This International Women’s Month we’re spotlighting leaders at ACORD who are not only driving innovation in insurance, but also using their platforms to advance women in the industry.
Clarissa Montecillo, Managing Director, UK
Clarissa recently published an op-ed in Insurance Post, where she discusses the barriers women face in rising into senior roles.
“Some barriers are visible, such as representation in leadership,” Clarissa writes. “Others are easier to overlook: how roles are designed, how ‘commitment’ is judged, who gets informal mentorship, and whose career is expected to flex around caring responsibilities.”
She goes on to lay out what the industry needs to do in order to address these barriers: “The market needs consistent action: redesigning work where it disadvantages careers, measuring promotion and opportunity pathways, and challenging cultural habits that reward visibility over impact.”
Malou Soriano, Head of Research, Education & Advocacy
Malou was just featured on Independent Agent Magazine’s list of women driving innovation in insurance technology. A key insight she shared was that in order to successfully leverage emerging tech, people must be part of the equation and should represent diverse viewpoints.
“Implementing new technologies is as much about people as it is about tools, so we connect regularly with team members at all levels to encourage diverse perspectives and collaboration,” Malou said.
Additionally, aware of the challenges women face moving up in the industry, she offered some advice about staying focused and being persistent: “Build strong relationships, seek mentors, keep learning and stay adaptable. Embracing new opportunities and challenges is often the greatest catalyst for growth and advancement.”
Tanya Krochta, EVP, COO & acting CEO
Tanya shared with Digital Insurance her vision for strengthening the insurance industry’s talent pipeline through expanding diversity initiatives and addressing disparities in leadership.
“Diversity is not simply a box to check; it brings varied perspectives, innovative thinking, and broader insights that move the entire sector forward,” Tanya writes.
In particular, she noted that women comprise nearly 60 percent of the insurance workforce, yet hold only 22 percent of C-suite roles. Another glaring statistic shows that only 2 percent of women of color hold insurance board seats.
“Expanding diversity at all levels, especially at the leadership level, is essential so that diverse professionals can see clear pathways for growth and bring new ideas to the table,” she explains.
ACORD is proud to have leaders like Clarissa, Malou, and Tanya demonstrating excellence in driving advancements in the industry, while also pushing progress for all women in the workforce.