Securing women’s place at work: Driving change and creating equity

Allianz Asia Pacific’s #SHEsecures programme provides a comprehensive suite of resources, including specially designed training and educational support, enhanced networking opportunities, tailored product offerings and productivity enhancement tools, enabling women to excel in their roles and drive positive change.

For many women in the workforce, the path to success can be a daunting one, fraught with multiple challenges.

As Country Chief Agency Officer, PT, Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia, Dr Ginawati Djuandi is playing a key role in making Allianz Indonesia one of the leading players in Indonesia’s insurance industry.

However, this professional drive is not deterring her from performing her duties as a parent, as she told HRM Asia, “Balancing my professional and personal life has its unique challenges. Leading Allianz Indonesia’s Sharia, general and life insurance business requires a deep understanding of regulatory requirements and customer expectations in a rapidly evolving market. Additionally, fostering a culture of inclusion and driving continuous growth in a competitive industry are ongoing priorities.”

“At home, I am a mother of two wonderful sons and often find myself balancing the demands of a thriving professional career with my responsibilities as a parent and ensuring that I dedicate quality time to my family.”

To advance the organisation’s commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment, and to empower more women to thrive, Allianz Asia Pacific launched the #SHEsecures programme this June. Under the initiative, Allianz will provide a comprehensive suite of resources, including specially designed training and educational support, enhanced networking opportunities, tailored product offerings and productivity enhancement tools, enabling women to excel in their roles and drive positive change.

“Creating platforms for women to share their experiences and success stories can also foster a more supportive and motivating environment.” – Dr Ginawati Djuandi, Country Chief Agency Officer, PT, Asuransi Allianz Life Indonesia.

Lauding #SHEsecures, Dr Ginawati hopes to leverage on the programme to achieve several key objectives, including empowering more women by equipping them with the necessary tools, resources, and support they need to thrive and excel in their careers.

“Secondly, I hope to spearhead initiatives that highlight the importance of gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace, which I believe will bolster our organisational strength and innovation,” she continued. “Lastly, I look forward to building a robust network of female leaders who can support, mentor, and inspire on another.”

Like Dr Ginawati, Chow Jac Ki, Agency Leader (Unit Manager), MDRT, representing Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia, is playing multiple roles in both her professional and personal lives. An Associate of The Institute of Leadership, UK, Chow also describes herself as a mother, storyteller, daughter-in-law, sister, and teacher.

“The various responsibilities I manage have helped me to better understand my purpose, shape both my personal and professional perspective, and will continue to motivate and drive me to be the best version of myself,’ she explained.

A firm believer of continuous learning, Chow also aspires to extend the trajectory of her growth beyond the insurance industry. By leveraging on the lessons that she has learnt, she hopes to inspire and groom future female leaders while simultaneously developing herself as a thought leader to foster confidence and instill a sense of purpose amongst young female leaders under her care.

“By advocating for the collective voices, I hope to influence, inspire, lead and drive positive change within the industry and make a real difference in our community,” Chow said.

This makes the launch of #SHEsecures especially opportune, aligning with Chow’s own commitment to gender equality, access to education and skills development, as well as advocacy and policy change. “These elements play an important role in advancing gender equality and creating opportunities for women to succeed and thrive in their personal lives and professional careers,” she highlighted.

On September 1, in collaboration with local health and wellness centres, Chow and her agency team will be launching the first woman empowerment event for potential clients and business partners. The event, she highlighted, will not only highlight the importance of gender equality but will also provide valuable resources and networking opportunities to support women’s success in the insurance industry.

“I am proud that we are working diligently towards paving the way to a more inclusive and brighter future for all our women agent leaders,” she said.

Building an inclusive work culture starts at the top and continues with the individual

Moving beyond the initiatives Allianz Malaysia has implemented to foster a sense of community for women to thrive in the workplace, Chow is also heartened by the number of platforms Malaysia is offering to create more networking and learning opportunities, as well as their role in advocating gender equality.

“To contribute to society personally and professionally, it is important to first develop a sense of self-awareness and self-support.” – Chow Jac Ki, Agency Leader (Unit Manager), MDRT, representing Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia

These include the Power Women Summit, Women Empowerment Expo (WEE), Women Entrepreneur Network Association Malaysia, and Malaysia’s Top 30 Women of Excellence Awards 2024, which fuels inspiration, motivates women to flourish in their careers, and supports the building of an inclusive environment for all.

Chow also has some words of encouragement for female leaders as they seek their own paths to success. “To contribute to society personally and professionally, it is important to first develop a sense of self-awareness and self-support. By acknowledging our unique strengths, we can then effectively lead and inspire others. Having a personal understanding of yourself is the foundation of being an impactful leader.”

Dr Ginawati, meanwhile, urged organisations in Indonesia to implement policies that support work-life balance. Flexible work hours and parental leave, she said, can help women manage both their professional and personal responsibilities more effectively. Additionally, mentorship and professional development programmes tailored for women can help them navigate their career paths and overcome barriers.

To further bridge the gap, organisations must also eliminate gender stereotypes in recruitment and promotion processes, said Dr Ginawati, who added, “Creating platforms for women to share their experiences and success stories can also foster a more supportive and motivating environment.”

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These values of inclusion, equity and diversity are treasured at Allianz Indonesia, which has an ongoing target to maintain at least 55% of female Business Partners, in turn fostering a nurturing environment where female leaders are not bound by barriers to succeed and flourish in their careers.

At Allianz Indonesia, this is supported by a leadership team committed to advocating these key values and ensuring that they are embedded in the organisational culture.

“I am confident that we are well-positioned to create a future-ready, resilient and well-equipped workforce of female leaders who can make a significant impact in the field of insurance, and in their respective communities,” Dr Ginawati concluded.