If there’s one thing the insurance sector has made clear in the past few years, it’s that the kind of leadership that got us here won’t be enough to take us forward.

We are operating in a world marked by complexity - digital disruption, changing customer behaviour, tightening regulations, ESG demands, geopolitical shifts, and heightened expectations of transparency and inclusion. And while insurance is often seen as a stable, traditional sector, it is not immune to the shakeups that are redefining industries worldwide.

As a Learning and Development Specialist in the insurance space, I’ve spent some time working behind the scenes - designing, rolling out, and supporting skills programmes. But over time, one thing became evident - many junior to senior-level professionals, including myself, were navigating leadership roles without ever having been equipped with the strategic tools and personal insight to thrive in them.

The gap wasn’t only technical. It was about vision. Confidence. Strategic agility.

And most of all - it was about purpose.

The Hidden Gap: When Promotion Doesn’t Equal Preparation

It’s easy to assume that once someone reaches management level, they’re ready to lead. But leadership isn’t just about overseeing tasks - it’s about inspiring people, solving complex problems, navigating the unknown, and aligning every decision with broader business and societal goals.

Too often, we find ourselves in meetings where decisions are being made about things we wish we had the tools to contribute meaningfully to - strategy, budgets, sustainability, innovation. Not because we lack intelligence or ambition, but because we were never truly trained to think like strategic leaders.

That’s the quiet gap I noticed.

And that’s the gap that changed everything for me.

Stepping In: The Programme That Reshaped My Trajectory

In 2024, I came across an opportunity on LinkedIn that stopped me in my tracks - the INSETA International Women in Leadership Programme (IWLP), delivered in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).

It wasn’t something my employer pushed me into. I nominated myself. I didn’t know what to expect - I just knew I was ready to grow.

From day one, I realised this was not going to be a theory-heavy, textbook-driven programme. It was dynamic, practical, and intentionally designed for professionals in the insurance sector. Each module tackled not just “what” leaders do, but “how” and “why” they do it - with strategy, intention, and purpose.

We explored Strategic Entrepreneurship, learning how to think beyond job functions and start solving for industry-wide gaps. We tackled Decision-Making, uncovering the cognitive biases that often derail us, and how to balance data, ethics, and instinct.

Business Strategy, Operational Effectiveness, and Strategic Financial Management gave me the frameworks I never knew I needed. In Personal Mastery, that module held up a mirror - It taught me to lead myself before trying to lead others.

But this programme wasn’t just about content. It was about community.

We worked in syndicates (groups), collaborating with other leaders from across the sector. We debated. We listened. We grew.

And through it all, something shifted in me.

The Leader I Am Now

Before this programme, I was operating. Now, I’m leading.

I’ve stepped into rooms I once shrank in. I’ve served as a Programme Director (MC) and moderated at HR, Learning & Development, & Insurance Transformation events. I even moderated a fireside chat on “Driving Innovation for New Era Insurance”- topics I once assumed were reserved for technical experts. I’m also incredibly grateful to my employer for their support throughout this journey. Being granted the time and flexibility to attend the in-person sessions made it possible for me to fully immerse myself in the programme. Their investment in my development didn’t just enable me to show up – it empowered me to rise.

I’ve learned how to back myself - not because I know everything, but because I now have the framework and confidence to learn, contribute, and lead. The version of me who clicked “Apply” in 2024 wouldn’t recognise the version writing this today. And that’s the power of aligned development. It doesn’t just teach you - it transforms you.

What the Insurance Industry Needs Now

The world is watching how insurance responds to change.

Clients are demanding more human, transparent experiences. Regulators are asking harder questions. Boards want innovation, not just compliance.

And inside our organisations, people are looking for leaders who are clear, compassionate, and courageous.

If you’re a current or aspiring leader in insurance and you feel that nudge - that voice that says, “There’s more in you than you’re showing right now” - listen to it.

Whether you’ve been managing for five months or fifteen years, there is always another level of leadership waiting to be unlocked.

And sometimes, all it takes is one decision - to invest in yourself.

The IWLP: A Doorway to the Leader You’re Becoming

The INSETA IWLP is currently open for applications until 25 July 2025. If you’re ready to grow, learn, and lead -  click here to apply.

It’s designed specifically for women in the insurance sector with at least three years of experience in management.

If you’re reading this and it’s stirring something in you - don’t wait for someone to nominate you. Nominate yourself. That’s what I did. And it changed everything.

Not because the programme gave me a title.

But because it gave me the tools, voice, and clarity to step into my purpose as a leader in this industry.

Let’s Lead the Shift Together

The insurance industry doesn’t need more reactive managers.

It needs thoughtful, brave, purpose-driven leaders.

Let’s be the ones who don’t just adapt to change -

Let’s be the ones who drive it.

If you’re ready, the opportunity is right here.

And I promise - you won’t come out the same.

by Nomsa Mophuting, Learning & Development Specialist at Aon South Africa