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This month, three leaders at Honan: Poppy Foxton, Christie Mitsas, and Maja Vujinovic were recognised in the 2022 IB Elite Women awards for their exceptional contributions to shaping the future of the industry. We sat down with Maja Vujinovic, Head of Risksmart, to learn more about what drew her to the world of insurance, her proudest career moments, and advice to those entering the industry.
Being selected alongside a group of women who I respect and admire is an honour and I feel truly grateful. It’s also exciting to see how well-represented women are in this industry.
There are a few core factors that played a part in my decision to pursue a career in insurance. The first was the clients that I had an opportunity to work with and help. Second, the businesses I have worked for have completely supported my ambitions to grow in the industry. Third, the people! I have lifelong friends in some of my colleagues and industry partners.
It would have to be the promotion to my current role as the Head of Risksmart. Five years ago, when I was working as a Claims Executive at Honan, I would never have guessed I’d be the head of a department by 2022! I definitely gave it my all, and I am proud to be where I am now.
I think it was overcoming the fear of being the youngest professional in the room. It took time for me to overcome the feeling I had the least experience and therefore my professional opinion was less valuable. Outstanding mentorship and continued interactions with brilliant people who I so strongly admired taught me that it was no coincidence I was finding myself in the same room as individuals who had previously intimidated me.
Don’t limit yourself and recognise your worth. In an industry that is often considered male-dominated and full of experienced insurance professionals, it can often feel intimidating as a young professional woman. Recognising your value can give you the confidence to contribute where needed, and where you don’t know something, the key is having the confidence to ask and learn. We should not let the feeling of intimidation limit us, instead, we should take the opportunity to learn and use the experience to grow.
