News
Shattering Dominance
June 23, 2010
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| If there's anyone who knows about glass ceilings, it's Vikki Pryor, who was the first African-American woman to lead a life insurance company in the US. Vikki, who recently left her CEO post at SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Co., joined NYCREW yesterday morning at GE Capital's Park Avenue offices for the association's Leading Ladies breakfast series, discussing her journey to the top and doling out advice she learned along the way. There are four major factors you'll encounter as a woman in the industry, she says:male dominance, fierce competition, risk taking, and rarely being understood. As the self-dubbed “Queen of Why-can't-we-all-get-along?†she says she's very uncomfortable with unfairness—even when she wanted to run, she understands the four points mean power in the industry. |
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| No matter what you do, competitive pressures will seek you out, she notes—embrace the bullies and contrarians. You have to be willing to put yourself on the line to fulfill your destiny—make sure you understand your goals and what makes you tick. You have the opportunity to make change and are in the perfect position to make earth-shattering transformations, she urges. Need proof? What was once an all-male Board of Directors at SBLI is now 60% women; females comprise 57% of its associates, 37% of which are in management roles. Clockwise, from Vikki: Hartman & Craven's Tracey Daniels, Cole Schotz's Wendy Berger, Eurohypo AG's Jo Hastings, NYCREW member Nancy Wood, Studley's Ann Marie Lynch, GE Capital's Kathleen Carey, Sklar Realty Group's Lydia Sklar, Wall Street Journal's Deborah Falcone, Ted Moudis Associates' Lucy Carter, and NYCREW prez Sharon Khurdan. |
