An interview with some of the women leading the way at TheBest Claims.
Women have, historically, been the minority in the insurance sector, and creating space for women as our community grows is a critical step towards an inclusive and equitable industry.
Women are the future. Studies indicate that companies boasting a higher female presence on their boards consistently outshine their counterparts. Moreover, organizations that embrace gender diversity among top-tier executives tend to enjoy greater financial success.
But despite the positive impact women have had on businesses across industries, they continue to be underrepresented in key leadership positions. Here at TheBest Claims Solutions, we’ve set out to change that.
We sat down with a few of our leaders to talk about their journeys and why promoting women has helped our company find success.
Our Leaders:
Aidan Marx – Staff Payroll Manager | Amber Banister – Vice President of Compliance
Carla Ramos – co-CEO | Chelsea Aguilar – Executive Vice President, Finance
What is one reason you have pursued a leadership role?
Aidan: I wanted to help people. By being a support system to our Payroll Specialists, I help them solve problems and grow confidence in their positions, which is beneficial to our employees.
Chelsea: Leadership was not something I actively pursued. I did not expect it to be something I would enjoy or necessarily be good at. But life is funny and sometimes things work out the way they need to. I stepped into a leadership role to fill a need, and I am so glad I did. It has been much more rewarding than I expected, and I have really enjoyed getting to teach and help others grow.
Carla: I didn’t pursue a leadership role but I found that I really enjoyed helping people and solving problems. The more I focused on those two things, the more leadership happened naturally.
Amber: Although my role of being a leader was not something I was pursuing, once I was given the opportunity, I quickly realized the impact that being a leader can have on others which continues to be my drive. Inspiring people, bringing them together, and watching others grow and develop new skills is truly amazing and I look forward to it every day.
Inspiring people, bringing them together, and watching others grow and develop new skills is truly amazing and I look forward to it every day. – Amber
What advice would you give young women entering this profession/organization?
Amber: Identify your strengths and use them to the best of your ability. Never be ashamed to lean on your peers or management. Everyone you encounter was once where you are and is more than likely willing to guide you to where you want to be.
Carla: When I was 19, my boss at the time sat me down and said, “I don’t want to hear you say I know again, you don’t know anything.” At the time I was offended but it’s a piece of advice I’ve carried with me throughout my career. Have confidence, but don’t discount the value of asking questions and listening, especially when you think you know the answer. You will learn so much and gain respect when you take the time to understand others and different perspectives.
Aidan: Be flexible and open to changes and challenges.
Chelsea: The best career advice I ever received is no matter what you are doing, challenge yourself to be the best at it. When you are first starting out, you will probably be doing boring or tedious work that is not your long-term goal. Instead of just going through the motions, use it as a stepping stone. By challenging yourself to be the best, you train yourself to find efficiencies and go above and beyond. Not only does that way of thinking stick with you as you grow, but it also opens the doors to new opportunities.
Have confidence, but don’t discount the value of asking questions and listening, especially when you think you know the answer. You will learn so much and gain respect when you take the time to understand others and different perspectives. – Carla
What potential personal or professional barriers do you feel might be impacting women from reaching the highest levels of leadership in the corporate world?
Aidan: I think there are still a lot of biases about what women are capable of in the corporate world. People may tend to feel more comfortable taking direction and guidance from a man than a woman. I think our company does a great job of conveying their belief that women are just as competent as men and that you should have confidence in your leader regardless of their gender.
Carla: I finally watched the Barbie movie so all that keeps coming to me for this question is America Ferrara’s monologue about how it is literally impossible to be a woman. It ends with her saying, “I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.”
Amber: Personal, Societal, and Organizational barriers continue to prevent women from reaching their highest levels of leadership. There also seems to be a lack of connections for women within the industry. It’s been proven that people need sponsors to reach the top of the corporate ladder and women are less likely to obtain a sponsorship. I have however seen an increase in women stepping forward and making their mark within the industry and look forward to the changes that lie ahead!
Chelsea: Even in 2024, there is still a lot of “Good Ol’ Boy” mentality in executive spaces. There is a tendency for people to hire or make deals based on who they relate to more so than qualifications, and the cycle just continues. That is why it is so important to use what power you have to pull up those below you. The more the mold cracks, the easier it will be to break in the future.
I think our company does a great job of conveying their belief that women are just as competent as men and that you should have confidence in your leader regardless of their gender. – Aidan
What piece of inspiring media (podcast/book/movie) do you think everyone should check out?
Amber: “The Ride of a Lifetime” by Robert Iger who was CEO of Disney for 15 years. This book is a fantastic read and was recommended to me by my fellow woman in leadership, Carla Ramos!
Carla: I find it interesting to learn through others’ experiences so I enjoy reading memoirs. It’s not a memoir but I just started reading Traction by Gino Wickman on recommendation from a leader in a group I’m in.
What personal or professional goal are you currently working towards?
Amber: To build my professional network, improve collaboration skills, and to sustain healthy habits
Aidan: I am always looking to gain more knowledge and be more valuable so I am hoping to become a Certified Payroll Professional in the future!
Carla: I’m personally working towards some balance right now. I love what I do, and sometimes I must remind myself that balance is how I keep doing what I love without burning out.
How can we as women break the cycles that are prevalent in male-dominated industries?
Carla: The real shift I am starting to see is the way discussions around how to break the cycle are happening. The conversations I’m hearing and seeing have become much less about how women can change a male-dominated space and more about women saying ‘Why am I trying to change someone else, I’ll start my own company and create the space myself.’ I think that is the biggest change we will see in the coming years.
What inspires you in your day-to-day?
Amber: Knowing others rely on me to be there for them. I do not doubt that my teams are capable of getting the job done, but knowing that just my presence brings them peace during times of change or chaos inspires me to continue being the best version of myself and showing up for them!
Aidan: Growth and developing new skills in both my personal and professional life.
Chelsea: I get a lot of satisfaction out of a job well done. At the end of the day/week/year or even looking back on past jobs, it is important to me that I can say I did my best no matter how hard it was in the moment.
Carla: Seeing people grow, tackle something they were nervous about, and watching them gain confidence drives me. Being able to be along throughout that process is inspiring to me every time.
At the end of the day/week/year or even looking back on past jobs, it is important to me that I can say I did my best no matter how hard it was in the moment. – Chelsea
