During her 25 years in the insurance industry, Davina Boulineau has encountered challenges to her abilities and self-esteem, which — thanks to a strong support system — motivated her to get out of her comfort zone professionally. Having worked in the past as an underwriter for large and complex insurance portfolios, as well as in marketing, business development, and managing high-net-worth brokers in Canada and the United States, Boulineau gained enough training and preparation for her current leadership role. The vice president at TD Insurance Private Client Advice and one of Insurance Business Canada’s Elite Women in 2022 now leads a team that formulates and executes strategies to preserve the lifestyles and wealth of TD Insurance’s clients.
In an interview with IBTV, Boulineau recalled how optimistic and ambitious she was at the beginning of her career, but was often told that she was “doing so well as a sole contributor” and a management job would be too boring for her. Thinking that a leadership position was beyond her reach, she experienced self-doubt. However, her family and close friends encouraged her until she was finally hired for the role she wanted. Support from mentors and sponsors also helped her overcome her fears.
“Mentorship has really helped me to figure myself out and tap into my full potential. It really made me strong, resilient, and made me believe that I am enough and that I am OK as I am, including my strength, my weaknesses, my imperfections and my insecurities,” she said.
“And so, thanks to my mentors, I have learned to accept all of me while challenging myself to grow in ways that are super uncomfortable. And they helped me become the leader I am today…. a leader by design and not by default.”
As to whether women already have equal opportunities in the industry, Boulineau didn’t believe this goal had become a reality. She has observed that women are still being hired for their past and present accomplishments, while men are being hired for their potential.
“The industry is doing really well in terms of getting female representation in entry-level positions, but moving them up through the talent pipeline right into more senior leadership roles is still a challenge…. I’ve seen a lot of progress in getting women to sit at the table in leadership positions, but there’s still so much work to be done,” she explained.
To resolve this issue, Boulineau’s suggestion is for the industry to empower women, support their achievements at all levels, and introduce strategic initiatives, such as networking opportunities.
For other professionals in her field, her main advice is to “never underestimate the power of mentorship,” of seeking guidance from reliable individuals who can share different perspectives from which the mentee can choose what’s suitable at certain stages of their career.
Boulineau also affirmed the advantages of networking in terms of getting advice from industry peers and experts, boosting one’s confidence, and empowering one another through “togetherness, passion, excellence and enthusiasm”.
