In June, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation willhost its Women in Insurance Conference Series at regionalforums in New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. The forums will provide a platformfor industry leaders to explore the impact of today's most relevantdiversity and inclusion topics and equip attendees with actionplans proven to transform an organization. In this age ofdisruption, embracing diversity is essential for the insuranceindustry to move forward. Whether it's caused by evolvingtechnology, an aging workforce or another factor, change isinevitable.

At the IICF Midwest forum in Chicago, I'll talk to participantsabout how adapting to change, navigating new challenges andreaching out to the next generation for talentand perspectives will be important to the industry's continuedsuccess. I've gained a unique perspective when it comes tonavigating challenges, not just as a longtime insurance executive,but also as an accomplished mountain climber. Extreme environments,where every step can mean the difference between life and death,hold lessons for corporate boardrooms and every leader in ourhighly competitive and ever-evolving environment. The worlds ofmountaineering and business are inextricably linked. Whether you'resummiting a mountain or sitting in your office, the lessons are thesame. As the landscape of insurance is rapidly changing,mountaineering provides useful lessons for leadership, team dynamics, collaboration andstrategy management.

Related: Let's work together to attract fresh talent toinsurance careers