Victoria Hayes | Aon Canada

Victoria Hayes, Senior Vice President, Private Client Leader, Aon Canada

Victoria Hayes did not set out to work in insurance. A slow economy in the 1990s found her taking on an administrative role at a brokerage, a decision that ultimately paved the way to her current role as senior vice president and private client leader for Aon Canada.

Hayes earned her first brokerage license quickly. Soon, she was working alongside someone she calls “one of the best brokers I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.” As a next step, she moved to a larger corporation, Chubb Insurance, as an underwriter. There, she says, she walked in with a job and walked out five years later with a career.

“There was a lot of training and incredible mentors and leaders at that firm,” she explains. “It was the right people and the right atmosphere for me to really grow and expand my knowledge.”

In 2005, a leadership opportunity with a regional broker partner prompted Hayes to move back into a broker role to oversee a small team. It was another great career move, she says.

“I had the opportunity to engage with senior leaders from the president and CEO to the CFO. It really honed my financial, leadership, and industry skill sets.”

When that firm merged with another brokerage, Hayes’ team doubled in size. Eager to learn more, she made her last move 14 years ago. Hayes pursued Aon because it operates globally. Whether or not a global title comes, she enjoys working internationally for her clients, and she likes the added diversity.

“No two hours, two days, two clients are ever the same,” Hayes shares. “And I love that absolute unknown.”

She also loves the industry’s limitless opportunities. The industry, she says, is like an onion that keeps peeling back. The only real test she has ever faced within the industry is herself, she adds.

“Honestly, my challenges were self-imposed, rooted in self-doubt. For a long time, I focused on the gaps. I really just needed to get out of my own head.”

Eventually, through experience, mentorship, and being pushed outside her comfort zone at times, Hayes learned to trust her abilities and recognize her value.

Jan Tomlinson, president of Chubb Canada when Hayes worked there, very much steered her career. Seeing a woman in a prestigious role elevates other women, Hayes explains. “Jan wasn’t sitting on a pedestal. She took the time to know who you were, and that set a bar for me on leadership.”

Why innovative customer experience will define the future of personal auto insurance Image

Insights Paid Content

Why innovative customer experience will define the future of personal auto insurance

Technology is helping insurers reimagine how they support personal auto customers — and it starts the moment a collision is reported, say experts at Accident Support Services International.

By 

Sponsor Image

Susan Penzner, Hayes’ manager when she joined Aon, was another fundamental influence. “She worked in the industry for 50 years and was carving a path for women back when we didn’t always have a place at the table. She was pivotal in polishing, coaching, and elevating my abilities and my management style.”

Of course, Hayes has learned much on her own, too. Her advice for the industry: though it has come a long way, it still needs to intentionally allocate time during the workday for professional development, mentee-mentor opportunities, and participation in panels and events.

“It’s great that organizations are saying they are happy to support their staff doing these things,” she says. “But we can’t expect them to do it only in their spare time. It has to be ingrained into the workday, and for women juggling family plus career, even more so.”

Her advice for women who want to succeed: be prepared to be your own champions. “Put your hand forward and take opportunities,” she says. “The growth will come from actually challenging yourself. Trust in your capabilities and approach new roles with a confidence and a willingness to learn. It will yield incredible results.”