started at [motor broker My First] in marketing, and then I slowly went up to management over the past five years.

When I began at My First, the company was in its start-up phase. It has been an interesting journey because I never really knew that the position I am in now was ever going to be an option.

When I was going through education, I found that you are put into a box; your path is almost dictated to you. I want to be in business, and I am really happy with all the people I have got around me at My First because they have made this all possible for me.

How have you found your time in the industry?

It has had its ups and downs. I have been mistaken for an assistant or a receptionist multiple times. I don’t think the challenges come from the actual insurance industry as a whole. I think it starts at school.

I’m dyslexic, and I didn’t particularly excel in anything and had to redo a few exams. As I wasn’t academic, I was pushed into the creative box and, being a girl, I was told to do textiles.

It was drilled into me that I had to be creative. I went to college and did creative subjects and the same happened with university – I went for a creative degree and then realised this is not what I want.

I then met James Noble, CEO of My First, and, after starting on the marketing side, I saw I was good at business.

Did you find it difficult to get to your role?

It wasn’t a walk in the park, and I wouldn’t say I was naturally fit for this role.

The more women that do this and dive into higher level jobs – over time it will make it easier for the next person.

I don’t want any women to think they have to be perfectly suited for a role because you will learn about it and then become suited. You have got to be ready for the hard work, as it doesn’t come easy.

I have been really lucky to have James as a great mentor. He teaches me the great personality traits of being a leader; of having thick skin.

I found that as a female you may have to work harder than most of the men, and that’s the sad part of it, but I am up for that and I am willing to take on that challenge.

The more women that do this and dive into higher level jobs – over time it will make it easier for the next person.

Why do you think that women do not necessarily progress into C-suite level positions?

The big player is coming out of the industry to have children. I can’t talk personally about that though, as I haven’t gone through it. I have found that women have a personality trait where they don’t want to fail, and don’t take the risk to speak up or voice an opinion.

It stems from the education system when you are told what you are good at and what you should do. This creates a subconscious way of thinking throughout your life. You need to have the confidence to just go for it and, if you make a mistake, then you learn from it. You need to just put yourself out there and speak up.

You have got amazing women like Aviva’s Amanda Blanc and Freedom Services Group’s Sam White who are trying to make that big push for diversity, and they’re making really big headway with it.

Get yourself out of your comfort zone and do what you want to do. Don’t worry about what other people do, what your friends are doing, or about what the stereotype of that role is.

Also, you don’t learn about female entrepreneurs; you don’t hear about them naturally so you don’t see that path. I think that is why women don’t tend to get those C-suite jobs.

Do you believe this is a male-dominated industry?

The industry has improved, compared to when I started.

In the first few years I don’t think I ever met a woman who was in a managerial position. You have got amazing women like Aviva’s Amanda Blanc and Freedom Services Group’s Sam White who are trying to make that big push for diversity, and they’re making really big headway with it. This is great to see, as it inspires a lot of people.

There has always been this ongoing joke when you go to events about how male-dominated it is, and that needs to change.

I still believe there is a long way to go, but I would be wrong to say it isn’t improving. There has always been this ongoing joke when you go to events about how male-dominated it is, and that needs to change.

What do you think can be done to fix the gender-balance gap in leadership in broking?

It is up to everyone to be more vocal because that is how other women are going to get influenced. A big inspiration of mine has been Sam White because she is loud about it, and this is great because I can understand it. I know her journey, and if she wasn’t vocal about it then I wouldn’t be inspired and think ‘I can do this’.

Have you ever been treated differently as a woman in the industry?

I have never experienced anything very bad, but it is just that ongoing stereotype of me being an assistant or a receptionist. For example, if I go into a meeting with James, I’m automatically assumed to be his assistant. It is this assumption that needs to stop.

The assumption [happens] because I am young, and the industry has an old way of thinking. Unfortunately, it is a generational thing, but I do think the industry is changing in a lot of ways, and it will improve when our generation gets into these higher positions.

What advice would you give to fellow women in the industry?

I would say get your opinion across and just go for it. I have found that unless you are spoken to then women don’t raise their opinion.

It is up to individuals to put themselves out there and not care what other people think. That will get you so much further in the industry compared to worrying about people’s opinions.

It is up to individuals to put themselves out there and not care what other people think. That will get you so much further in the industry compared to worrying about people’s opinions.

What is My First doing to create a more inclusive space?

At My First, the majority of people in higher positions are women, which is really lovely to see and it has been a natural thing.

We base it on hard work, and if you go above and beyond you will get rewarded for that. We make sure we cater for women’s needs, such as if they have children and are single parents.

Most of all, the women on our management team have gone above and beyond, and we make sure that this is recognised.

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